Respecting Rules & Laws

Respecting Rules and Laws, is part of the “Our Values” series which is divided into three levels. Level One is comprised of titles for very young readers; Level Two is designed for elementary school students; and Level Three is for middle schoolers. Level Two books, of which this title is one, contain vibrant background colours, a large simple text font, and abundant full-colour photographs. People of different races and mixed race are featured in the photographs, fostering inclusivity among readers. A table of contents, a brief glossary and an index are included.

By and large, rules and laws exist to keep people safe and respectful of others. In Respecting Rules and Laws, readers will learn that there are different rules for different places – playground, school, home – and that there are consequences for breaking them. Laws are a set of rules made up by governments and are designed to keep entire communities, provinces/states and countries safe. There is also reference to the Golden Rule, treating others as one would wish to be treated by others.

Whether or not the books in this series will be useful in a classroom is debatable. On the plus side, kids will see themselves in the faces of the children in the photos, and the series’ concepts will reinforce what is being taught at home and in the classroom; on the negative side, class discussion and actually “living” the experiences featured in the titles will have far more impact than simply reading about them.