A humorous and heartfelt story that helps children understand the power of words and why kindness matters—perfect for ages 3-7.

We’ve all heard the old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” But is it really true? In this thoughtful and funny picture book, children’s author and illustrator Heath McKenzie explores the lasting impact that words can have—and why it's so important to choose them wisely.

From teasing someone about their lunch to making a careless comment about a hairstyle, kids will recognize the everyday moments where words can unintentionally hurt others. With warmth, humor, and age-appropriate sensitivity, this story empowers children to think before they speak, reflect on how their words affect others, and take steps to make things right when they go wrong.

Key Features:

• Timely Message About Empathy and Respect: Helps kids understand how words can hurt and how to use language to lift others up.
• Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Supports communication skills, emotional awareness, and conflict resolution.
• Relatable Everyday Scenarios: Shows children that small changes in their words can have a big impact on their relationships.
• Perfect for Families, Classrooms, and Group Settings: A great read-aloud tool for sparking conversations about kindness, bullying, and friendship.

This engaging book is part of the Life Lessons series, which reimagines traditional sayings with a fresh and meaningful twist. Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words (Can Never) Hurt Me helps children build stronger social skills and encourages thoughtful, compassionate communication—one kind word at a time.

About the Life Lessons Series:

The Life Lessons series by Heath McKenzie takes timeless sayings and transforms them into fun, engaging picture books that help children make sense of the world around them. With humor, warmth, and relatable storytelling, each title explores a well-known adage—like "You get what you get and you don’t get upset" or "Honesty is the best policy"—through everyday situations kids face at home, at school, and with friends. These playful yet meaningful books are perfect for introducing social-emotional learning topics in a way that’s accessible, age-appropriate, and truly enjoyable for young readers and grown-ups alike.