No Thanks, But I'd Love to Dance is a paperback children's book about the choice to live smoke free. The story is based on a true situation in the author's family. It covers the reasons that people may need help breathing due to damaged lungs. Some may be born with damaged lungs, some may have damaged lungs due to smoke inhalation on the job, and some choose to smoke cigarettes and damage their lungs in that way. The characters Belle and Grandma Bee tell how the choices we make when we are young can affect us as we get older. Grandma Bee explains to Belle that she began smoking because she wanted to "do what everyone else was doing." She became addicted to smoking, and then as she grew older, she needed to use an oxygen tank in order to breathe. Belle responded by telling her Grandma Bee what she should have told the others when they asked her to smoke: "No thanks, but I'd love to dance!"
The book is written to appeal to children, but no specific age is identified. The character Belle is 6 years old, so I would assume that the story would appeal to other 6-year-old girls as well. The author suggests using this book early in a child's life to explain the dangers of cigarette smoke. While I understand the reasons for teaching children about these dangers, I would be careful not to present visual images or ideas that may create an unhealthy curiosity in smoking. Having said that, if there are smokers in your family and the child is asking questions, this book would be a great tool to promote discussion, especially if the child is interested in ways to help the person who is smoking.
In my opinion, this resource has great value in giving a child confidence to resist smoking if he or she is ever approached to participate with others. It's a great value at $6.95. It has wonderful illustrations and is printed on FSC Mixed Sources paper by a printer that buys renewable energy certificates. If you are searching for a resource to help explain the dangers of smoking to young children while telling a delightful story highlighting the relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter, this is a great selection.
Product review by Christy Sensenig, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, August 2009
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