Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales - Paperback

by Jeanie Franz Ransom (Author), Jackie Urbanovic (Illustrator)

A practical story that helps children understand the difference between tattling and telling

Young children often turn to adults when something goes wrong. As their problem-solving skills develop, they may feel unsure about how to handle conflicts with friends, classmates, or siblings on their own. Sometimes children report small problems because they want to be helpful, gain approval, or get attention. Other times, they may tell on someone out of frustration or to get even.

Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal helps children learn when it is important to ask an adult for help and when they can try to solve a problem themselves. With warmth, humor, and relatable everyday situations, the story offers simple guidelines that help young readers recognize the difference between tattling and reporting something serious. The book encourages communication, problem-solving, and respectful relationships with peers while helping children build confidence in handling everyday conflicts.

Key features:

• Understanding Tattling vs. Telling Helps children recognize when a situation requires adult help and when they can try to resolve it themselves
• Supports Social Problem-Solving Encourages communication, cooperation, and respectful conflict resolution with peers and siblings
• Relatable Everyday Situations Uses familiar school and home scenarios that children easily recognize
• Conversation Starter for Adults Includes a helpful note for teachers and parents with guidance for discussing tattling and problem-solving
• Trusted Publisher From Magination Press, the children's imprint of the American Psychological Association, dedicated to emotional well-being and healthy development

Author Biography

Jeanie Franz Ransom is a licensed professional counselor whose books include Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf, Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal, I Don't Want to Talk About It, and What Really Happened to Humpty? She's also worked as an elementary school counselor, where she was never without her popular puppet, Mr. Know-It-Owl. Jeanie and her husband are parents to three grown boys and two dogs, and divide their time between St. Louis, MO, and Northport, MI. Visit her at www.jeanieransom.com and follow her on Facebook: @JeanieRansomAuthor