How to apologize /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning creators of See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog comes a funny and handy guide that explains just how (and how not!) to say "I'm sorry."

Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you're sorry. From a porcupine who accidentally popped his friend's balloon to a snail who was running so fast he stepped on a sloth's toes, hilarious examples and sweet illustrations abound. For both listeners who are just learning and older readers who need a refresher, this book will come as a welcome reminder that even though apologizing can be hard, it doesn't have to be complicated.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Previous collaborators LaRochelle and Wohnoutka (Geisel Medalists for See the Cat) are loving but firm in this compassionate guide to apologizing. "Everyone makes mistakes," they begin. "And when you've made a mistake... the right thing to do is apologize." The creators acknowledge that saying "sorry" can be difficult ("especially if the other person is mad"), but they don't let offending parties off the hook, either--not even the adorable penguin parachutist who has crashed through the roof of a shocked alligator's bathroom. Straightforward narration underlines the importance of sincerity without excuses even if the one you've offended "owes you an apology too" (rambling examples of what not do make great readalouds). The gouache cartooned vignettes, rendered in crisp outlines and soft washes of color, have immediacy and verve that's both harrowing and heartfelt; while the animal characters are engaged in amusingly exaggerated situations, both parties' emotions are thoroughly authentic. If readers feel the pang of recognition, they'll also see that making amends is both edifying and evergreen. Ages 3--7. (May)

Booklist Review

With applicability well beyond its reading level, this latest outing from the creators of See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog (2020) and other clever romps focuses on the importance of apologizing for accidents or offenses and how to do it properly. Wohnoutka lightens the earnest tone of LaRochelle's pitch with comical scenes of anthropomorphic cartoon animals either caught in embarrassing faux pas--a penguin parachutist literally dropping in on a crocodile in a bathtub, for instance--or expressing remorse, both sincerely ("I'm sorry I borrowed your socks without permission," says a giraffe to an earthworm) and insincerely. Along with rightly acknowledging that it might be hard, or even impossible, to fix mistakes (though an offender can make efforts to ensure that they don't happen again), the author closes with a promise that saying sorry and meaning it will make you and, more important, the other person feel better. Pair this with Joanna Cotler's Sorry (Really Sorry), illustrated by Harry Bliss (2020), for an unapologetically uplifting storytime.

Kirkus Book Review

A primer on contrition. "Everyone makes mistakes," opens this guide to accountability. Every page shows a different situation in which someone owes another an apology: when a penguin parachutes into an alligator's bathroom during bathtime, when student politicians trade jabs, when a giraffe has borrowed a worm's socks without asking, or when a chicken breaks a goat's violin. All the characters are soft-edged anthropomorphic animals: a taunting hyena, a snail speeding past a sloth, two ancient tortoises. In Wohnoutka's light gouache illustrations, the many full-bleed spreads and careful use of white space keep the tone friendly and focused. Without ever feeling preachy or prescriptive, the calm, even, nonjudgmental tone reminds readers that "apologizing can be hard," but it's important to be sincere and simple without making excuses. The perfect balance of humor and gravity delivers the message in an appealing way, and even the most outlandish scenarios are accessible. Most of the scenes are entire little stories in and of themselves while a couple have slightly longer resolutions. Children and adults alike can see themselves in both the aggrieved party and the wrongdoer, all presented with understanding and compassion. Equally useful as a lesson on social-emotional dynamics and as a story, this book has a place on every shelf. A necessary and entertaining approach to conflict resolution. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

David LaRochelle is a recipient of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award and the author of many books for young readers, including Isle of You , illustrated by Jaime Kim, and See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog , illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. David LaRochelle is very sorry that he stole his sister's diary and read it to his next-door neighbor when he was ten years old. You'll find him repentant and living in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Mike Wohnoutka has illustrated more than twenty books for young readers, including the ALA Notable Book Moo! , written by David LaRochelle. He is also the author-illustrator of several picture books, including the Croc & Turtle series. Mike Wohnoutka sincerely apologizes for pouring an entire carton of milk down the air vents of his third-grade classroom. He and his family have no regrets about living in Minneapolis.