The Not-So-Friendly Friend - (Capable Kiddos) by Christina Furnival (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In The Not-So-Friendly Friend, children will learn an easy and practical lesson about how to firmly and assertively--yet kindly--stand up for themselves in the face of a bully. By teaching children about the importance and value of setting boundaries for healthy friendships, this book provides children the tools they need to foster their social confidence and emotional well-being..."--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

The Not-So-Friendly Friend is a recipient of the prestigious Gold Award from Mom's Choice Awards(R)

How can I help my child deal with a bully?

What do I teach them about handling an on-again-off-again, not-so-friendly friend?

My advice to "just be kind" isn't helping, and my child is still hurting.

Christina Furnival, a licensed mental health therapist and mom, helps answer these questions in this charming and engaging rhyming story about a young child who successfully navigates the complexities of an unkind peer relationship.

In The Not-So-Friendly Friend, children will learn an easy and practical lesson about how to firmly and assertively―yet kindly―stand up for themselves in the face of a bully. By teaching children about the importance and value of setting boundaries for healthy friendships, this book provides children the tools they need to foster their social confidence and emotional well-being.

Review Quotes

"Being aware of our feelings is a building block for our emotional and social intelligence. In this charming and creative book, Christina Furnival offers children a way to sense and shape their emotions that emerge in the important friendships that shape who we are now, and who we will become later on in our lives."

―Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Developing Mind, Parenting from the Inside Out, and The Whole Brain Child

"Christina Furnival and Katie Dwyer are a dynamic team, creating a beautiful children's book about healthy boundaries and negotiating friendships. This wonderful resource allows parents and teachers to work with their children about setting limits and kindly living within them. A fantastic read for any classroom!"

―Lisa Baylis, educator and author of Self-Compassion for Educators

"Managing bullies is almost a guarantee with school-aged children, and this book helps children identify the right steps to seeking help and setting limits! Staying true to yourself, setting limits, and seeking help is often not taught by parents or educators, and this book will help guide children in managing complex problems appropriately. As a therapist in my 30s, some of these points were great reminders for difficult people I have come across!"

―Brie Turns, PhD, LMFT, author of I Will Always Love You

About the Author

Christina Furnival, MA, LPCC, is a wife, mother of two, writer, author, and licensed mental health therapist. With over a decade of experience in the field, she is passionate about helping parents and children grow their skill sets, overcome challenges, and gain confidence to live happy, fulfilling lives.

Her meaningful stories in the Capable Kiddos series serve as entertaining and enlightening resources to empower children and to make them feel capable of managing tough situations and their accompanying emotions.