Sameh Says 'Sorry' [ARABIC]

Vibrant, colourful and lively, this book's positive messages and advice are ideal for young children wanting to understand social situations or how friendships work. Making mistakes is part of the learning experience, and more importantly, so is learning to take responsibility for those mistakes and saying ‘sorry' to the person you have upset. Some people have a more difficult time learning to do this than others. Fighting might escalate if apologies are not offered. In Sameh Says ‘Sorry', Sameh apologises to his brother Jamil after hitting him in the nose during play wrestling. Also, Sameh learns it's important to use words to express how he feels rather than hitting someone. After saying ‘sorry', Jamil forgives Sameh. Sameh also feels better after apologising. Both boys can continue to have fun times together. Making mistakes goes hand in hand with learning. It is a fact of life to which none of us are immune. Yet it is not our mistakes, but how we deal with them that truly defines who we are. Recognizing our errors, accepting responsibility, and asking forgiveness, are among the essential ingredients needed to maintain lasting relationships. While remorse may come easily for some children, others, however, may be inclined to defensiveness. This inability to back down will repeatedly find some children stuck in escalating confrontations, for which they have little control. In Sameh Says 'Sorry', Sameh impulsively whacks his brother, Sameh accepts responsibility for his blunder and apologizes. In doing so, he is able to mend the situation with some level of dignity. Freed by forgiveness, both Sameh and his brother are able to negotiate productive ways of preventing future mishaps.