This is a typical Boys Town Press book. It is way too long. By a lot. It has to give at least three different examples on the lesson the book is trying to teach and then way to remember it. The idea behind this book is that you’re not paying attention. You’re missing the reason that somebody may do something because you haven’t stopped to think about it. Good lesson to learn but this book is so overblown and heavy-handed. Most kids will get bored before they make it to the end.

This book teaches an important lesson that kids can carry through their entire life.

This concept of people always having a reason for their actions, is hard sometimes even as adults. We act in emotion before logic.

I think the friend "curt" was necessary in keeping the attention of kids and for making it more interesting.
This would be a great addition to a 2nd grade classroom.

Thank you Boys Town Press Publishing, and NetGalley for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story. I really liked the illustrations. They were a little different than what is shown in most childrens books. I thought they were fun and unique. That is one reason I requested this book. This book also teaches young children important life lessons that they should be learning as early as possible. I think the story was pretty easy to follow as well which is important for childrens books.

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This was a cute and relatable read as someone who deals with 10 year olds all day. They have a hard time taking a breath and thinking about other’s actions (or the reasons behind them). Great read aloud for SEL

Sometimes phrases we use everyday as adults we don’t see how for children could be confusing and misunderstood. In Missing the Meaning the author tells us about Gabe and how things keep happening to him, for no reason. He becomes so frustrated and doesn’t understand why these things keep happening. When the Puppet Theater comes to life it helps Gabe learn and understand what the phrase for no reason really means. Soon Gabe learns to be more patient, understanding and forgiving. He learns what people mean when they use that phrase. There is also a guide for parents and teachers that help with strategies to learn and better understand the phrase. I think this book is very well written. Easy to follow and understand. The simple artwork keeps the focus on the story and still keeps children’s attention. This is a wonderful book to share with families and classrooms. I highly recommend sharing this story with your family.

Follow Gabe as he uncovers the fact that there is a reason behind everyone’s actions.

It is never too early to teach your child understanding, acceptance and the importance of asking why someone is acting the way they are. This book teaches all of that in a fun and engaging way.

I would say this book could be read independently or with an adult to help them understand the deeper meaning and open up wider conversations.

The cover of Missing the Meaning is colourful and eye catching, it encourages you to pick up the book.

So first off, I thought the illustrations were amazing and the type was legible too. This book teaches kids to stop and think about their actions or other's actions and try to figure out the why before overreacting. I'm not sure that this book resonates with me as a parent. I do understand the meaning behind the story. Some of the actions by the characters were actions that needed to be addressed too. Regardless of the reason for their actions, that doesn't make their actions proper. Although I didn't connect with this book, I think other parents and children will.

Love Always, Catherine

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Missing the Meaning is a story designed to support kids to learn to consider others perspectives and empathise when frustrated by their behaviour.

The illustrations are bright and engaging, and help to bring the story to life. I thought the talking curtain might be a little trite for older readers, and the text a bit wordy for younger readers. However the lessons are well described, and the scenarios presented do show a range of situations where these skills are helpful.

Great for parents, caregivers and educators to read with children to talk through reactions to frustrating situations. I also thought the tips at the back were a great way to help grownups to reinforce learning and provide validation for children developing these skills.

Thank you Boys Town Press Publishing, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

The illustrations in this short book are lovely. They're what caught my eye and made me want to pick it up in the first place. I think a change of font would have helped with this. The book has a great premise: when we don't understand why, we often have to ask what we don't understand. "For no reason"... "that I know of." The story follows a young boy learning to put himself in other peoples' shoes and find out why instead of jumping to conclusions. It felt a little verbose to me, for the age group, but it was a quick, interesting read!

Missing the Meaning follows a young boy named Gabe who is frustrated by things happening around him that appear to happen for no reason. He doesn't like the way another boy is playing basketball, he's unhappy about a score he got on a test, and he's frustrated with another student interrupting him at his desk. When he goes to the cool down spot, a puppet theater named Curt offers him advice to see why these things are happening and that there's a reason for other people's actions. Using common situations experienced by school-aged children frequently, this book shows children how to understand interactions with other people and to use empathy. It also has great illustrations.

Another good lesson for kids. Yes, there is always a reason for everything, BUT we don't NEED to know the reason. This book is great for explaining that kids actions always have a reason behind them, but I think Law also should point out that kids and people in general don't really need to know the cause behind the action sometimes. This book would be great if Law showed another example of someone not explaining to Gabe why they did what they did and Gabe being ok with that after talking about it with Curt.

Everything has a reason, but sometimes we don't need to know it and that's ok too.

The drawings could have been more thought out, like the thought bubbles. They're just squiggles. And what kid goes to the cool down spot by themselves without being told too? I'm an '80's kid, so maybe kids have evolved, but I don't think so..

This was a cute book teaching kids not to jump to conclusions and ask questions. It is a great way to teach kids how to communicate instead thinking things are not fair.

This is a great book to get kids to slow down and understand why people make the choices they do. It shows kids that there is always a meaning behind an action. Definitely a good book for those kids that always say " for no reason". I will use this book as a school counselor and with my own children.

Great lesson, presented logically, that utilized relevant examples to help kids understand important lessons of mindfulness and empathy. I appreciate the inclusion of the physical symptoms of someone that is upset. I do wish it took things a step further and discussed the need to eliminate judgement — Gabe does poorly because he missed the direction and while it is important to know the reason, it is also important at that age to address the shame that he might be feelings and make sure that he as the opportunity to address the mistake without it becoming a personal failing or character flaw.

Thank you to Netgalley.com, Boys Town Press Publishing and of course the author Jennifer Law for the ARC to review this adorable children's book!

Missing the Meaning is a wonderful book that starts to teach kids empathy, how to get out of their own bubble and pay attention and putting yourself in someone else's shoes. It does a great job teaching kids that everyone has a reason for why they do things.

I really like that they emphasize that you may not understand the reason, or may not like it, but it doesn't make their reasons any less valid.

This is a wonderful book to help kids be better people, and once it's out in print, I plan on getting a physical copy for our home library :)

Thank you for the advanced copy of Missing the Meaning. I love that a teacher wrote this book and it is a really great concept for a story. It's a great lesson that all students benefit from learning and I can see this being a great lesson for upper elementary students. However, the one part of the book that I did not like was the Curtain talking in the calm down center. (I love calm down areas) I just don't know the how believable that part of the book will be to students. Other than that, I think it would be a great morning meeting book or a fabulous book to use for counseling lessons.

This little book is awesome. I just dealt with this with a student of mine. If I had had this book, I would have read it to him and talked about why he is holding on the sad feelings about what was going on. I loved the concept as well as the solutions to the problems. It can also be used to different between “big and little problems” and how to deal with both of them. I really want to get her other books in this series. Also enjoyed the art work very much. I highly recommend this for any parent or educator as a class lesson.

I enjoyed using the idea of perspective thinking, reasoning and empathy. Additionally, many kids have trouble asking questions to find answers. This book points out how important it is to ask questions. It hits all the marks

Thank to #netgalley and Jennifer Law for allowing me to read this book

Missing the Meaning: Learning what "for no reason" really means (Paperback)
by Jennifer Law
Short story showing how we can figure out the reason things happen. From games on the playground to failing tests.

Missing the meaning taught us about life. People do what they do and every of that have a reasons. So everytime when you see people doing something that may distracted you, know it that they have their reasons to do it. Life is like that. You wont always know the reasons behind everything. To find it, you might have to pay more attention, or ask question, or look at the situation from another perspective or point of view.

Read aloud with your kids and teach them some common sense to make sense anything around them. Kids will understand when we talk to them slowly based on the book.

This book have a good illustration and explanation., not only that its also have the situation for example to more understand the lesson. Worth to read and buy and read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this one is a great book! As the parent to a child who is forever blaming others and saying "for no reason" when others do things, this is a brilliant way to address it. There is always a reason why people make the choices t they do. This book provides tips for adults to help children slow down and think of the why behind the actions of others. Definitely a book to have on hand!