Sorry! by Trudy Ludwig

Illustrated by Maurie J. Manning. 32 p., Tricycle, 2006. Many children have difficulty apologizing. In this story, Jack's friend, Charlie, does hurtful things and tries - usually successfully - to convince Jack to do them too. Charlie thinks that all you have to do is say "sorry," even if you don't mean it, and everything will be fine. Jack is in a difficult spot: he feels that he needs Charlie's friendship because without it, he was a "nobody," and would be again. He has even stopped hanging out with his friend Leena, "because it didn't look good to be friends with a brainiac girl ... [and] a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do to be cool." When Charlie callously ruins Leena's science project, their teacher expects him not only to say he's sorry, but also to make right what he's done. Charlie has no idea what to do, so Jack explains that they have to make replacements for the parts of the project that he ruined. Jack turns down basketball with the guys to help Leena, beginning to renew his friendship with her. An afterword explains the significance of good apologies. An author's note, discussion questions, and a list of "Apology Dos and Don'ts" are also included. Illustrated in digital pastel and watercolor, this story shows kids the meaning of apology, and helps them understand how to use an apology to repair a relationship. Along the way, they may also understand more about the importance of genuine friendship, as compared to being cool. Ages 5-8