#540 - No is a Good Word

by Bharti Singh and illustrated by Urvashi Dubey

“No is a Good Word” by Bharti Singh and illustrated by Urvashi Dubey. Published by Daffodil Lane. A charming picture book about being kind and empathetic to our own feelings.

Saying “No” is not as easy as it seems. Many a times we end up saying “Yes” instead of a “No” as we do not want to hurt someone’s feelings. In the process we ourselves might end up feeling hurt or unhappy. The narrative is by a little girl called Sia. When a new girl called Zoe joins their art class, Sia asks her if she can use her new paint set. Zoe has no hesitation whatsoever in saying “No”. She however tells Sia that she could use her colour pencils instead. Zoe explained clearly why she did not want Sia to use her new paint set.

This leads to Sia learning something new. Saying “no” is not a bad thing after all. Depending on the situation and how we feel about something or someone, it is ok to say “no” at times. Using the word “no” doesn’t make us unkind or rude. We just have to use the right tone. Also the way in which we say it has to be with confidence as well as grace. Read the insightful book to join Sia on a journey of figuring out when and how to say “No” in a good way.

The book presents a unique and much needed perspective to everyone about saying “no”. Something that we need to remind ourselves every now and then. To ignore our feelings and wants and do something so that someone else will not feel bad is not good for us. Being kind doesn’t mean that we agree to everything that someone asks us to do. Not at the cost of our own peace of mind. My ten year old and I loved how the concept has been presented beautifully using a little girl as the narrator. This makes it so relatable for younger children. We found Sia such an endearing character and couldn’t help agreeing with everything that she had to say. The book serves as a timely reminder to be mindful of our happiness and peace. The bright and cheery illustrations add to the charm of the narrative.

Recommended Age

The book is apt for children aged 4/5 and above.

Disclaimer - We received this book from the author, Bharti Singh, for review. Thank you for sending across the book Bharti!