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The Best Behavior board books work best when a title matches the specific moment a toddler is practicing: hands, feet, voices, waiting, germs or a comfort object. They are sturdy 24-page-style read-aloud books for babies and toddlers, rather than workbooks or discipline manuals. Free Spirit’s series includes both board-book and older-child paperback formats, so check the format at checkout. The ten titles below make a useful collection because each gives the adult a distinct behavior topic and a short phrase to repeat during the real-life situation. Choose a title around the behavior you can name and practice together that day.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germs Are Not for Sharing — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Waiting Is Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick | $8–$12 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Feet Are Not for Kicking — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Voices Are Not for Yelling — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Hands Are Not for Hitting — Martine Agassi | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Teeth Are Not for Biting — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Words Are Not for Hurting — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Pacifiers Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Tears Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Diapers Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick | $7–$11 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Germs Are Not for Sharing — Elizabeth Verdick
Germs Are Not for Sharing is the hygiene-focused Best Behavior title by Elizabeth Verdick. It gives caregivers a book to bring out before meals, after outdoor play or during a cold season.
- Hygiene title in the Best Behavior range
- Elizabeth Verdick text
- Germs-and-sharing theme
- Available in bilingual edition
- Narrow topic makes it easy to pair with handwashing
- Part of an established toddler series
- Not a substitute for demonstrating the routine
- Bilingual listing is a different edition
Waiting Is Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick
Waiting Is Not Forever is a 2023 Free Spirit board book illustrated by Marieka Heinlen. Its 24 pages centre on the repeatable phrase “I can wait a while,” making it suited to queues and transitions.
- 2023 Free Spirit board book
- 24 pages
- ISBN 9781631984662
- Illustrated by Marieka Heinlen
- Specific language for a difficult toddler moment
- Publisher lists it for babies
- Waiting practice still needs adult support
- Do not confuse with the paperback edition
Feet Are Not for Kicking — Elizabeth Verdick
Feet Are Not for Kicking focuses on what feet can do safely rather than simply naming the unwanted action. It is a direct pick for a toddler who kicks during play or frustration.
- Feet-focused Best Behavior title
- Verdick board-book authorship
- Safe movement theme
- Toddler board-book format
- Concrete body-part focus is easy for young children
- Pairs naturally with role-play
- Topic is narrower than a general feelings book
- Adults need to use the same boundary language
Voices Are Not for Yelling — Elizabeth Verdick
Voices Are Not for Yelling addresses volume and respectful communication. It is more targeted than a broad manners book for families working on indoor voices or shouting at siblings.
- Verdick title about voice volume
- Voice-volume theme
- Board-book edition available
- English and bilingual series options
- Useful prompt before a noisy setting
- Distinct communication subject
- Does not replace addressing why a child is upset
- Check format because paperback versions exist
Hands Are Not for Hitting — Martine Agassi
Hands Are Not for Hitting is written by Martine Agassi, making it the notable author change in this collection. It reframes hands around helpful, creative and gentle uses.
- Written by Martine Agassi
- Best Behavior board-book title
- Hands and gentle-touch theme
- Toddler-focused format
- Specific alternative-actions framing
- Easy companion to a household hitting rule
- Not authored by Elizabeth Verdick
- May need repeated short readings
Teeth Are Not for Biting — Elizabeth Verdick
Teeth Are Not for Biting is the age-appropriate title for biting incidents, including the situations in which a child is excited, frustrated or tired. It is a focused book rather than a general dental-care title.
- Verdick book on biting
- Biting-behavior subject
- Best Behavior collection
- Board-book format
- Addresses a precise behavior without a vague theme
- Easy to keep near a common trouble spot
- Not intended as a teething treatment
- Repeated biting warrants caregiver guidance beyond reading
Words Are Not for Hurting — Elizabeth Verdick
Words Are Not for Hurting moves the series to verbal behavior: teasing, name-calling and hurtful remarks. It is more useful than a physical-behavior title when the conflict happens in speech.
- Written by Elizabeth Verdick
- Words and respectful speech theme
- Best Behavior series
- Board book available
- Separates spoken hurt from hitting or kicking
- Gives a clear discussion starter
- Older preschoolers may prefer the expanded paperback
- Does not cover every social conflict
Pacifiers Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick
Pacifiers Are Not Forever is the transition title for a family preparing to reduce or stop pacifier use. It differs from the behavior-boundary books by giving the child language for a developmental change.
- Elizabeth Verdick title
- Pacifier transition theme
- Best Behavior board-book series
- Bilingual edition is available
- Useful for planning a specific household transition
- More focused than a general toddler book
- The timing of weaning remains a family decision
- Not a replacement for dental advice
Tears Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick
Tears Are Not Forever is the feelings-and-comfort title in the collection. It is a gentler choice for talking about upset feelings without making every difficult emotion a rule-breaking problem.
- Elizabeth Verdick author
- Feelings and comfort theme
- Best Behavior board-book range
- Bilingual edition available
- Balances the collection with an emotion-focused title
- Useful during a calm reread after tears
- Not a behaviour-correction book
- Does not address a specific physical action
Diapers Are Not Forever — Elizabeth Verdick
Diapers Are Not Forever is the toilet-learning title in the Best Behavior board-book catalogue. It belongs in a collection for a family beginning a planned routine change, rather than as a general manners book.
- Verdick board book about toilet learning
- Toilet-learning subject
- Board-book edition in Best Behavior range
- Bilingual series availability
- Gives the collection a practical transition topic
- Separate subject from pacifier weaning
- Timing remains a family and child-readiness decision
- Check the listing format before purchase
Buying tips
- Choose one title that names the behaviour occurring most often rather than buying the whole series at once.
- Verify that the listing says board book; several Best Behavior titles also have paperbacks.
- Read the book when everyone is calm, then reuse its short phrase in the moment.
- Keep the book accessible at the place where the relevant routine happens.
- Use a bilingual edition deliberately, since it may carry a different ISBN and cover.
- Pair the story with a simple adult model of the behavior you want to see.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.