This or That

We have an eleven year old son with SPD and ASD. It is very difficult for him to make decisions. This in one of the only books that I have found on the topic! Well done!

This or That: A Story About Choosing is a cute book about a child that has difficulty making decisions. Alexander just can't decide from clothes to food the daily decisions are a struggle. His father says he should make decisions quickly; his mother thinks he should be deliberate and take his time. Alexander has a breakthrough on his birthday and discovers a decision making style of his own. This is wonderful story to help readers understand that it can be hard to make decisions and sometimes “you get what you get, and that can be OK too.” The illustrations are captivating and colorful. This charming story will be helpful in teaching readers how to develop their own decision making style and have fun doing it.

Special thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alexander struggles with making decisions and it's not working out well for him. Endless deliberation and fear of making the wrong choice often lead him to miss out on opportunities or inconvenience other people. His parents both offer advice based on how they make choices, but neither approach is quite right. Finally, Alexander decides NOT to decide, and finds out that's a choice with consequences too.

This is a wonderful resource for a very relatable problem for young kids! Learning how to make choices isn't always instinctive and this very clearly breaks down various approaches and offers some very practical ideas for students to try. The story and art are both very engaging and will help keep readers invested as they work through the lesson of the book. This would be a great circle time read for pre-K and early elementary and could be used to start many great discussions about making choices.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a delightful book about choices and making up your own mind. Alexander has a moment-by-moment crisis every time he must make a decision throughout his day.

Alexander sometimes wants both things offered him, sometimes he wants neither, oftentimes he wants the only thing he can't have, and yes, if he doesn't hurry and make up his mind quickly he gets nothing at all. How does one choose the right one is Alexander's dilemma?

Finally Alexander has a eureka moment on his birthday. He orders a HUGE sundae that is so humungous that it fills up the whole table. There is every type of ice cream and topping available in the dish! After a series of bites Alexander comes to the realization that chocolate swirl is his most favourite of all! Ahhhhhh... heavenly!

From that day forth Alexander figures out his own decision-making strategy. It is one that fits him to a "T". His mother reveals to him that a baby is on the way to their home and Alexander wishes for a baby brother. Will he get his wish or be happy "to get what he gets"?

The illustrations are bright, colourful and full of fun. The book highlights emotions and renders help in making decisions that are tailor-made just for you. I love the story and highly recommend it.

This book was about a child who struggled to make every day decisions. He tried advice from his mom and dad, but it did not help. Finally he learned to prioritize what he knew when making a decision and then choose differently next time if it was a mistake. My daughter can struggle with decision making and this was a great story for us to share. It helped her know she wasn't the only one and accept that sometimes you will make a wrong decision and it is okay.

This was a cute story about a boy who has trouble making choices. He worries that he’s missing out on something when having to make a choice. My toddler is the same way so I had to read this book! He eventually realizes that sometimes when you choose you don’t make the right choice but you will learn from your decisions. I thought this was a great story. The illustration was awesome. I’ll definitely be getting a copy for my son.

Thanks NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for access to this ARC.

This is a great book for social emotional learning. I am a very indecisive person and so I could appreciate this book. It is a fun way to show kids the power they have with choices and the importance of it. I loved the story and the illustrations. I would add some would you rather questions to the read aloud with this book.

I really enjoyed this story of Alexander exploring his world and learning about decisions. Making choices can be overwhelming for children, it was nice to see the message of decision making and their consequences in simple terms for children to really understand. I felt even as adults we could relate!

This or That is an adorable and realistic view into the difficulty children have in decision making. The bright and fun illustrations take us through the tale while also working through the emotions of decision making, making it an easier idea to understand.. This is a great book for elementary age children