Our kids loved Gary! Gary the Giraffe is six and is determined to reach the acacia leaves high up in the tree. He tries and tries but he still can't reach. Our kids enjoyed seeing Gary's real disappointment about feeling frustrated, especially when a lot of his other friends had no problem reaching the leaves. It can be so hard when thing feel harder for you when everyone else seems to not have any trouble at all.

Gary's neighborhood friends see how Gary is feeling and share that they ask for help with many things no matter what their ages. It was great to see the de-stigmatization of "asking for help" and was a great reminder that both kids and adults need help sometimes.

Gary's friends work together to help him reach the leaves and it was great to see the teamwork and pride they had for their friend Gary when he reached his goal. This was a delightful book to read with our kids and it was beautifully illustrated.

Thank you to NetGalley, The American Psychological Association and Magination Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are our own.

Whoever said parenting was going to be easy? There are so many things to teach your little one and I am not just talking about brushing up their teeth and doing up the buttons. There are some essential life skills that we need to help children learn: saying sorry, disagreeing without fighting, knowing when to let go and when to ask for help.
Gary Giraffe has just turned 6, which he is very happy about—he is finally growing up. Gary is still a bit uncoordinated and quite short for his age. When he tries to reach for the greenest shiniest leaves from the top of an acacia tree, he falls down and is very upset. Gary tries different ways but the leaves remain elusive. His friends tell him that, although they are older than he is, they ask for help when they need it. With help from his friends, Gary succeeds and learns a valuable lesson in life.
Children will find it easy to relate to Gary. The story is simple but the message is very important. It is all right and even natural to ask for help- you do not have to struggle alone.
The book also has notes for parents and caregivers with further suggestions on how to encourage, model help-seeking behaviour, and develop empathy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Magination Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Gary is a side character in The Lion King and nothing you say can change my mind. 💁🏼‍♀️🦒 

Gary is a young giraffe who is just trying to learn how to giraffe. It's difficult some days okay... All his friends try to tell him it's alright to ask for help when you need it but does he ever figure it out? Well you'll have to read the book to find out! 

I love Gary and I think he should be in every school and library. 📚💕 

Sooo, when does the Gary merch come out because I need a new stuffed giraffe to add to my collection? 👀 

***Thank you Netgalley and American Psychological Association and Magination Press for this cutie.***

It is very hard to ask for help. Even as an adult.We are so stubborn! This is a good story for young kids who should always be encouraged to ask for help ad never ridiculed for asking. I liked (and could relate to) to the story. The parent and teacher guide at the end was also very useful in assisting how to teach children when to ask for help. The illustrations were really nice! great story and a much needed one.

This is a great story that can be used to encourage children to ask for help when they need it. Gary Giraffe has just turned 6 so he isn't happy that he still can't reach the good leaves when he tries by himself. Then when he is encouraged to ask for help, the other animals lift him up and pull the branch lower down and he gets the good leaves, all because he asked for help.

It also contains information for parents and teachers on how to use the book to encourage their own little one to ask for help even though they think they're big. It explains why it is important to ask for help and how you can start the conversation.

Fully enjoyed this story and would use it with children aged 4-8 years.

Oh my goodness, I couldn't love this story more. Such a sweet take of a giraffe coming off she and being able to do some shotgun things. Unfortunately, he isn't able to do them on his own. He learns that adding for help is always better than doing nothing.
This book holds such an important lesson for children that we often fail to reach and end up doing them such a disservice because of it. Teaching children to ask for help is a valuable lesson that will benefit them throughout life.

Asking for help can be hard, especially if it's something you think you should be able to do by yourself. In this book Gary Giraffe learns that everyone needs help sometimes and it's okay to ask for help when you need it. This book is a nice way to help children learn the same lesson. The author includes notes for parents and caregivers about how we can teach our children and support them when they ask for help.

<i>Giraffe Asks for Help</i> by Nyasha M. Chikowore is an incredibly cute little kids novel that centers around a young giraffe who has just had his sixth birthday and is looking forward to finally being able to reach some of the best leaves all by himself. But, as he goes on to get some of the leaves, it turns out that he's still just a bit too short to reach the leaves completely on his own. And so the story follows Gary Giraffe as he works through various creative ideas in attempts to reach the high and yummy leaves on the tree, failing each time until he grows incredibly upset.

And then the other animals of the savannah gather together to teach Gary the importance of asking for help, removing some of the stigma attached with not being able to accomplish something on one's own. <i>Giraffe Asks for Help</i> is a brilliant book that promotes the idea of knowing and being comfortable asking for help when it's needed. A lot of kids are excited to do things on their own when they reach a certain age, but they should always be aware that they have the ability to ask for help and that it's not a bad thing to do so.

With utterly adorable artwork and a wonderful message, the book tells a great story that I would recommend to every kid out there. I loved how Gary was creative in his attempts at problem solving, but he was still able to turn to his animal friends and get the help he needed in the process. I think that this is a message a lot of kids will benefit from and it's definitely a book that I would recommend to young kids.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

This is a sweet, simple story with cute animal characters. The message is good. The back matter is helpful and informative.

Gary giraffe is excited, he’s 6 years old today! He’ll finally be able to reach the best leaves from the giant acacia trees. When things don’t go as plan, Gary is frustrated and disappointed. All his other giraffe friends his age are able to eat the leaves with no problems. When Tye Tickbird his best friend suggests to Gary to ask for help, Gary’s friends help him to reach the acacia leaves. Gary learns that it’s ok to ask for help sometimes.

This book has absolutely adorable illustrations and went perfectly with the story. The story was well written and easy to follow. Gary and his friends were cute and taught a lesson in an easy to understand manner. At the end of the book is a Note to Parents & Caregivers about the importance of help-seeking, what you can do to encourage help-seeking behavior & to encourage empathy. My grandson loved Gary the giraffe and I’ll admit I did too! I felt it was a good book to let children know it’s okay to ask for help when necessary. I definitely think it would be a great book to encourage teamwork and helping one another to succeed.

Giraffe Asks for Help by Nyasha M. Chikowore is a lovely children's book.

Gary Giraffe has turned six, and as a big boy he should be able to do everything himself. Right? Maybe not.
After several failing attempts to reach the best leaves he fails. That upsets him and makes him sad.
Luckily his friends convince him to ask for help.
And that is when magic happens.

First of all, I really like how beautifully illustrated the book is. That is very, very important to me and I believe to children as well.
This is extremely important lesson that not only children should learn and that is to ask for help.
It teaches children that it is ok not to be able to do everything, that they shouldn't have unrealistic expectations of themselves and that we should asks other for help when we are struggling.
In this day and age when we all have high expectation of ourselves as well of others I believe that is crucial to teach our children that no one is perfect and no one can do everything perfectly.

Charming read with a very important message.

This was a great story and can be used as encouragement to get kids to ask for help when they need it.
The book does a great job of explaining why it is important to ask for help. While this book seemed a little advanced for my toddler it would be a great book for kids in kindergarten and early elementary. I thought it was a fantastic book and will be purchasing it to add to my daughter's collection.

Gary the clumsy giraffe is so excited to be turning 6 years old. That means he’ll be tall enough to eat the leaves from the best trees. When he and his dad go out to have meal, Gary is dismayed to find that he can’t quite reach the leaves after all. His friends remind him that it’s ok to ask for help, they come up with a wonderful, cooperative solution.

I thought the illustrations were darling. It was fun to see how tall the house and doorways had to be for a giraffe family. And I enjoyed that the main character was a giraffe rather than the usual dog or cat.

This is a great book with a wonderful message.

I received a digital copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

For the kids:
Gary the Giraffe wakes the morning of his sixth birthday excited and eager, ready to reach the greenest and shiniest leaves, and cheered on by his friend Tye Tickbird and his supportive father; but, when he can’t, he learns that it’s okay—and sometimes necessary—to ask for help.

For parents and caregivers:
The three pages after the story are more important to read, and consequently put into practice, than the story itself. Nyasha Chikowore explains why teaching children to ask for help is essential, when help-seeking is appropriate, and of whom children should request help. While asking for help is admittedly a topic that seems intuitive, the author describes specifically the significance of this fundamental skill. Every interaction with a child has the potential to become a teachable moment.

This is a fantastic book with so much to offer. Chikowore’s advice is invaluable; her story demonstrates learning a skill, and Janet McDonnell’s illustrations are cute, colorful, and capture Gary’s moods. Even the relationship of Tye Tickbird and Gary Giraffe teaches ways in which the two species can be helpful to one another. Giraffes provide a perch and a food source, attracting bugs that tickbirds find tasty; in exchange, the tickbirds eat the pests and warn giraffes of danger in the area.

Gary Giraffe (who-just-turned-six-years-old-and-should-be-able-to-reach-acacia-leaves-now) must face his failure as he watches the other giraffes his age munching on leaves they collected themselves after he’d been unsuccessful in his attempts. His frustration, disappointment, and a failed plan leave Gary pouting and feeling insecure. Those feelings occur more frequently with some than others, but Gary’s emotions are widely relatable, not just to kids, but citizens worldwide.

The negative emotions that Gary feels are normal, but learning how to overcome them is critical. Seeking the assistance of others can be one strategy, and this is the perfect story to teach it. Gary’s friends rally around him, rebuild his pride, and inspire confidence, each with their own story of being unable to do something alone. A cheetah, an elephant, a lion, and the trusty tickbird work together to create a plan and solve the problem while a hippopotamus, some gazelles, and a couple of giraffes cheer them on. Gary could now reach the sweetest leaves he’d ever tasted; all he had to do was ask for help!


Thanks to the American Psychological Association, APA’s Magination Press, and NetGalley for the provided e-ARC and the opportunity to read this book. My review is honest, unbiased, and voluntary. #NetGalley #GiraffeAsksForHelp

This charming story is about a small giraffe named Gary who just had his sixth birthday. What does that mean to him? Well he now can reach way up high into the acacia trees and eat the succulent leaves from the top. He can't wait to show everyone how grown up he is.

Gary's dad accompanies him to this milestone event.

"Let's go, Gary. The early giraffe gets the good leaves!"

On the way through the neighbourhood he is met with birthday wishes from his animal friends and receives a special greeting from his best friend in the whole world, Tye Tickbird.

When they finally reach a tall acacia tree the moment of truth is waiting. Gary tries his best to reach up and nibble the leaves near the top but is disappointed to discover he is still not tall enough to succeed in that endeavour. He is so disappointed and humiliated at his shortcomings. He tries out several methods to achieve success but fails. Oh my! He is broken-hearted. His friends can do it why can't he? Tye, sensing his friend's dilemma and frustration, suggests that perhaps Gary should ask for help. Will Gary take his concerned friend's advice and humbly ask his friends to help him out?

This is a valuable life lesson to learn at an early age... it's just fine to ask for help from those around you. Others are more than happy to give a helping hand. None of Gary's family or friends belittled him or made him feel embarassed and I like that aspect of the story a lot. The illustrations are colourful, full of emotion and fun.

This is another book in the series from the American Psychological Association with accommodating suggestions for adults at the end of the book. I recommend "Giraffe Asks For Help."

I thought the idea for this story was right up my ally. I have a very independent little girl who will be turning 6 soon so I thought it would be nice to have a story that would feature how it is ok to ask for help or to look up other solutions instead of giving up.
Unfortunately this story did not live up to par for me . I wish they would have explored how you can take the time to think up other solutions , and I was surprised by the lack of help that came from the parent. It made up for it by putting tips through the book for parents through the book.

The first thing you see here is the bright imagery used on each page. It really draws a child's attention. The underlying message is clear and very important, you are never too old to ask someone for help. Even the lion who is 30 asks his friends for help. Both of my boys (2 and 7) loved this book.

I think what I really enjoyed most was the ending. The final pages have some notes and advice for caregivers. Some of these talk about modeling help-seeking behavior. I often do this to show my boys that it's always alright to ask for some help when you need it. Showing empathy is also a subject in the final pages. I think this book is entertaining for children but has some hidden tools for parents as well. We can not stop our children from growing but we can help them onto the right paths in life.

Magination Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Giraffe Asks For Help. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Gary Giraffe has been waiting to turn six, so that he may finally reach the tasty leaves on the acacia tree all on his own. When the outing does not go as planned, what can Gary do to change the situation to a more favorable one?

Giraffe Asks For Help explores the ideas of self esteem and reliance on others, all within a simple story that children will understand. The book teaches children that asking for help is not a weakness, that there is no shame in needing the assistance and support of others. I particularly liked how the author, Nyasha Chikowore, included a note to parents and caregivers on how to convey the life lessons covered in this book to young children. Giraffe Asks For Help is well illustrated, with simple drawings that convey the story in a pleasing manner. I would definitely recommend Giraffe Asks For Help to parents and educators, as the message of this book is one that should be passed on to young children.

Gary the giraffe is turning 6 years old, the age when most giraffes can reach the juiciest leaves on the acacia tree. Gary is excited to finally be able to reach the leaves, but when he tries, he keeps ending up falling on his face instead of eating leaves. His buddy, Tye the tickbird, suggest that Gary try asking for help when he can’t do something alone. Is it ok to ask for help?

A great tool for parents, teachers, and other adults who work with kids. The story is attractively presented and there’s further information and ideas in the back of how to help kids learn that it is ok to ask for help. I like that the friendship of Tye and Gary introduces kids to real animals who help each other out in the wild. That was a nice little bonus. Definitely recommended for elementary schools, families with young children, and of course, giraffe lovers.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute little story about asking for and giving help to others.. Beautiful artwork and a wonderful message for children.