This is a great book for socially awkward kids and teens. In fact, I'd say the content skews a little older than the cartoon illustrations. Some younger kids may be confused by the level of detail the gender identity discussions go into. But there are definitely families that can benefit from reviewing this.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is such a good resource for parents and children alike. I read it as a parent and loved that it helped to improve my communication and advice giving for my daughter. She didn't want to read it, she thinks she knows everything, but would take my advice on topics that were covered in the book and it really helped.

Great resource for upper elementary-middle school readers. They will pick this up without prompting and read it, so I consider that a win. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An easy to read book on how to best interact with people in an empathetic way. The tips on how to shift a conversation away from a certain topic are particularly helpful not only to children but to adults as well. The illustrations are engaging and add a level of understanding for the reader. This is a great resource for students of all ages.

This book was received as an ARC from Storey Publishing - Storey Publishing, LLC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Middle school is a wonderful time to develop the social skills that will help you succeed throughout school and in life itself. Catherine Newman has composed a useful guide teaching middle schoolers powerful words to say at the appropriate times to make their voices heard in the world. We've all felt horrible and awkward when we have to decline invitations, reject someone's offer, or any negative circumstance, but Newman gives us step-by-step guidance in a way that is courteous, professional, and polite avoiding those awkward conversations. Reading books like these bring me joy, but I also am a little flabbergasted on why these books were not around when I was in middle school and/or mad at myself that I did not find and read them myself depriving myself of this helpful information.

A useful, informative, life-saver of a guide that will change lives. This book deserves 5 stars.

This book was very helpful family read. We used this to talk about our fears and strengths. We worked together to work on our skills with their friends.

A good book for young readers (would suggest for about 9-12 yo) to learn how to communicate with peers their age in adequate manner, being polite and open. It also opens disscussions about gossip, handling difficult conversations, as well as someone coming out, using correct pronouns and standing up for the things you believe in.
I found it a bit more suited for those who are already extroverted and want to be better friends/listeners etc, than for introverts wanting to learn to get out of their shell.
Overall a good book, perfect for any kid who wishes to be a better friend and be compassionate through clear communication.

What Can I Say is a book intended to teach children how to act in different social settings, how to react when confronted with difficult subjects such as racism and prejudice, how to stand up for themselves and others.
It does this using inclusive language and with diverse representation.
The target audience is likely the older elementary to younger middle school group, however, with some creative adaptation by the teacher younger and older students could still benefit from the lessons.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for review purposes, but have since ordered the actual book for use with my students.

This is an excellent introduction to social behavior for younger readers. At the same time, this is a great resource for introverted or neurodiverse individuals who want to understand how general communication works when previously running into times of confusion and miscommunication. We are all different, but finding ways to communicate with each other leads to better understanding each other.

Growing up this book would have been great to receive as a gift. Teaching kids how to make conversation with other kids, how to deal with different emotions and ways to become more involved with what’s happening around them is some topics that this great book covers. These are complex topics made simple for middle grade or even teen readers. In a entertaining format of cool drawings and short paragraphs this book will hold the attention of the reader and answer their most curious questions about themselves and their surroundings.

This is a fantastic little book of guidelines for social situations, accompanied by cute and simple illustrations. Included in this book are lessons on how to be a good friend, how to listen, and how to be an ally, as well as express sympathy and understand empathy. Additionally, there is a guide on how to use pronouns and how to be inclusive! There’s a “pop quiz” at the end of each chapter to kind of go over what you’ve learned, which is nice. I think this is a great book to have in a middle grade library. Five stars.

The best social skills guide for kids on shelves right now! "What Can I Say?" covers everything from basic conversation skills to bigger issues like being a good ally and standing up to prejudice - all presented in a fun, accessible way. The use of concrete examples (including in-person conversations, emails, texts, and even video chats) is extremely effective, and the advice is generally spot-on. The text is full of kid-friendly humor and written in brief, easy-to-digest chunks. Kids who aren't big readers will still learn a lot just by looking at the cartoon-like graphics, which are colorful, engaging, and wonderfully inclusive. The book is well organized, such that kids can easily skip to the relevant section as things come up in their lives.

I particularly love the book's emphasis on bodily autonomy, consent, and not just conforming to social norms - which might seem odd for a social skills book, but the focus here is really getting along with people, being true to yourself, and making the world a better place, rather than arbitrary rules. In a few places the author specifically says not to follow her suggestions if they make you feel uncomfortable, such as making eye contact when you meet someone. (I do think more space could have been devoted to explicitly addressing neurodiverse readers, but on the other hand, the book is definitely written to be as universal as possible - many autistic kids will undoubtedly find this book helpful, but it's equally applicable to neurotypical kids.) Topics like setting boundaries and saying "no" politely but firmly are also specifically discussed. I think page 93 says it best, in the section on romantic relationships: "If someone asks you out on a date and you don't want to go? You never, ever have to. Your job is to be your most authentic self - not to please other people." If that's the only message kids retain from this book, it would be well worth it!

I also wanted to stand up and cheer for the "How to NOT be in a Romantic Relationship" section (p102) - so many young people are going to feel so affirmed and seen upon reading that it's really okay not to date if you're not interested or ready. And inclusivity is woven into many of the examples and illustrations without making a big deal out of it; no need to explain that boys can date boys and girls can date girls, or what it means to be trans, but showing two feminine-presenting characters asking each other out, and a kid saying "I want you to call me Asher instead of Ashley", are exactly the kinds of representation that kids need to see. Both the queer kids and the straight/cis kids, too! I also love the repeated affirmation of the reader, such as on p84, "Relationships sometimes change, but you are still lovable and loved." For such a fun, light-hearted book, there are sure a lot of great messages packed in here.

Lastly, one of the most unique things about this book is the inclusion of the final two sections, "How to Be An Ally" and "How to Care for Your Community". Honestly I think the book's subtitle should have been "A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Get Along, Express Yourself, and Change the World!" The world would be a better place if these sections were required reading for every human. In fact, I kind of want to hand out copies of the "how to respond to an offensive joke" section to everyone I know! Things like making protest signs, introducing yourself with gender pronouns, and disrupting microaggressions are truly important skills for kids to be learning these days, and they're all discussed here in simple, age-appropriate terms.

As an educator and child advocate, I highly recommend this book for elementary and middle school kids (and honestly for teens and adults too, even if we’re maybe not quite the intended audience). This is a guide that kids and families will find themselves turning to again and again as they navigate the challenges and joys of growing up.

What Can I Say? by Catherine Newman, 160 pages. NONFICTION. Storey Publishing, 2020. $17.
Language: PG (3 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Words are hard, especially when you’re having a new kind of conversation. It’s okay to be nervous about talking with others, and Newman helps make it easier by giving suggestions of what to do in situations like meeting someone new, apologizing, asking someone out, talking about pronouns, and more.
Newman encourages readers to improve their communication starting from where they are. Not everything suggested here needs to be applied right now; the tips are here for when readers are ready to use them and work to improve their skills. While targeted to a younger audience, adults can even learn from this book. I loved being reminded how simple communication really is.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A powerful and helpful guide for ages 10 and up. Eight chapters take readers through different situations as they interact with others. Here’s the lineup:

HOW TO GREET, MEET, AND PART
HOW TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE
HOW TO DEAL WITH HARD THINGS
HOW TO BE IN A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP OR NOT
HOW TO BE SUPPORTIVE
HOW TO BE AN ALLY
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

What makes this manual unique is the take that no two kids are alike. Individuals develop and use their communication skills in different ways. The same goes with the way they learn.

Many kids don’t have a trustworthy adult to talk with or may not be comfortable bringing up these topics. The easy to read book would be a perfect jumping off point for a classroom discussion. These skills are ones that will be useful throughout life.

Colorful illustrations support the text and are often humorous. Adult readers will be wishing they had the book available in their tween and teen years.

WHAT CAN I SAY? It’s terrific!

Kids in middle grade school often find it difficult to communicate or what to do in new situations. She discusses the basic social goals including manners indirectly. How to say hi to someone new, what to do about prejudice, how to be an ally and be supportive are only a few of the different social skills she talks about. She gives examples of what to do and what not to do. The author has done an excellent job of explaining skills I would not even consider social skills — just good manners. The art is friendly and funny. Fogg did an excellent job as the art goes perfectly with book. So many people are only communicating on their cell phones so when they meet an actual person, they may not know what to say or have forgotten because it’s been so long not sure what to do. This happens even at home. I like the author’s common sense and how she lets you know it is okay to be yourself. This book is important to read regardless of your age.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I love this book. These are the things that often go untaught and kids are expected to just figure out all on their own. This book lays out how to engage with other people in a respectful, confident and clear way. I wish I had this book when I was young. I wish the fellow adults in my life would read this book now! Social interactions can be so difficult, especially as a young person, and this book addresses those challenges with clarity and humor. It makes interactions that can be scary and confusing approachable. I will be gifting this to the children in my life. I just loved it. So useful and thoughtful and sweet. It reminded me of the American Girl book “The Care and Keeping of Me” in format and tone. Though this is modern and inclusive and addresses different subject matter that I don’t often see covered in this way. This is a wonderful book.

What Can I Say? an illustrated guide with short, accessible tidbits of useful information to help kids with communication across multiple topics and issues. I do wish there was more depth to many of the conversation-based topics and less info on how to volunteer or be a good neighbor or make a protest sign (those are all good things, but maybe for a different book?)

For instance, I love that she included an example of something to say when your racist uncle makes an offensive joke, but it felt incomplete. I would have liked an additional panel or twelve on how to continue the conversation when said racist uncle doubles down. Racist Uncle Joe isn't going to just accept your one-off truth bomb and stop being an asshole.

I do think this would be a good addition to any elementary school classroom or library and can serve as a good jumping off point for larger conversations. I'd say the audience is tweens and younger -- my 13-year-old thought the information provided was useful, but that the presentation was "cringey".

Social Skills for Kids

This book is full of simple cartoon-like drawings with text bubbles and uses language kids can understand. I thought there were some helpful tips.

The chapter headings are:
How to Meet, Greet, and Part
How to Have a Conversation
How to Get Along with People
How to Deal with Hard Things
How to Be in a Romantic Relationship (Or Not)
How to Be Supportive
How to Be an Ally
How to Care for Your Community

Parents might want to be aware that it uses God’s name in vain, it addresses LGBTQ issues like relationships and coming out, and also kids choosing to be a different gender than the one from birth.

Thanks to NetGalley for a temporary digital copy to use for my review.

What Can I Say?: A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself; Speak Up, Speak Out, Talk about Hard Things, and Be a Good Friend by Catherine Newman is a great resource for kids and families. This book has a fun, engaging format that makes it easy for kids to pick up and read. The book actually deals with quite a few social topics. I think this book would be great for kids of many ages, with parental support and guidance. I read parts of it along with my son and I found that to be the perfect format so we could discuss the book's contents. I particularly liked the quizzes at the end of each chapter because they reinforced the concepts in a silly way. I don't think this is a book to be read through all at once. Rather, use the table of contents wisely to address issues with your child as they come up. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

After finishing this read, all i could think of is how different my relationship with myself and others would have taken a better turn if I was exposed to such a read as a child. A quite informative up to date guide written in a simplistic style that is accessible to readers from different age ranges. It tackles different essential topics that advocate for coexistence, tolerance and harmony between people. Definitely, a work that’s worth giving a try.