Background and Description
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Artfully designed in black-and-white using abstracted portions of enlarged letterforms, Please Don’t Say An X Word offers a jumping off point for that all-important discussion about verbal abuse and bullying with upper elementary and middle school students. But first, what is an x word? In math, “x” stands for a missing quantity, as in the equation 2(x) = 4, where x equals 2. And so it is in this book, where “x words” stand for all the “bad, angry, hurtful words” we use to denigrate others in the heat of an argument. Using just the right amount of humor and thoughtfulness, W. Nikola-Lisa, author of the award-winning Bein’ With You This Way, urges us to reflect on how we talk to each other, at the same time encouraging us to explore the incredible beauty and richness of language.
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2020 Independent Press Book Awards
First Place, Picture Books - All Ages
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A really sweet alphabet book that introduces letters and new words whilst also encouraging children to consider their choice of words and the impact they may have. A great choice for parents of conscientious children. (Netgalley, 5 out of 5 stars)
This book will be a wonderful teaching method to teach kids not to use words to bully. It is a subject that needs to be addressed, and I think that using a book will be very helpful. (Netgalley, 4 out of 5 stars)
When you read this out loud with your young child companion, you have to pronounce the Z as 'zee'. There's a point in my stating that, which you'll see when you find the actual pun that closes this book, and which is at the heart of it. It's a paean to having a vocab, asking us to use more words than we might think we know, beginning with each and every letter of the alphabet – except, of course, for the repeated instruction that makes up the title... It is a slightly strange little read, and the whole thing is kind of hampered by English using two subtly different indefinite articles, but for me the book was a success. (Netgalley, 4 out of 5 stars)
An interesting book which I wasn’t expecting. This book explores to topic of swearing in a lighthearted way and could lead to further discussion about other ways of dealing with anger and frustration other than swearing. (Netgalley, 4 out of 5 stars)
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With wit, sensitivity, and insight, award-winning author W. Nikola-Lisa explores the key issue of verbal bullying in this fabulous concept picture book. The narrative consists of fancy, funny words starting with each letter of the alphabet that one can use instead of using an X word (the “X word” stands for all the “bad… angry… hurtful…” words that we use to hurl insults at others). Together, words and letterforms create a sense of harmony, emphasizing the story’s educational realism. The use of instantly recognizable abstracted portions of enlarged letterforms in black and white are pleasing to eyes, and readers will gleefully embrace the anarchy that the book’s high contrasting style design seems to unleash. A combination of wit, humor, and reflection, Nikola-Lisa’s sparkling prose is instantly winning and the narrative, which is down to vital essential skillfully captures the feelings of warmth and friendliness. He makes the book’s message unmissable with just a few antic lines. Young readers will have fun reciting the letters of the alphabet and demand a reread immediately whereas the older readers will be delighted to find a horde of rich vocabulary. The theme of anti-bullying gives the book a universal appeal. With his strong sense of delightful composition and a keen sense of what makes readers giggle, Nikola-Lisa has created a story which is both informative and engrossing. A fun way to initiate a talk about bullying, the book will make for a helpful educational resource for school classrooms and library shelves. Reviewed by The Prairie Book Review, 26 March 2020
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Title: Please Don't Say An X Word
Author: W. Nikola-Lisa
Publisher: Gyroscope Books
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Age Levels: 10-12
Grade Levels: 4-6
Page Count: 52
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019917737
PCIP data included on copyright page
Pub date: April 21, 2020
Available in the following formats:
ISBN: 978-1734192308 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1734192315 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1734192322 (e-book)
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For orders by U.S. trade bookstores, retail outlets, and public libraries,
please contact the Ingram Content Group: Retail (800) 937-8000,
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