Perfect Picture Book Friday/ Confessions of a Former Bully

HI Friends!

 

Welcome to PPBF for anti bullying week! I have a great book for you. One I am delighted to bring to you. Trudy Ludwig was introduced to me by Patricia Tilton, and her blog “Children’s books Heal ”. She suggested I do this book in her comments one day. And when I started reading this book, I was blown away by it’s brilliance. So why was it so good? Wait and see.

 

Title: Confessions of A Former Bully

Author/ Illustrator : Trudy Ludwig/ Beth Adams

Publishing info : Tricycle Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, www.randomhouse.com/kids

 

Summary: Ten – year – old Katie’s consequences for bullying classmates includes making up for the hurt she has caused, and so she decides to write a book about bullying, why it is not okay, and how to start being a better friend.

Themes: Bullies, schools, behavior, experiences of every child, relationships

Ages appropriate : All ages

 

Resources : www.bullying.org  This informative website for adults and children includes antibullying commercials, drawings, stories, music, and films. It also allows users to share experiences with others who have witnessed and been involved in bullying.

 

www.cyberbully.org

Created by the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, this website offers Students, parents, and educators valuable information and resources for combating online social cruelty.

 

www.eyesonbullying.org

Created by the Education Development Center, this website is both informative and user-friendly. Check out their wonderful Toolkit, in PDF format, which includes insights, strategies, activities, and resources to address bullying for caregivers, parents, and youth.

 

www.netsmartz.org

This interactive educational resource is provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. It addresses a variety of Internet safety issues for kids ages five to seventeen, parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement officers.

 

These are just some of the websites and resources mentioned in the prolific backmatter of this book. There are other organizations, books for adults and books for kids.

 

Why I really loved this book : This book could be for all ages. It appeals to both kids and adults and I found it fascinating. At first the reader is made to think it is about a bully but then it switches to talking about the whole bullying scene, from targets, to bystanders, to how to be a good friend. It leaves no stone unturned. Trudy Ludwig has brought a real keen technique into play, that of writing a book aimed at her peers of ten –  year- old students, about bullying and this is the  technique she uses to explore the whole bullying landscape. Even cyber bullying.

 

I think this book is more important than any other book I’ve read or reviewed for PPBF yet. I asked my husband to read it and bought a copy for my grandson who is eleven and his mother. I want all of you to tweet about this book. It is Anti – bullying week, after all. And you will be doing all moms, students, teachers and librarians a big favor by doing this. And put it on your facebook page. Here’s a big thank you in advance!

 

Thanks so much for reading this. If you would like to read more books like this one go to Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books site  where you will find a treasure trove of good stories for students , parents and teachers and librarians. All categorized in alphabet order and in order of theme. Go there and see for yourself why you should and will want to tell others about it. Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s awesome!

 

And my books?

Annie’s Special Day and Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story. See below for the jackets. And where to purchase? Amazon of course!

My Picture Books in logo by Margot Finke