What if? — Colleen Doyle Bryant

A story that teaches empathy, responsibility, and respect. A boy keeps finding himself in trouble until a wise tree teaches him to ask, “What if I do this? What could happen?” As he prepares to jump from a high tree limb, a boy is surprised when the tree encourages him to think before he leaps. Before long, he and his sister learn that asking “What if?” can keep you from all sorts of trouble. Whether it's twisting you ankle, insulting a friend, or stomping a mess into your mom's living room, asking “What if?” can help you consider the consequences BEFORE you act. “If you'll hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or make your momma mad… you should probably change your action.” With a few chuckles and some heartfelt moments, children build empathy and learn to act with more respect and responsibility. The story also includes points that reinforce a growth mindset, teaching kids to learn and grow from mistakes. Free online worksheets, printables, and lessons plans at http://TalkingTreeBooks.com make this a great resource for teachers and parents who want to teach children to think before they act. Book 3 in the Talking with Trees Series. Written for children grades K-4, Talking with Trees books include supersize pictures that engage children emotionally, helping them learn how to use their hearts and minds to guide them toward building good character traits.