I really loved this book. As a teacher who focuses on emotional literacy in primary and middle school I will definitely be buying a book to have in use in the classroom. I found the content presented beautifully and, as an adult who struggles in similar situations, I found some great advice.

I really enjoyed this book and would have really benefited from it as a child. I loved the simple, straightforward advice about how to respond to awkward or difficult situations. The first few sections in particular were really strong and would be a great learning tool for a child that struggles with social skills or etiquette. Heck, I'm a grown adult and I feel like I learned a lot. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that, to me, it did feel pretty preachy at times, especially in the last section. I think it would have been better if there was a little more space held for people that might not agree about the pronouns and gender identity parts of the book. Or advice about how to interact with people who disagree with you on certain issues with whom you disagree but still love and don't want to write off. And, while the book is supposed to be simple and for young people, I also think that the parts about talking to your family about their offensive behavior were a little unrealistic. The hard part of the conversation isn't necessarily confronting Uncle Joe about his offensive joke, it's dealing with his reaction in a mature and respectful way that isn't starting a fight. That's the part that I still need help with and definitely did when I was younger. Overall, though, I think this book would be a truly valuable gift for a kid! I definitely recommend it.

This book is brilliant. I bever felt this is only for kids. So many lessons were so needed for even an adult. It reminds us to be fair, vice our opinions and never be rude. There are lessons for each situation / feel and done quite well. Must read.

Catherine Newman, the author of “ What Can I Say?” Has done a marvelous job on explaining the do’s and don’ts of the conversations. This book is definitely a savior for anyone who is in need of assistance with choosing the right things to say at the right time.

This was really a great book!
It is a book for kids but I suggest it for everyone from teens to adults. All the tips are really helpful, I used them in a friend's party and I easily communicated with other people there.
The book also focuses on how to talk about pronouns, sexuality, racism and prejudices. The cartoons in the book are fun and diverse depicting common scenarios and activities.
I enjoyed the book and thankyou Netgalley for the ARC!

This is an absolute must read for all ages! It gives some of the best of life advice have heard in a long time. What to do when you are when you forget someone’s name? How do you handle asking someone out? How do handle saying yes or NO to being asked out! The author even covers topics of small talk, so awkward for me, I always over talk! I know this book is geared for the middle schoolers, but I truly believe everyone can benefit from the assistance offered in this book, I know I have!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Storey Publishing and Catherine Newman for the opportunity to review the ARC of this amazing book!

This gem of a book helps cover some of the basics of the social graces (greetings, turn-taking in conversations, leave-taking, etc.). Especially well-suited for highly logical children who might be finding themselves in awkward social situations as they transition schools, meet new people, etc. Compliments, compromising, and apologies can make for more difficult situations. Learn how to safely navigate these with kid-friendly vocabulary and examples. Even navigating the rocky disagreement and relationship minefield is explored. This is a great book to read for elementary and middle school aged kids. Though, the format seems basic, it's an all-around gem of a read with valuable lessons for everyone to help make the world better for everyone.

I think this book is applicable for all ages.

What Can I Say by Catherine Newman is a guide for you, kids, teens or adult, how to communicate with your friends, crush even your neighbor.

It's not only encourage us to say something nice and be empathy to other, but only encourage us to have our own boundary, respecting value and let go of some relationships

This book is written beautifully with practical example that you can use in your daily life right away.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc.

This is a fabulous guide on how to be a well adjusted, kind, thoughtful kid who can interact with grace. Newman nails it. Should be required reading for politicians, bosses, and leaders of the free world.

What can I say? What a book!

The book “What Can I Say?” covers several scenarios in the interactions with other people. Comic-style illustrations along with the text give positive and negative ways to respond. The etiology of words such as “compromise” are explained.

Recommended for middle school age.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Stormy Publishers!

I loved this book. It does such a great job going through appropriate interactions that kids in middle grades and early teens will encounter for the first time that will require more maturity to handle well. It lets them know it's OK if you don't always say the right thing, but gives some appropriate tools and phrases to use. Everything from that first crush/romance, setting boundaries, writing emails, and becoming an ally was covered. The only omission I noticed was a lack of discussion of what to do about friends with invisible disabilities (ADHD, ASD) and how to process and communicate with atypical peers. Would recommend for school and public libraries.

What Can I Say by Catherine Newman is a great book for middle school kids and beyond. It is a contemporary manners book, to help people learn how to best interact with others in a compassionate and thoughtful way. Highly recommended for all kids.

*What Can I Say* by Catherine Newman is a great book for that little human in your life that is still learning how to be a person (which, at the end of the day, aren't we all?). With lessons ranging from things as seemingly simple—that are oftentimes the hardest—like how to introduce yourself, to explaining complex issues like allyship or dating; this book treats its readers with kindness and respect. Even though I am far from the age range of the target audience, I still found myself laughing, crying and learning along the pages of *What Can I Say?* and I think you will too. Sometimes we all need a hug that feels like home, that says "everything is gonna be okay," this book is exactly that.

I LOVE this! This is such a clear, simple guide to both basic and more complex social skills that is actually fun to read! The light, irreverent tone provides plenty of chuckles and makes this seem like a conversation with a wise friend, not a whole book of "shoulds" and "should nots".

The tone and topics make this appropriate for middle school students, but it could be just as useful for high school and older, especially if the reader is possibly neurodivergent or simply in need of a bit of support in navigating social relationships. Clear examples are given for all kinds of interaction and the scripts provided are incredibly useful. Sometimes just having the words available makes everything so much easier!

I would heartily recommend this for school and community libraries as well as for a school psychologist or guidance counselor's bookshelf. There's no one who couldn't benefit from giving this a read!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

A super cute and informative guide for kids who struggle with social situations! This book includes scenarios like “how to give and receive a compliment,” “how to be angry,” (appropriately), even “how to respond to an offensive joke.”

There is a good mix of text paragraphs and comics-style scenarios.

I could see this being especially useful for kids on the spectrum!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. "What Can I Say" by Catherine Newman gives a nice, thoughtful, age appropriate guide to what to say and how to act/react in given situations. The illustrations are inclusive and friendly. The text and situations are approachable and deal with situations that would naturally come up in daily life. Fun, without being talked down to.

This is so great, timely and appropriate for today's youth. They really do not know the basics of communication and as adults, I think we take these conversations for granted! This is fantastically illustrated guide.

What a fantastic book for kids, and grown ups! I think it's probably best suited for tweens, but younger or older kids would still get value from it. Heck, I'm in my 40s and I learned a thing or two. Sometimes it's just hard to know what to say. This book helps with some social basics, but also more complex situations like bullying, dating, and being an upstander when you see injustice. Some parents might write this book off based on some of the progressive themes, but that's a shame because there is so much more than that to this book.

I will be buying this for our home library, and recommending it to friends.

Many thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book would appeal to children as young as 7 or 8 years old, up through as old as 13. There is a section on dating which wouldn't be relevant to the younger ages, but the author gives a disclaimer that the section may be skipped. The book does a great job giving specific examples and I applaud the inclusivity. I am a teen librarian and I would purchase a copy of this for my collection.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4299649413?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This was a great book to read with my 11- and 8-year-old kids. It was written in very plain and clear language and covered a range of topics, including tips for interpersonal relationships and personal responsibility. It was a great book to spark conversations about the impact of our words and behaviours. It included things like how to apologize and how not to be a bystander. There was a strong social justice focus that I really appreciated.

I will purchase and keep at home for the kids when it is published.