Smart Cookies

Reach for this book when your child is feeling the sting of school-yard social rankings or struggling to find their voice in a group. It is an ideal choice for the child who feels overlooked despite their efforts to be kind, or for the high energy student frustrated by strict new rules and academic pressure. The story follows two best friends, bubbly Quinny and quiet Hopper, as they navigate a school sweets ban and a mean-spirited ranking list that labels students by intelligence. Through their contrasting personalities, the book explores how to handle unfairness with both passion and patience. It normalizes the messiness of elementary school friendships and the reality that doing the right thing does not always lead to immediate praise. It is a warm, humorous guide for 8 to 12 year olds learning to define themselves by their character rather than by a list or a grade.