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I would like to share a cute children’s book with you this morning. Don’t be mean to 13 A Triskaidekaphobia Story by Douglas Harris (Author), YipJar (Illustrator) I received a physical copy of in exchange for this review.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out Don’t be mean to 13 you should see the addable monster on the book. Black and fuzzy with cute smile he makes me want to pick him up and squeeze him. I love how the letters in the title of the book is done in different colors which small children can discuss with there parents.
Did you see the golds seal on the book letting us know Don’t be mean to 13 is a Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence. This is the first time my family as read books from Douglas Harris but will not be the last time I can promise you that. I hope it will not be for you either because as I looked at his page I found several books I would like to get my niece and nephew for Christmas.
Before you dive into the book the Author left us a foreword remind us there is plenty of things to be afraid of including made-up stuff. We learned about superstition which Charlie can study in his Homeschool Classes. Remember when it comes to superstition there is nothing to be afraid of. If only we could convince David and my mom of that when it comes to a black Cat crossing a street in front of them.
In the book we meet a little boy and his fried 13 the most feared number. People can be mean to him and we are asked if there mean to us. If so remember you are special. We learn people who are afraid of 13 are superstitious. This superstition is called Triskaidekaphobia which is two words put together treiskaideka which means thirteen and phobos which is fear. Leaning this will lead to new lessons for Charlie to study in his Homeschool Science class.
For a Field Trip you could visit a hospital of Hotel and you will see there is no, thirteenth floor or at least it isn’t called that. Did you know that? Now, lets met his best friend Friday. When these two get together people are even more afraid. Did you know that? The fear of Friday the 13th is friggatriskaidekaphobia.. Giving us new words to study in our Language Arts Class for Spelling.
This word comes from an ancient Norse Goddess we can study in our History Class who was associated with witchcraft. To get rid of bad luck on this day just say friggatriskaidekaphobia. Did you know in the United States businesses lose a lot of money each month because people refuse to do things on the thirteenth.
They believe this came about from the Norse myth and was introduced by Loki. Other people believe it was because mathematicians of the ancient world saw twelve at the perfect. Ancient Sumerians built calendars with 12-months and they had twelve-hour half days. Charlie and I can research this in our History class.
Did you know thirteen is a prime number? In our foreign language class Charlie will be able to share far tredici is to thirteen which means you hit the jackpot. Getting to know about someone or something we learn will get rid of our fears. If there is Monster’s under you bed at night or in your closet then you should share Don’t be mean to 13 with them and they will get rid of there fears.
Charlie and I believe Don’t be mean to 13 is the perfect storybook for upper elementary students although younger children would enjoy the illustrations while older children and adults will learn things they didn’t know. math teachers, History teachers and librarians should have this book in there classrooms.
About the book:
Thirteen is feared and disliked for no good reason, while Twelve has always been so popular! When Thirteen and his friend Friday get together -watch out for friggatriskaidekaphobia! Explore the ancient historical roots of these popular superstitions while encouraging children to use evidence-based, critical thinking with our friend, Thirteen!
Meet the Author: Douglas Harris
Douglas is the co-author of the award-winning children’s books My Name is Stardust, Stardust Explores the Solar System, Stardust Explores Earth’s Wonders and Elle the Humanist. His upcoming book, Don’t Be Mean to 13, will be released on Friday, October 13th, 2023!
Douglas co-authored the Stardust Book series with his 17-year-old daughter, Bailey Harris. My Name is Stardust is the first in their series of children’s illustrated science storybooks and features a foreword by renowned evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins. Book two in the series, Stardust Explores the Solar System, was released in 2018. Book three, Stardust Explores Earth’s Wonders, was released in 2019.
Douglas co-authored Elle the Humanist with his 12-year-old daughter, Elle Harris. Elle the Humanist is a beautifully illustrated book presenting humanist ideas and ethics in a way that’s warm, welcoming, and accessible for young readers. It features a foreword by renowned philosopher and author Daniel Dennett.
In partnership with the Center For Inquiry and the Translations Project, Elle The Humanist and the three books in the Stardust Book series are available for free in Urdu, Arabic, Farsi and Bahasa Indonesia – languages chosen by the Translation Project to help make scientific and humanist literature more available in Muslim-majority countries, where access to such literature can be very limited.
Douglas was a featured expert panel speaker at the 2017 BookCon in NYC on Science and Education. While releasing his book at BEA/NYC in 2017, he was interviewed by Helen Little for The Public Library Podcast on iHeartRadio about science, education and literature.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
