Catherine Newman - How to be a Person: 65 Hugely Useful, Super-Important Skills to Learn Before Youre Grown Up

The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment.

Edited by Deanna F. Cook and Michal Lumsden

Art direction and book design by Alethea Morrison

Text production by Kristy L. MacWilliams

Illustrations by Debbie Fong

Text 2020 by Catherine Newman

Ebook production by Kristy L. MacWilliams

Ebook version 1.0

May 26, 2020

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Newman, Catherine, 1968- author.

Title: How to be a person / Catherine Newman.

Description: North Adams : Storey Publishing, 2020. | Audience: Ages 1014 | Audience: Grades 46 | Summary: Catherine Newman has written the ultimate guidebook for kids, jam-packed with tips, tricks, and skills to become a more dependable person Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019056617 (print) | LCCN 2019056618 (ebook) | ISBN 9781635861822 (paperback) | ISBN 9781635861839 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Self-presentationJuvenile literature. | Self-actualization (Psychology)Juvenile literature.

Classification: LCC BF697.5.S44 N489 2020 (print) | LCC BF697.5.S44 (ebook) | DDC 155.42/491dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056617

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019056618

For Ben and Birdy and everyone else whos trying to be their best selves all of us. We got this.

Catherine

For Allistair, Murray, and Cooper.

Debbie

Other Beings:
How to Care for the People, Pets, and Plants in Your Life

Saying It Right:
How to Be Kind and Get Your Point Across

Dirty Things:
How to Clean and Care for Your Home

Edible Food:
How to Make Meals and Find Your Way around the Kitchen

Youre Wearing That?:
How to Clean and Care for Your Clothes

Your Two Cents:
How to Get, Give, and Spend Money

Useful Skills:
How to Do Basic Important Things

We swear were not trying to turn you into a premature adult! We dont want you trudging around in a small suit with a briefcase or wedging yourself under the sink to fix the plumbing in your bathroom. But we do think youll be a happier person if you learn the skills in this book some of which you probably already know, others of which people probably think you already know (shhhh), and all of which will come in handy pretty much immediately. The truth is that it feels good to do meaningful things, and it feels good to be appreciated, and these skills pretty much guarantee a combination of those two good feelings.

Look, we understand that maybe you didnt pick this book out all on your own. Maybe your grown-ups even passive-aggressively gave it to you for your birthday along with a pair of rubber gloves and a plunger. (Youre welcome!) But it doesnt really matter, because were convinced that a lot of the tasks we tend to think of as chores can be truly rewarding especially if you have a chance to step toward them with confidence rather than being backed into them by that bulldozer of nagging otherwise known as your mom or dad. Or maybe by the time youre reading this, theres a robot that can do all of the household chores! Perfect. Put this book aside to show your children one day. Before we had robots, we had to water the plants and wipe the kitchen counters ourselves! youll say, and the kids will shake their heads and pity you.

One thing we know: asking, What can I do to help? is a sure way to be your best self. And with this book in hand, you wont have to say awkwardly, Um, I dont actually know how to do that!

A note: if you have different abilities neurologically, cognitively, or physically then some of these skills might require various kinds of adaptation and hacking. Wed love to hear your thoughts about how to make this book work better for you: choose contact from the menu on my website, catherinenewmanwriter.com .

Other Beings

How to Care for the People, Pets, and Plants in Your Life

Someone can feel looked after by you without you doing anything at all. You could be just smiling or sitting nearby. But some situations require more active caretaking, and these are a handful of them.