Yes We Can! by Sam McBratney

Illustrated by Charles Fuge. 32 p., HarperCollins, 2007. When children make fun of each other, they feel bad. In this story, three animal friends (Little Roo, Quacker Duck, and Country Mouse) goad each other to do things that they can’t do, and then laugh at them when they can’t. Not surprisingly, they all end up feeling grumpy. When Little Roo’s mother sees this, she tells them that no one likes being laughed at, and suggests that they demonstrate what they can do, instead of what they can’t. Each one shows off a skill that one of the others had failed at earlier, and each time, receives compliments from the other two. Then Roo’s mother asks them whether they can be friends again. That’s something that all of them can do. With its friendly, colorful illustrations, this story encourages children to be empathic when someone can’t do something, and offers a way for them to feel good about themselves and their friends. Ages 3-7