Diary of a Social Detective: Real-Life Tales of Mystery, Intrigue and Interpersonal Adventure

by Jeffrey E. Jessum PhD

Overview

Teacher's Choice Award Winner! Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner! Mom's Choice Award Winner! Learn social skills while solving social mysteries! Detective agencies come in many shapes and forms, but never before has there been a one-man social detective agency! Johnny Multony, transformed from not fitting in to a socially savvy kid, starts the first-ever social detective agency. He is then hired by other students in his school for help with common interpersonal dilemmas, such as cliques, dealing with disappointments, bullying, personal space, friends, body language, and much more. Diary of a Social Detective: Real-Life Tales of Mystery, Intrigue and Interpersonal Adventure teaches children and adolescents how to be social detectives in their own lives. This book combines social instruction with reading comprehension in a fun and unique way!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934575710
Publisher:	Future Horizons, Inc.
Publication date:	01/26/2011
Pages:	306
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jeffrey E. Jessum, PhD, has spent the past 15 years working with children and families in hospital , mental health facilities, schools, private practice and the community, with a primary emphasis on social skills training and education. As a major element of his work with children, he has created a library of stories. Many of these stories communicate important social and emotional lessons in a way that is entertaining to children and their parents, while other stories were created purely for enjoyment. The inspiration for Diary of a Social Detective came from his  years of running social skills groups for kids of all ages, and all the stories within the book are based on very real and common struggles that children face.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Making of a Detective 1

Chapter 1 Too Close for Comfort: The Case of Back-Away Bobby 15

Chapter 2 Accidentally Funny: The Case of the Incidental Straightman 29

Chapter 3 Summer's Bummer: The Case of the Huffy Girlfriends 43

Chapter 4 Gimme Back My Banana!: The Case of the Bothersome Bully 59

Chapter 5 You Catch More Flies With Honey Than With Vinegar: The Case of Billy's Burst Bubble 77

Chapter 6 It's Not What You Say But How You Say It: The Case of the Back-Talking Ballerina 103

Chapter 7 Drowning in the Details: The Case of Monologuing Mona 141

Chapter 8 It's My Game, and I'll Win if I Want To: The Case of the Girl Who Struck out While Hitting a Home Run 175

Chapter 9 My Way or the Highway: The Case of the Boy Who Couldn't Handle the Gray in Life 215

Chapter 10 Chant of the Cheese Monkeys: The Case of Stan's Most Legendary Party Yet 277

Solving Your Own Social Mysteries in 10 Easy Steps 287

Worksheet for Solving Social Mysteries 294

Editorial Reviews

"Diary of a Social Detective is a wonderful and unique book. It will make a great addition to any social skills program striving to teach social cognition to youth on the autism spectrum. In particular, the social mysteries presented in the book, and the systematic process provided to solve them, how great promise in our efforts to effectively teach perspective taking, social problem solving and knowledge of social rules. I am looking forward to adding it to our intervention tool chest at the Social Skills Research Center." Scott Bellini, Ph.D., HSPP, director, Social Skills Research Center, research and clinical director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism; author of award-winning Building Social Relationships

"This witty, captivating set of social mystery cases is interactive and full of interesting and help­ful information. Readers can try to solve the cases tight along with Johnny, the clever social detec­tive. Written for youth, this book is a great tool for any child who struggles to relate with peers." - Judith Coucouvanis, MA, PMJ-IC 5-BC, Universityof Michigan; author of Super Skills: Social Skills Group Program for Children with Autism and award-winning The Potty Journey: Guide to Toilet Training Children with Special Needs

"Jeff Jessum has made an important breakthrough in the teaching of social skills. His creative and imaginative stories incorporating the best practices in social problem solving are compelling, interesting and kid-friendly. The concept of social skills requiring detective work will help children at risk for social issues actively apply the principles for effective social problem solving. This book provides an important new tool for parents, educators and therapists in providing sound practice to practical situations." - Robert Colegrove, Ed.D., psychologist working with children and families; affiliated with Children's Hospital Lo Angeles

"Engaging! Charming! Funny! Wise! Just 'naughty' enough for all kids to become hooked on how Johnny the Strange turned into Johnny the Smooth. A must-read for children with social struggles. While enjoying a good story, children learn how to reflect upon themselves as they observe others; how to read body languages and social cues; how to deal with bullies and loudmouths. Most importantly, kid are taught to take responsibility for their impact on others." - Terry Mark-Tarlow, Ph.D., author of Psyche's Veil: Psychotherapy, Fractals and Complexity and Creativity Inside Out

From the Publisher