GOOD CHOICES LEAD TO GOOD RESULTS – The Wisdom of Mr. Consequences

The Power of a Single Choice
Every day brings a thousand choices. Some are small — what to wear, what to eat. Others are big — how to live, how to treat others, how to care for yourself.
For children, those choices begin early. That’s why stories that teach decision-making, health, and self-respect are so important. One of my favorites on this subject is my book NO SMOKING, NO DRINKING, NO DRUGS — a simple story with a powerful message: good choices lead to good results; bad choices lead to bad results.

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A Winter Day and a Temptation
The story begins with Billy, a boy walking home from school on an ordinary winter day. Everything is normal — until he turns a corner and sees a group of older kids laughing and smoking.
“Here, kid,” one says. “Take a puff.”
Another shoves a drink in his direction.
Billy hesitates. Then, from behind a bush, a tiny mouse jumps out, waves a finger, and says, “No! No! Tell them no!”
That little mouse, of course, is Mr. Consequences — and he’s about to change the way Billy sees the world.

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Meet Mr. Consequences
Mr. Consequences is that wise little voice we all wish we had whispering in our ear. He explains that every choice — big or small — carries a consequence.
Smoking, drinking, and taking drugs may look exciting to some, but each leads down a path of harm.
“Smoking is for chimneys, not for people!” he says.
Chimneys are made of bricks and stone. Our lungs and throats are made of living cells — and smoke damages them over time.
Mr. Consequences goes on to explain that alcohol can hurt the body’s vital organs — the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. “You need these to live a happy, healthy life,” he tells Billy.
Then, with a piece of cheese in his paw, he shows Billy something shocking — inside the cheese are unhappy, unhealthy people who once made poor choices. “When you lose your health,” he says, “you lose your happiness, too.”

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The Lesson About Drugs
Billy asks about drugs.
“Drugs are for doctors,” says Mr. Consequences. “When a doctor gives medicine, it’s to help someone heal. But the drugs used on the street only harm. They damage the brain — the very thing that makes each person special.”
He reminds Billy that everyone is born with the ability to be great at something — maybe art, music, sports, or learning — but drugs can take that away.
Again, Mr. Consequences holds up his cheese. Through one of its holes, Billy sees young people slumped on a street corner, hopeless and joyless.
Billy’s face falls. “Oh, no,” he says. “Why do they do it?”
“Because they don’t understand the consequences,” replies the mouse. “But now you do.”

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A Lesson for Every Child
That’s the beauty of this story — it doesn’t scold or lecture. It gently teaches cause and effect in a way children understand.
As a parent or teacher, you can use Billy’s story to open conversations about peer pressure, healthy living, and personal responsibility. Children quickly relate to Billy’s hesitation — that moment when you want to fit in, but something inside says, “Wait. This isn’t right.”
That “something inside” is their own Mr. Consequences.
It’s a way for kids to see that saying “no” isn’t weakness — it’s strength.

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Why Educators Love This Story
Teachers often tell me they use NO SMOKING, NO DRINKING, NO DRUGS in classrooms to start discussions about making good choices.
It fits perfectly with character education programs, health classes, or Red Ribbon Week activities. The rhyming language and cheerful illustrations keep young readers engaged while delivering an important message.
The story makes complex topics like smoking, drinking, and drug use simple, visual, and age-appropriate. It helps children see that health and happiness go hand in hand — and that protecting your body and mind is a lifelong gift to yourself.

The Bridge Back to Happiness
As Billy learns from Mr. Consequences, life is full of choices. The good news is that children can learn to make the right ones early on — through guidance, love, and positive examples.
Good choices bring health, strength, and confidence.
Bad choices bring the opposite.
When Billy thanks the little mouse for his wisdom, Mr. Consequences calls back,
“Good choices lead to good results; bad choices lead to bad results.”
And with that, the story circles back to its most important lesson — one worth repeating in every home and every classroom.

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A Message Worth SharingIf you’re a parent, teacher, or counselor looking for books that teach values, decision-making, and health awareness, this is a story to keep on your shelf.
NO SMOKING, NO DRINKING, NO DRUGS helps children see how their choices today can shape their happiness tomorrow — and it does it with warmth, humor, and heart.
Because, as Mr. Consequences would say, your life depends on the choices you make. 

This book is also available in a Multicultural version.