Using the carrot, not the stick, and catching more flies with honey than with vinegar are time-honored sayings that are, unfortunately, oft-ignored in the classroom and at home. Yet, positive empowerment and proactive behavioral management are the keys to raising productive, conscientious, and emotionally intelligent children. The author is a longtime coach, educator, and mother who is well-suited to ask the difficult questions that drive inner reflection and positive change. Here, she presents her COMPLETE model-an acronym that stands for Contemplate and reflect, Open-heartedly listen, Make strong connections, Plan your priorities, Lead the learning through direct teaching, Empower through acknowledgment, Tactfully correct, and Evolve and transform.

Despite the seemingly abstract nature of positive empowerment, the author successfully provides a practical and actionable step-by-step guide to implementing her suggested strategies. The reader is encouraged to honestly reflect upon his or her own actions and attitudes and assess the extent to which they influence the behavior of children. Some readers might be tempted to simply skim the material, but this would be a mistake. Dina Al-Hidiq Zebib provides pathways for active engagement with the material, which challenges the reader to embrace personal growth and implement positive change.

Of particular interest is the chapter on making strong connections. The author argues that to encourage respectfulness in children, it is necessary to first display respect toward them. All too often, children who misbehave do so because they feel that the adults around them do not truly believe in their abilities. Instead trying to control a child's every thought, action, and word, parents and educators ought to focus on nurturing a strong relationship with the child and on giving that child some much-needed support. The author's guide to her COMPLETE model is a highly recommended, worthwhile read for both parents and educators.

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