Words Are Not for Hurting / Las Palabras No Son Para Lastimar - Paperback

by Elizabeth Verdick (Author), Marieka Heinlen (Illustrator)

Help kids use kind words, build empathy, and communicate respectfully with this English-Spanish bilingual picture book.

Words have power--they can hurt or help. Words Are Not for Hurting / Las palabras no son para lastimar is an engaging English-Spanish bilingual picture book that helps children ages 4-7 understand how their words affect others and how to choose respectful, caring language.

Using simple, kid-friendly text and bright, relatable illustrations, this reassuring book teaches children that it's not okay to insult, tease, name-call, or exclude others. Instead, kids learn positive ways to express feelings, set boundaries, apologize when needed, and speak up respectfully for themselves and others.

Part of the award-winning Best Behavior(R) series, this book supports social-emotional learning by helping children build communication skills, empathy, and confidence they can use every day at home, in school, and in social settings.

In this book, children will:

• Learn how to use kind, respectful words instead of hurtful language
• Understand the impact of teasing, name-calling, and exclusion
• Practice apologizing and making things right
• Express feelings and set boundaries in healthy ways
• Build empathy and positive communication skills

Perfect for parents, caregivers, educators, and counselors, this book is ideal for classroom read-alouds, conflict resolution, and everyday conversations about kindness and respect.

Includes a helpful adult section in both English and Spanish with tips and strategies for teaching children about communication, tone of voice, and how words affect others.

Author Biography

Elizabeth Verdick has been writing books since 1997, the year her daughter was born. Her two children are the inspiration for nearly everything she writes. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth edited books for children and parents.

These days she writes books for babies, toddlers, teens, and every age in between. She especially loves creating new board books. The Happy Healthy Baby(R) series is designed to capture the interest of the littlest readers. Elizabeth's Toddler Tools(R) series helps young children and their parents cope with those tough times and transitions that happen every day (like naptime and bedtime). In the Best Behavior(R) series, she helps toddlers reach new milestones and improve their day-to-day behavior.

Elizabeth also enjoys getting the chance to look at the funny side of life in the Laugh and Learn(R) series, which helps kids ages 8-13 get a handle on the social-emotional skills they're developing throughout the elementary and middle school years. She's also coauthor of The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (And Their Parents), which offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day.

Elizabeth lives and writes near St. Paul, Minnesota.

Marieka Heinlen received her BFA at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and also studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

She launched her career as an award-winning children's book illustrator with Hands Are Not for Hitting and has illustrated all of the books in the Best Behavior(R) and Toddler Tools(R) series. Marieka focuses her work on books and other materials for children, teens, parents, and teachers.

She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, son, and daughter.