Cliques, Phonies & Other Baloney

Clique: It’s a word that’s spelled funny and sounds funny, and (like a vampire) can be a pain in the neck. True friends don’t make you feel left out, but for many kids, navigating social groups is tricky (because it’s cliquey), and they end up feeling excluded. This book uses humor, fun cartoons, and kid-friendly language to explain what cliques are, why being phony is baloney, why true friends don’t exclude others online or in real life, what’s more important than popularity—and how to navigate it all. The updated edition addresses online socializing and social media.

The Free Spirit Laugh & Learn® Series
Realistic topics, practical advice, silly jokes, fun illustrations, and a kid-centric point of view all add up to one of the most popular series young people turn to for help with school, families, siblings, and more. Kids ages 8–13 can tote these pocket-size guides anywhere and learn to slash stress, give cliques and rude people the boot, get organized, behave becomingly, and, in general, hugely boost their coping skills.

Trevor Romain is an award-winning author and illustrator as well as a sought-after motivational speaker. His books have sold more than a million copies and been published in eighteen languages. For more than twenty years, Trevor has traveled the world, speaking to thousands of school-age children. Trevor is well known for his work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the United Nations, UNICEF, the USO, and the Comfort Crew for Military Kids, which he co-founded. Trevor lives in Austin, Texas.

Elizabeth Verdick has written children’s books for all ages, from toddlers to teens. She has worked with Trevor on many titles in the Laugh and Learn® series. Elizabeth loves helping kids through her work as a writer and an editor. She lives near St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their two (nearly grown) children, and she plays traffic cop to their many furry, four-footed friends.

Steve Mark is a freelance illustrator and a part-time puppeteer. He lives in Minnesota and is the father of three and the husband of one. Steve has illustrated all the books in the Laugh & Learn series.