Additional information
by Elizabeth Verdick (Author), Marieka Heinlen (Illustrator)
Help kids learn to treat pets with kindness, understand animal behavior, and stay safe around animals.
Tails Are Not for Pulling is an engaging English-Spanish bilingual picture book that teaches children ages 4-7 how to interact with pets in gentle, respectful ways. Kids learn that animals have feelings and boundaries--and that teasing, chasing, or pulling can hurt them.
Using simple language and bright illustrations, this reassuring story shows children how to recognize animal cues like barking, growling, or hiding and respond appropriately. It also teaches an important rule: always ask before touching someone else's pet.
Part of the award-winning Best Behavior(R) series, this book helps children build empathy, self-control, and respectful behavior they can use every day.
In this book, children will:
- Learn how to treat pets with care and respect
- Understand basic animal body language
- Practice safe behavior around animals
- Build empathy and kindness toward pets
- Make positive choices in real-life situations
Perfect for parents, caregivers, educators, and counselors, this book is ideal for preparing children for a new pet or reinforcing safe habits with animals.
Includes a helpful adult section with tips, activities, and discussion starters for teaching children kindness and safety around pets.
Author Biography
Elizabeth Verdick has been writing books since 1997, the year her daughter was born. Her two children are the inspiration for nearly everything she writes. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth edited books for children and parents.
These days she writes books for babies, toddlers, teens, and every age in between. She especially loves creating new board books. The Happy Healthy Baby(R) series is designed to capture the interest of the littlest readers. Elizabeth's Toddler Tools(R) series helps young children and their parents cope with those tough times and transitions that happen every day (like naptime and bedtime). In the Best Behavior(R) series, she helps toddlers reach new milestones and improve their day-to-day behavior.
Elizabeth also enjoys getting the chance to look at the funny side of life in the Laugh and Learn(R) series, which helps kids ages 8-13 get a handle on the social-emotional skills they're developing throughout the elementary and middle school years. She's also coauthor of The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (And Their Parents), which offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day.
Elizabeth lives and writes near St. Paul, Minnesota.
Marieka Heinlen received her BFA at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and also studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.
She launched her career as an award-winning children's book illustrator with Hands Are Not for Hitting and has illustrated all of the books in the Best Behavior(R) and Toddler Tools(R) series. Marieka focuses her work on books and other materials for children, teens, parents, and teachers.
She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, son, and daughter.
