Book excerpt: Marcos has lots of ideas about what it means to be an active listener. Unfortunately, they all involve gyrating his body while someone is speaking. If he doesn’t figure out what active listening really means – and fast – he could end up in big trouble. Or worse. His lack of listening skills is causing all sorts of stress. He nearly missed his pal’s epic birthday party, then he lost 50 points on what should have been a simple class assignment. And if his teacher hadn’t stepped in with a last-second reminder, Marcos would have broken the heart of a young friend who was depending on him. When Mom and a caring teacher explain how he can improve his listening skills, Marcos has to make a choice. Will he choose to be an active listener, or will he continue to hear only what he wants to hear? Marcos, Did You Hear Me? is an engaging story with a valuable message about paying attention and listening with your whole body. This is the second title in author Bryan Smith’s new Social Strategies series for K-5 students and includes a special page for parents and teachers on how to help children maintain their focus and be more engaged listeners.