You Can Say Hi With Only A Smile is a delightful read for all children, but will be especially helpful for children preschool through early elementary age. The text is concise, but meaningful. Saunders does an excellent job of exploring all of the ways children communicate as well as offering some potential insight into why some children may use differing communication styles. The book highlights the use of eye contact(or lack there of), AAC devices, sign language, and non-verbal communication. The illustrations are colorful and detailed without being distracting. This book is a must for every speech-language pathologist, counselor, teacher and family working to raise inclusive and kind children.

Such an inclusive and important book; I love it! The author accurately and simply illustrated that there are many different types of ways to greet others, and they're not always physical, big, or verbal. This point is pushed even further because none of the characters make a big deal out of greetings that are different from their own. This was such a good decision because it helps normalize our differences for young readers. Lastly, I specifically want to give credit to the author for including the "aunt that requests a hug" moment, because it's common for kids to have a relative like this, and they might not always want to give a hug. I applaud the main character for sticking to their boundaries and turning down the hug. I can't stress enough how important it is for kids to see characters like that, who put their own needs and boundaries first. Perfect book; bravo!

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

This book!!!!! What a brilliant, perfect book on all the different ways we communicate. I really really appreciate how many different ways the author highlights - words, gestures, assistive devices. All are normal, all are acceptable. I appreciate how the different forms of communication are presented - without highlighting that someone is 'different' that's why they use a device or sign. It is so inclusive!

I cannot wait to read this book with my kindergarten class.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really lovely book. The pictures are adorable and the message of the book, that there are many different ways to communicate, it wonderful!

This book would be excellent for children with poor communication skills. Unfortunately, it's not useful for my teachings.

Thank you to Magination Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Everyone is different, everyone comminucates differently. This book is a perfect example of each persons individuality, showcasing many different ways people say hello to each other.

I loved how we went round to meet all the people in the protagonists life and it shared how each person communicated, from speaking, to a machine, to waves and smiles. The illustrations that went with this book were really sweet and I loved seeing all the visuals of how each person shared their hellos to each other.

This is a great book for helping with young children to learn they can communicate in many different ways, that each person is different, to learn what they are personally comfortable with, what their boundaries are. The book also had lots more resources at the end to further educate on the topic which i love seeing included.

The illustrations by Tracy Nishimura Bishop in this book are the cutest! You Can Say Hi With Only A Smile by Merriam Sarcia Saunders is a wonderfully inclusive book that highlights the various ways people communicate with one another, some with their hands, others with a tablet and some with just a smile, wink or a wave and that's ok!
Be sure to read the notes at the end to give you even more insight into understanding about nonverbal communication, personal.space and movement.
Highly recommend!

What a great book to teach children about the different ways we can say "hi". I think many kids could relate to the various ways we can say hi without using words! Beautiful illustrations and colors! A great book to add to a classroom library!

netgalley ARC - I am so happy that this exists! I think kids would really benefit from being exposed to diversity in communication and this is a lovely example.

Thank you to Netgalley and Merriam Sarcia Saunders for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have a sister that owns her own speech language pathology clinic, and WOW, this book just makes me want to cry. Inclusiveness in language is so important! I loved the highlighting of language can be interpreted through so many different mannerisms. The illustrations showed this through a multitude of genders, races, and abilities. Teaching our kids to have this attitude when greeting anyone is so important, and I can think of some adults that could benefit from this one too!

This book is written in such a cute way that teaches children many differe t ways to great others. The illustrations are also very nice.

My daughter (5) really enjoyed discussing the different ways that people can say hello. She hasn't had a lot of experience with people who use different methods or technologies to communicate, so this book did a great job of giving different examples. We discussed sign language and assistive devices and the reasons that they might be needed. We also discussed how some people are ok with touching and hugs, and others aren't. This book discusses all of these in a way that is normal and accepted without any othering which I thought was fantastic. The illustrations were very cute and clearly showed the different ways the kids were saying hello. My daughter even asked me to look up how to say "Hello nice to meet you" in ASL (which I luckily already knew how to sign correctly). Definitely a book we will be adding to our library in hard copy. We read this e-book through NetGalley.

Lovely book with gorgeous illustrations introducing children to the many friendly and acceptable ways to say hello. Love the nonverbal and verbal communication methods and focus on the main character’s (and others) comfort and choice as she greets others.

As an SLP in an elementary school, this is an amazing story! I love the device representation and all forms of multimodal communication in there. I will be getting this for my classroom as soon as it is published!

Thank you for the advanced copy! This was a great story for young readers and very well written! The pictures were entertaining!

A lovely and enjoyable book about the many ways people communicate. Some are loud, some use gestures, and some are physically unable to speak—but thankfully, technology now helps many express their thoughts. I appreciate the message of inclusivity and understanding.
However, I felt it lacked a bit of depth or a clear narrative. A few situational examples would have been great, allowing young readers to engage in role-playing and better grasp the different forms of communication.
Still, a meaningful book that encourages empathy and awareness!

I can’t wait for You Can Say Hi with Only a Smile by Merriam Sarcia Saunders to become available for purchase so that I can add it to my classroom library. This is such a beautiful acknowledgment that not all children -or adults!- are the same, and however we choose to greet people is absolutely fine.

I teach students of all abilities. Some are non-verbal and some communicate with their devices. Some love to hug and some prefer a quiet hello. All of these are validated in this lovely book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read You Can Say Hi with Only a Smile, which is a wonderful addition to any classroom that celebrates diversity and student choice.

AWWWW I LOVE THIS! This is the kids book version of the millennial tumblr posts along the lines of
"They don't say I love you, they say...
...get home safe.
...good luck on your test.
...this made me think of you.
...text me when you get home."
Plz, someone, understand this reference^

This really is precious though and I will certainly be picking up a copy for my son's little library!

Thank you bunches to Merriam Sarcia Saunders, APA, NetGalley and Magination for the eARC which I have voluntarily reviewed.