Words Are Not for Hurting »

Elizabeth Verdick is a children's book writer and editor.  She lives in Minnesota with her husband and their two children.

Marieka Heinlen launched her career as a children’s book illustrator with the award-winning Hands Are Not for Hitting. As a freelance illustrator and designer, Marieka focuses her work on books and other materials for children, teens, parents, and teachers. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and son.

Selected to receive the 2004 Read, America! Collection Award

The Read, America! Collection is an annual listing of select books in the children s market and calls attention to superior books. The How Rude!™ Handbooks have also been selected as "Classic" picks, which recognize books above the ordinary.

Winners are announced directly to the newsrooms and feature desks of 1,400 major daily newspapers, wire services, TV networks, and radio and Internet facilities.

Kelly Moning - Children's Literature

One of the most important lessons young children can learn is how their actions and words affect others. Sometimes this is a hard lesson to teach. This book is a useful tool for the classroom or for parents at home in teaching the difference between kind words and hurtful words and their impact on others. The simple words and vivid illustrations—kids interacting with kids and kids interacting with adults—gently help to convey the message: Words are for helping. In the illustrations, the expressions on kids' faces also help to carry over the message of the text. Even expressions of the dogs and cats, as onlookers, reinforce the text and help readers to understand the effect words have. 2004, Free Spirit Publishing, Ages 3 to 6.