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Maddening and confusing things keep happening to Gabe – for no reason! Or so he thinks.
During the basketball game, Jacob refuses to pass the ball to Gabe or any other team-mate. They end up losing. When Gabe gets his math assignment back, he doesn’t get full credit for having the right answers. He ends up with a rotten grade. And when Harper pushes Gabe’s pencils off his desk, she just laughs. What’s going on?
Did Jacob really have no reason for never passing the ball? Did Gabe’s math teacher really have no reason for not giving full credit? Did Harper really have no reason for messing with the pencils?
Gabe doesn’t understand why any of these things happened. He’s so frustrated, he has to take a moment to calm himself by sitting in the classroom’s Cool Down Spot. While there, something super strange happens. The nearby Puppet Theater comes to life and starts talking!
The Puppet Theater is named Curtains, or Curt for short, and Curt wants to help Gabe learn how to see and understand the reasons behind why people do what they do. With patience, empathy, and encouragement, Curt teaches Gabe to pay more attention, ask more questions, and look at situations from more than one point of view. If Gabe can remember to do those three things, his life will make much more sense. And it might just help Gabe become more forgiving, patient, and careful!
Missing the Meaning explores how to identify and better understand the reasons behind why people say what they say and do what they do. A special page written specifically for parents, counsellors, and educators offers practical strategies to help children discover what the words “for no reason” really mean.
"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."
- Jules N., Verified Reviewer
"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."
- Katie W., Verified Reviewer
"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."
- Melissa K., Verified Reviewer
