Mr. TwistyBooksRead-alouds that teach the lesson before you ask for it.
Four picture books by Mr. Twisty. Three true stories about his real dogs, Oliver and Penny, plus the wiggle-friendly Sit Still. Be Quiet. Each one gives your kids a story to see themselves in and you a simple activity to lead.
Lessons & activities Pick your role
Every grown-up gets a plan.
Preschool, Pre-K & Head Start
Circle-time read-alouds starring real dogs, with a movement break and a dog to meet.
Go →Elementary Teachers (K–3)
Read-alouds for trying again, patience, transitions and self-regulation.
Go →Counselors & Social Workers
Launch texts for feelings, body signals, persistence and calming down.
Go →Reading Teachers
Words you can see: big, bold, repeating words built for read-along.
Go →Librarians
Storytime plans, displays and collection notes for all four books.
Go →Parents & Caregivers
The right book for bedtime, big energy, trying hard and slowing down.
Go →Which book for which moment?
| When your kids need help with... | Reach for |
|---|---|
| A kid who can't sit still / needs to move first | Sit Still. Be Quiet. |
| Learning something hard, trying again | UP! OVER! DOWN! |
| Patience, empathy, someone who moves at a different speed | SLOW DOWN! |
| Bedtime, nap, or any "the fun is over" transition | ONE MORE ZOOMIE! |
| Reading feelings from body language (ears, tail, face) | SLOW DOWN! |
A read-aloud a week, with a job attached.
- Morning meeting: read UP! OVER! DOWN! and build a "start small" goal ladder, like Penny's first hoop on the floor.
- After recess: lead the Dinosaur Stomp from Sit Still. Be Quiet., then freeze into quiet work.
- Before a test: a slow-motion "Penny walk" from SLOW DOWN! resets busy bodies.
- End of the day: ONE MORE ZOOMIE! helps kids name the feeling when fun ends.
- Sub plans: a book plus a two-minute activity is a substitute teacher's best friend.
Sit Still. Be Quiet.
Ronald the dinosaur has big energy, and everywhere he goes the rule is the same: sit still, be quiet. Then he learns the secret: sometimes, before you sit still, you need to CLAW. TAIL. STOMP. ROAR.
Buy on Amazon Free guideLaunch texts for the lessons on your calendar.
- Self-regulation: Sit Still. Be Quiet. works as a Tier 1 launch text. See the counselor guide at sitstillbequiet.com.
- Persistence: UP! OVER! DOWN! for growth-mindset and frustration-tolerance groups.
- Empathy & differences: SLOW DOWN! for kids learning that people (and dogs) go at different speeds.
- Transitions & big feelings: ONE MORE ZOOMIE! for kids who struggle when something fun ends.
- Body signals: all three Oliver & Penny books ask kids to read feelings from body language.
These are picture books, not clinical tools. They open conversations and pair with the supports you already use.
UP! OVER! DOWN!
Oliver watches everything his big sister Penny does. When Penny leaps a fallen tree on their trail walk, Oliver wants to do it too. His first great jump lands him right where he started. With a little help, a wet day off, and a lot of tries, he gets it. Then come the hoops, and a surprise: Penny's first hoop was on the floor too.
Buy on Amazon Look inside Free guideWords you can see.
The Oliver & Penny books use big, bold, picture-shaped words: UP! climbs up the page, SLOW is stretched out s l o w. Little readers can figure the words out from how they look.
- Shared reading: kids chime in on the big words by the second page.
- Concept words: position words (up, over, down) and opposites (fast, slow).
- Repeated reading: short, predictable text that's fun to read again.
- Fluency & expression: Sit Still. Be Quiet. has strong refrains and call-and-response moments.
SLOW DOWN!
Oliver wants to go FAST. Today Penny goes s l o w. Her head is low and her steps are small. Oliver zooms, whines, spins and even barks. Mr. Twisty doesn't hurry anyone: "Some days are slow days. Let's see what Penny sees." Down at Penny's height, Oliver finds ants, a mushroom, a feather, a beetle, and a puddle with the whole sky in it.
Buy on Amazon Look inside Free guideFits the frameworks you already use
CASEL SEL competencies
Self-awareness (naming feelings), self-management (regulation, persistence, transitions), social awareness (reading cues, empathy) and relationship skills (siblings who help each other).
Head Start ELOF
Social & Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning (persistence, self-regulation) and Language & Literacy through read-aloud and vocabulary.
Zones of Regulation™
Sit Still. Be Quiet. pairs with moving from yellow to green; ONE MORE ZOOMIE! with winding down to rest.
Detailed Sit Still. Be Quiet. alignment (ASCA, UDL, MTSS) is at sitstillbequiet.com/for-educators.
Author visits (Oliver can come too!)
Mr. Twisty visits preschools, Head Start classrooms, schools and libraries to read the Oliver & Penny books. Oliver comes along to meet the kids.
Ask about a visit School assembliesClass sets & school orders
All four books are on Amazon in paperback and Kindle. Sit Still. Be Quiet. is also available through IngramSpark, so most school vendors and library wholesalers can order it. For bulk or purchase-order questions, send a note.
Bulk & PO questionsAt Mr. Twisty's shows
$12 each · 3 for $30
He brings the books to every show and visit. $12.99 on Amazon any time.
Ready? Say the magic word!
Read-aloud permission: Teachers, librarians and caregivers are welcome to read Mr. Twisty's books aloud in classrooms, storytimes and live or virtual library programs. Please don't post full recordings online.
Raised in a library
Mr. Twisty (Chad Currin) is the son of an elementary school librarian. He grew up in libraries: reading stories, writing stories, reshelving books, and taking in everything a library had to offer. He has loved telling stories ever since.
On stage, his magic illustrates the stories he tells. His books are the stories that come from the rest of his life: the morning walks, the dogs, and the kids he meets along the way.
Magic on the stage. Stories on the page.