This or That: A Story about Choosing

Alexander Levine had difficulty making up his mind. His indecision would cause him to be late, feel unprepared, and miss opportunities. His father, an umpire stressed the importance of making decisions based on instinct. His mother, a judge assured him that rational decisions take time and careful calculation. Alexander tried both approaches but found himself making the wrong choice or taking too long to decide. He was so fed up with making decisions, he wanted to spend a choice-free afternoon at the ice cream parlor where he would order one scoop of everything.

When Alexander received a bowl of licorice, rum raisin, peanut butter, mocha, and mango ice cream, he realized that not deciding was a decision and not one that he was happy with. He reflected on his experience; he remembered the first flavor he was excited to try and discovered that this was his first choice. This story encourages children to be decisive and learn from their mistakes. If he made a choice that he regretted, Alexander made sure he wouldn’t repeat that decision again. This book is an excellent decision-making tool for children ages four to eight.