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You Get What You Get
Melvin throws fit after fit when he doesn't get what he wants. He must learn how to deal with disappointment. After all, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
918 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
About the author
Julie Gassman
30 books45 followersJulie Gassman grew up in South Dakota. After college, she traded in small-town life for the world of magazine publishing in New York City. Julie now lives in southern Minnesota with her husband and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews
January 21, 2016
Since this is Squirrel Appreciation Day . . .
(Yes - it's a REAL THING. Did you think I could make up something as bizarre as that?)
I feel I must object to this author's choice of the noble furry-tailed rodent to play the part of a whiny, petulant brat in her otherwise enjoyable book.
The star of this story is Melvin, a somewhat rotund squirrel who throws massive tantrums whenever things don't go his way.
Over the years, I've come to know many, many squirrels and let me tell you, they are NOT cantankerous. Would they be happier if I filled the bird feeders with premium sunflower seeds and tantalizing suet cakes? Sure. Will they throw tantrums if I put out cheap, crappy seed instead? Never! They will happily eat whatever is available. And when I run raving from the garage, waving a broom to chase them away, do they get mad and stamp their little squirrel feet? Nope. They simply climb a tree and wait until I'm inside again before resuming their feast. You see what I mean? Squirrels have got to be the most GRATEFUL critters on the planet!
Luckily, Melvin, the contentious squirrel in this book, learns that the same rules apply to all and that he must compromise and accept what he gets. (Oh, Melvin . . . you obviously have NO future in politics, so study something like Advanced Nut Storage Techniques or Ways to Successfully Cross a Road, instead.)
So, really. Ms. Gassman, couldn't you have picked a more persnickety creature for your story, say, a chihuahua or a groundhog? (There's a grouchy animal for you! Cursing us with six more weeks of winter just because we woke it up early one day!) Nuts to you, Julie!
And to all you squirrels out there,
NUTS to you, as well!
(Yes - it's a REAL THING. Did you think I could make up something as bizarre as that?)
I feel I must object to this author's choice of the noble furry-tailed rodent to play the part of a whiny, petulant brat in her otherwise enjoyable book.
The star of this story is Melvin, a somewhat rotund squirrel who throws massive tantrums whenever things don't go his way.
Over the years, I've come to know many, many squirrels and let me tell you, they are NOT cantankerous. Would they be happier if I filled the bird feeders with premium sunflower seeds and tantalizing suet cakes? Sure. Will they throw tantrums if I put out cheap, crappy seed instead? Never! They will happily eat whatever is available. And when I run raving from the garage, waving a broom to chase them away, do they get mad and stamp their little squirrel feet? Nope. They simply climb a tree and wait until I'm inside again before resuming their feast. You see what I mean? Squirrels have got to be the most GRATEFUL critters on the planet!
Luckily, Melvin, the contentious squirrel in this book, learns that the same rules apply to all and that he must compromise and accept what he gets. (Oh, Melvin . . . you obviously have NO future in politics, so study something like Advanced Nut Storage Techniques or Ways to Successfully Cross a Road, instead.)
So, really. Ms. Gassman, couldn't you have picked a more persnickety creature for your story, say, a chihuahua or a groundhog? (There's a grouchy animal for you! Cursing us with six more weeks of winter just because we woke it up early one day!) Nuts to you, Julie!
And to all you squirrels out there,
NUTS to you, as well!
February 6, 2021
An entertaining lesson for smaller children about fairness in life.
August 20, 2015
I found this book at the library and was so excited to read it to my class. They are hung up on "fair" and getting what they want. I have seen a lot of fits. Anyway, the other teachers were less than enthusiastic, taking the wind out of my sails. I still like it and my own children like it and understand it. I will probably still read it to my class, but I am not looking forward to it like before. Sad.
January 15, 2017
At least the author can't complain about my review. She gets what she gets.
Wow. Okay. There's a bunch of different kinds of animals, but the book centers around a family of squirrels. The main character is Melvin, and he's very picky about things. I have a child who's like this. Melvin throws tantrums whenever he doesn't get what he wants (which my child sometimes does), but at school there's a rule: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. Apparently it's just enforced by pure virtue of being a rule. His family doesn't know about it at home, until one day when he and his sister are arguing over what movie to watch, he smugly tells her, You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. His parents are stunned, and decide to implement that rule at home, which causes him to no longer throw fits.
So, yeah. Magical solution to an actual real problem. That I really have. I'm pretty sure if I told my child, You get what you get and you don't throw a fit, (he's almost three) he would ignore me and continue throwing his fit. And it's about as condescending as Because I said so. Who gets to decide what you get? The supreme dictator of parent? Maybe the child has a valid suggestion, and this saying shuts down all discussion. In the book, after the argument about the movie, they end up watching what his sister wanted to watch. It comes off like the rule only applies to Melvin.
True, children need to learn to deal with disappointment, but parroting inane cliches is not the way to teach them. Some people never learn how, and you occasionally see entitled adults demanding unreasonable things from others, but I don't think it's because nobody ever told them something like this. And telling an adult this phrase isn't going to work in the slightest. I can even imagine someone using this phrase against an adult with a reasonable grievance. Why not try, with both adults and children, respect? Explaining why something is a good idea, or must be the way it is? Empathizing when they have a real sense of frustration? Yes, it is frustrating when, like in the book, someone else has more chocolate chips in their cookie than you. It's not fair! Or someone else wants to watch a different movie than you want to. The only reason that blows up to a tantrum in children (and adults) is because of a lack of self control. Sometimes it's a long-term lack, like when children haven't learned it yet, and sometimes it's a short-term lack, like when an adult under a lot of stress hits the last straw and it happens to be something trivial. And no amount of trite sayings is going to erase the actual feelings of actual human beings.
Message: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
Wow. Okay. There's a bunch of different kinds of animals, but the book centers around a family of squirrels. The main character is Melvin, and he's very picky about things. I have a child who's like this. Melvin throws tantrums whenever he doesn't get what he wants (which my child sometimes does), but at school there's a rule: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. Apparently it's just enforced by pure virtue of being a rule. His family doesn't know about it at home, until one day when he and his sister are arguing over what movie to watch, he smugly tells her, You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. His parents are stunned, and decide to implement that rule at home, which causes him to no longer throw fits.
So, yeah. Magical solution to an actual real problem. That I really have. I'm pretty sure if I told my child, You get what you get and you don't throw a fit, (he's almost three) he would ignore me and continue throwing his fit. And it's about as condescending as Because I said so. Who gets to decide what you get? The supreme dictator of parent? Maybe the child has a valid suggestion, and this saying shuts down all discussion. In the book, after the argument about the movie, they end up watching what his sister wanted to watch. It comes off like the rule only applies to Melvin.
True, children need to learn to deal with disappointment, but parroting inane cliches is not the way to teach them. Some people never learn how, and you occasionally see entitled adults demanding unreasonable things from others, but I don't think it's because nobody ever told them something like this. And telling an adult this phrase isn't going to work in the slightest. I can even imagine someone using this phrase against an adult with a reasonable grievance. Why not try, with both adults and children, respect? Explaining why something is a good idea, or must be the way it is? Empathizing when they have a real sense of frustration? Yes, it is frustrating when, like in the book, someone else has more chocolate chips in their cookie than you. It's not fair! Or someone else wants to watch a different movie than you want to. The only reason that blows up to a tantrum in children (and adults) is because of a lack of self control. Sometimes it's a long-term lack, like when children haven't learned it yet, and sometimes it's a short-term lack, like when an adult under a lot of stress hits the last straw and it happens to be something trivial. And no amount of trite sayings is going to erase the actual feelings of actual human beings.
Message: You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
December 11, 2018
I rated this book as much to counter balance someone I know's 1 star rating. I can't say I like this book, but my two oldest children have liked it since they were about 3 years old (and my oldest, now 8, still enjoys it). The lesson is poorly articulated, but it resonates with my kids. The value of this, and all shared books, is the conversations they enable and, ultimately, the growth (behavior changes) they contribute to.
December 31, 2019
This book really perturbed me and I couldn't figure out why until I read another reviewer's comments. Basically it is a story of parents having zero control over their child and the teacher having to parent the child. The only thing to make it sadder was that it is pretty apropos as to our current society.
October 19, 2018
Great book
Great book for my kids.. They loved it and wanted more. The illustrations were great and the kids learnt a few new words.
Great book for my kids.. They loved it and wanted more. The illustrations were great and the kids learnt a few new words.
childrens-books
January 10, 2022Hahaha cute!
December 30, 2018
Loved this book with its vibrant illustrations and the reminder that you won’t always get your way in life. This is a great way to teach children how to compromise and not to throw a tantrum when you don’t get your way.
October 11, 2023
Kids read this book in school. They repeat it so much I had to buy my own copy. It’s a cute story about coping with not getting your way. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.
The saying has become a staple in our household.
The saying has become a staple in our household.
July 4, 2021
Cute!
Perfect choice for my 4 year old. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Words to remember.
Perfect choice for my 4 year old. You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit. Words to remember.
May 5, 2020
Great Story
This is a great story. Melvin learns a valuable lesson about not throwing fits. It's full of wonderful illustrations, as well.
This is a great story. Melvin learns a valuable lesson about not throwing fits. It's full of wonderful illustrations, as well.
August 8, 2020
Dealing with disappointment.
January 13, 2021
Text-to-Teaching Connection:
I think after reading this story, it would be a great time for drama class with the students doing some role playing. They can each decide on something that would normally upset them for not getting their way. Each student can act out something they would want their way and find a resolution to it rather throwing a fit. It can help the students understand that everything doesn't go their way and it's best to find ways to accept the alternative in a positive manner instead of causing a scene and throwing a fit.
I think after reading this story, it would be a great time for drama class with the students doing some role playing. They can each decide on something that would normally upset them for not getting their way. Each student can act out something they would want their way and find a resolution to it rather throwing a fit. It can help the students understand that everything doesn't go their way and it's best to find ways to accept the alternative in a positive manner instead of causing a scene and throwing a fit.
December 28, 2017
Great little lesson story" Every preschool and Kindergarten class should have it! Heck, Parents should use it to prepare their kids for school! Loved the illustrations!
February 15, 2018
Great book
I read this to my 3 yo and we both enjoyed it! The illustrations are very cute. We will be reading this book again.
I read this to my 3 yo and we both enjoyed it! The illustrations are very cute. We will be reading this book again.
March 9, 2017
Great way to teach that life isn't always fair.
April 20, 2020
Ok I really liked this book when I first read it, but after reading some of the lower reviews I thought more about the underlying themes of this book, which led to a low rating. I didn't really consider the fact that this book illustrates the parents as lacking in behavior management and puts all of the responsibility on the child's teacher. Also the main character is never given any tools or strategies to help with frustration or anger, he just has to basically get over it. Not the strongest messages we could be putting out there.
September 23, 2016
If I could give it a negative rating, I most certainly would.
This book is about an obese bad-mannered squirrel whose parents have failed at providing their offspring with the tools for self-regulation, validating of squirrel's hard feelings or offering support through those hard feelings. Since the parents are abject failures, the school teacher drops a tautological/circular-logic fallacy-based authoritarian koan on the kid, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." which is a very close neighbor of "Shut up and deal with it." The obese and useless parents are unsurprisingly surprised that anything might positively affect the unhinged kid's behavior.
This is a book for adults who are cynical, jaded re children's ability to self-regulate given developmentally appropriate tools and support or criminally ignorant that such parenting exists. It's basically a manual for child mental abuse perfect that will appeal to Trump voting parents.
Scholastic Books, I do expect better of you, although frankly not that much.
This book is about an obese bad-mannered squirrel whose parents have failed at providing their offspring with the tools for self-regulation, validating of squirrel's hard feelings or offering support through those hard feelings. Since the parents are abject failures, the school teacher drops a tautological/circular-logic fallacy-based authoritarian koan on the kid, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." which is a very close neighbor of "Shut up and deal with it." The obese and useless parents are unsurprisingly surprised that anything might positively affect the unhinged kid's behavior.
This is a book for adults who are cynical, jaded re children's ability to self-regulate given developmentally appropriate tools and support or criminally ignorant that such parenting exists. It's basically a manual for child mental abuse perfect that will appeal to Trump voting parents.
Scholastic Books, I do expect better of you, although frankly not that much.
January 23, 2014
Soapbox time: This should be read to the majority of children today; their parents should be made to follow this rule and our world would be a better place for all!
Ok, stepped down now.
I have said to my daughter: "You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit" ever since she was teeny-tiny. I say this to the kids who come to my programs, when they get all demanding and whiny, "you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit." I say this over and over and over again.
Now I can read the book. Maybe the message will get through to just one child? Maybe parents out there will realize that they CAN take ownership? Huh, novel concepts.
Ok, stepped down now.
I have said to my daughter: "You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit" ever since she was teeny-tiny. I say this to the kids who come to my programs, when they get all demanding and whiny, "you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit." I say this over and over and over again.
Now I can read the book. Maybe the message will get through to just one child? Maybe parents out there will realize that they CAN take ownership? Huh, novel concepts.
November 8, 2016
As I said, my son with whom I share Kindle books, has been sharing the children's books that he chooses for his little kids, and I love them! They are as good as the adult and young adult fiction that I'm reading. They teach such great lessons, and in a clear, understandable way. Little kids are lucky to get taught this way while they're young and will listen. This is a good life lesson to learn about not always getting what you want in life. Thanks, Ryan.
June 9, 2017
"Melvin did not deal well with disappointment."
That's why he didn't care for his teacher's favorite rule: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." But at least he could still throw a fit at home. That is, until Melvin spouts the rule to his littler sister, who is about to throw a fit. Suddenly, everyone realizes what Melvin has just said and decides that it's a good rule for home, as well.
That's why he didn't care for his teacher's favorite rule: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." But at least he could still throw a fit at home. That is, until Melvin spouts the rule to his littler sister, who is about to throw a fit. Suddenly, everyone realizes what Melvin has just said and decides that it's a good rule for home, as well.
November 8, 2016
An okay book
I like that Melvin is a squirrel. I like that gave examples on what Melvin throws fits about. But over all I didn't care for this story. It felt undone, kind of flat. For this topic, it is not a bad book by I just don't see anything in this story that is going to make me want to recommend it to everyone.
I like that Melvin is a squirrel. I like that gave examples on what Melvin throws fits about. But over all I didn't care for this story. It felt undone, kind of flat. For this topic, it is not a bad book by I just don't see anything in this story that is going to make me want to recommend it to everyone.
February 10, 2020
Unfair portrayal
For those who are being bullied, segregated, isolated, neglected majority of the time and finally act out and you apply this rule to invalidate their inequality, as a human being.
Need to address and clarify situations so no to misinterpret people who are actually victims.
For those who are being bullied, segregated, isolated, neglected majority of the time and finally act out and you apply this rule to invalidate their inequality, as a human being.
Need to address and clarify situations so no to misinterpret people who are actually victims.
July 9, 2018
Oversimplified
A book for parents of a four year old who throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. It is not an effective tool for overcoming the problem and not too entertaining for kids. Not recommended.
A book for parents of a four year old who throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. It is not an effective tool for overcoming the problem and not too entertaining for kids. Not recommended.
August 31, 2019
So...there are no rules at home, and too rigid a rule at school. But if you mention a rule to your family, suddenly everything will be ALL BETTER! Gag. Didn't like this one at all. But there are squirrels, so I'll give it a bonus star for that. Because squirrels...
December 23, 2016
Good message and hoping it sticks! :)
March 28, 2018
We get it, you made a cute rhyming rule. But you don't address WHY someone shouldn't throw a fit, or a better way to deal with situations. Show, don't tell. Make it MEAN something.
October 3, 2018
This engaging children's book depicts a story about Melvin who likes to get his way and does not deal well with disappointment. If his chocolate chip cookie does not have as many chocolate chips as his sister's, he would throw a fit. The same thing would happen if he lost a turn in a game! Melvin liked to get what he wanted, but at school, his teacher had a rule that "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit." Because of the rule, Melvin could not get upset if he was at the back of the line or had to color with crayons instead of markers, but he did not think this rule applied to his home life. When he gets home, his parents decide to make this rule one for the house too, and Melvin finally learns to be grateful for what he has instead of complaining and whining every time something does not go his way.
The main theme of this book is learning to appreciate what you have, dealing with disappointment, and being thankful and grateful always.
Being thankful is something that I have always struggled with in my life. While I do thank God for the blessings I have and the life I have been given, it is oftentimes hard to focus on being grateful when the media is always displaying new items we should have or clothes we should wear. I also went to a private school growing up, so my friends were typically always sporting the trendiest new items, and I would get jealous if they had something that I wanted to have. Throughout high school, I really did learn the lesson that there are so many other people in this world who do not have nearly as much I have, so I should be appreciative of the gifts I have been given, and I should not throw a fit if something does not go my way. This is such an important lesson, and I think it needs to be emphasized in schools to a greater extent.
I would absolutely recommend this book since it teaches a great message, and the pictures and words are also fun to look at while reading it. Being appreciative and thankful for what we have is such an important lesson, and all kids could benefit from being taught this in a school setting. It is important to teach kids that we are all blessed in our own ways, and we need to be thankful for the life that we have. At a young age, kids are also learning how to share and be patient with one another, so this book does a great job at teaching kids that we cannot always get our way; rather, it is important to learn to share what we have with others and be grateful always.
The main theme of this book is learning to appreciate what you have, dealing with disappointment, and being thankful and grateful always.
Being thankful is something that I have always struggled with in my life. While I do thank God for the blessings I have and the life I have been given, it is oftentimes hard to focus on being grateful when the media is always displaying new items we should have or clothes we should wear. I also went to a private school growing up, so my friends were typically always sporting the trendiest new items, and I would get jealous if they had something that I wanted to have. Throughout high school, I really did learn the lesson that there are so many other people in this world who do not have nearly as much I have, so I should be appreciative of the gifts I have been given, and I should not throw a fit if something does not go my way. This is such an important lesson, and I think it needs to be emphasized in schools to a greater extent.
I would absolutely recommend this book since it teaches a great message, and the pictures and words are also fun to look at while reading it. Being appreciative and thankful for what we have is such an important lesson, and all kids could benefit from being taught this in a school setting. It is important to teach kids that we are all blessed in our own ways, and we need to be thankful for the life that we have. At a young age, kids are also learning how to share and be patient with one another, so this book does a great job at teaching kids that we cannot always get our way; rather, it is important to learn to share what we have with others and be grateful always.
May 27, 2020
Not Particularly A Realistic Moral
So, the art is kind of cute and the idea of the story - as in, the moral it aims to teach - is a good one, but this book just doesn't come across well to me. It portrays a character who is in complete control of his emotional reactions to disappointment and actively chooses to throw a fit except when he's at school because it's against the rules. That's not how a majority of kids who have tantrums operate.
The reaction to disappointment comes from needing to learn healthy ways to cope with emotional overload and needing to learn how to compartmentalize and separate a minor issue from a major injustice. Telling a kid to just accept that you "get what you get" and "be happy" with it isn't healthy or fair at all. It's a cynical and jaded world view, and ignoring the child's right to have their own opinions. Disappointment is a natural, normal human emotion which should not be bottled up; children (and many adults) just need to learn how to cope with it and move on from it. Yes, that does mean not having a tantrum. No, it does not mean forcing oneself to fake contentment and never even voicing a simple "aw, man, I wanted something different instead."
Besides, if you have a child who gets so upset at getting the wrong design on a backpack that he stomps it on the ground and screams - an example from this book - they're not going to have the ability to handle getting the wrong supplies for a school art project simply because the teacher forbids tantrums. Portraying tantrums as solely a choice that can be made - and one a child is eager to make at every opportunity - is unfair to children with mental disabilities, emotional processing issues, mental health problems, or even just very sensitive souls.
Maybe I'm biased because I was such a child who didn't know how to handle disappointment and couldn't control her "fit throwing" until after I was taught healthier means of expressing those emotions. Considering I resent how many people would accuse me of doing it intentionally, I'm sure I do have a bias. I just kind of expected a book which showed a character learning to actually cope with the way life isn't always fair and accept that he can't always get what he wants.
So, the art is kind of cute and the idea of the story - as in, the moral it aims to teach - is a good one, but this book just doesn't come across well to me. It portrays a character who is in complete control of his emotional reactions to disappointment and actively chooses to throw a fit except when he's at school because it's against the rules. That's not how a majority of kids who have tantrums operate.
The reaction to disappointment comes from needing to learn healthy ways to cope with emotional overload and needing to learn how to compartmentalize and separate a minor issue from a major injustice. Telling a kid to just accept that you "get what you get" and "be happy" with it isn't healthy or fair at all. It's a cynical and jaded world view, and ignoring the child's right to have their own opinions. Disappointment is a natural, normal human emotion which should not be bottled up; children (and many adults) just need to learn how to cope with it and move on from it. Yes, that does mean not having a tantrum. No, it does not mean forcing oneself to fake contentment and never even voicing a simple "aw, man, I wanted something different instead."
Besides, if you have a child who gets so upset at getting the wrong design on a backpack that he stomps it on the ground and screams - an example from this book - they're not going to have the ability to handle getting the wrong supplies for a school art project simply because the teacher forbids tantrums. Portraying tantrums as solely a choice that can be made - and one a child is eager to make at every opportunity - is unfair to children with mental disabilities, emotional processing issues, mental health problems, or even just very sensitive souls.
Maybe I'm biased because I was such a child who didn't know how to handle disappointment and couldn't control her "fit throwing" until after I was taught healthier means of expressing those emotions. Considering I resent how many people would accuse me of doing it intentionally, I'm sure I do have a bias. I just kind of expected a book which showed a character learning to actually cope with the way life isn't always fair and accept that he can't always get what he wants.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 446 reviews