We Can Get Along

Title:  We Can Get Along

Author: Lauren Murphy Payne, M.S.W.

Publisher: Free Sprite Publishing Inc.

Year of publication: 1997

Photographer:  Lauren Murphy Payne, M.S.W.

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 3 - 8

Theme: Friendship, and Good Manners

 About the author: Lauren Murphy Payne, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist in family practice.  She is cofounder of The Turning Point, a speaking and consulting service.  She is an author and illustrator.  She lives in Racine, Wisconsin.  Lauren has written four books.  She believes that Warm, simple words and enchanting illustrations strengthen and support young children's self-esteem.  Considers the affirming words and colorful illustrations can help educators teach children how to resolve conflict and making peace.

Synopsis: The book is about school children who are also friends.  Children need help learning to get along with others at school, in their neighborhood, and on the playground.  Children need to know that they have the power to make good choices.  In their everyday lifestyles, there are happiness and sadness.  When they are happy, they get along with each other, talk, laugh, play, and work together; they become joyful feeling good and safe.  On the other hand when they fight and ague, yell, hit, or cry and sometimes say and do mean things such as using bad words for each other when they do not get along.

About the photographer:  Lauren Murphy Payne, the author of this book is also the illustrator.  The illustrations in this book were done by Payne using the Berol Prismacolor Markers, pen, and ink on vellum.

Pre-reading activities:  Students will be asked to think about their words before they say them in all their relationships both at home and school.  I will tell them that they are in charge of their words and actions; therefore they should be careful and learn to be responsible for their words and actions.  

Post-reading activities: The students will be given different gifts in class and asked to share with one another choosing who they love to share their gifts with.  Each person exchanges his or her gifts with 3 people.  They learn to get along well with their peers. 

Reflection: This is a good book to be used in the classroom because it will help to teach children about the golden rule; choosing to treat others the way they themselves like to be treated.  This will also help them to treat others with kindness and respect instead of being mean.  With their post-reading activities, the children will always learn to talk, play, and laugh together even though they are different.  The book will also help children to learn make good choices.

Works cited:

http://www.freespirit.com/catalog/author_detail.cfm?AUTHOR_ID=47  

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/we-can-get-along-lauren-murphy-payne/1002365654

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/162581.Lauren_Murphy_Payne