Dealing with Lying

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3This book is a vehicle for adults to teach children lessons about lying. The text is addressed directly to children in a didactic voice. "Just because you have lied before does not mean you are a terrible person. But it does mean you might have made a bad decision." Brief sentences illustrate the negative consequences of such behavior in terms of damaged trust, compromised safety, and feelings of shame. Questions are posed and answered. "If your best friend told you a lie, how would you feel about him? You might stop trusting your friend. Then it might be hard to be friends." The caption for the accompanying photo restates the lesson, "People may stop trusting someone who lies to them." Children would be unlikely to read this book on their own, and adults will not need the very large type, the pronunciation keys such as trust (TRUST) and damaged (DAM-ejd), and the glossary with the same words redefined. Creative adults can find more effective ways to address the subject, but the book might provide help to those who need an introduction into a discussion of ethical issues.Adele Greenlee, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN