PEGGY MOSS (Toronto, Ontario) is a writer, educator, former hate-violence prosecutor, mother of two daughters who write their own rules, and author of the Tilbury House bestsellers Say Something and One of Us. Lea Lyon is an award-winning children's book illustrator, painting teacher, and portrait artist who has made a childhood dream come true. Lea loved to draw and paint as a child, and she wanted to be a children's book illustrator. She ended up raising a family, going back to school for an MBA, and working in the corporate world, but she kept painting. Now, at long last, Lea is a children's book illustrator with five published picture books: Say Something, Playing War, Keep Your Ear on the Ball (all with Tilbury), The Miracle Jar and Operation Marriage. She lives in Richmond, California.
K-Gr. 3 Can one person make a difference? Moss' obviously didactic
book, which seems designed for group discussion about bullying,
focuses on the role of the bystander, a girl who sees the sadness
of the victim but does nothing ("I walk on the other side of the
hall. I don't say those things"). Realistic, lively watercolor
illustrations show the child in a diverse school community, where
kids are picked on and called names for being slow or different.
The girl feels sad for them, but she looks away--until one day,
when she is alone, the bullies make her cry, and her friends do
nothing. The dramatic climax is quiet: the girl reaches out to a
child who always sits alone on the bus, and the children have fun
together. This is one of the best of the recent books for
discussion about teasing; its direct, first-person narrative and
informal portraits bring close classroom, hallway, and schoolyard
scenarios for kids and adults to talk about. Copyright (c) American
Library Association. All rights reserved--Hazel Rochman "ALA"
...excellent resource, written with clarity, sensitivity and
directness.-- "Black Issues Magazine"
Activating child bystanders...helpful in raising this issue for
discussion... compelling enough to be useful to discussions... all
age groups.-- "New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and
Prevention"
Kindergarten-Grade 5-This story takes an interesting slant on an
important topic. A young narrator describes different examples of
bullying that she witnesses at school and on the bus, but remains
silent. One day, when her friends are absent, she must sit alone in
the cafeteria, and several students make jokes at her expense. In
addition to feeling angry about being treated this way, the girl is
frustrated with the other kids who look on sympathetically but say
nothing. She is then able to empathize with other victims. The next
day, she approaches a quiet girl who is often teased and finds a
new friend. As well as demonstrating different examples of
bullying, the author gradually but clearly illustrates that being a
silent bystander contributes to the problem. Points are made
quickly and simply, and the narrative has a natural flow that
immediately draws readers in. Back pages include topics for
discussion, practical and proactive advice for kids who are being
targeted, and some good Web sites. The realistic watercolor
illustrations depict busy school life and represent a diverse
population. Emotions are portrayed beautifully through facial
expression and body language. Suitable for independent reading or
for sharing aloud, this book can be used in a classroom environment
to set the stage for important dialogue about this universal and
ageless issue.-Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas,
Ontario, Canada Copyright (c) Reed Business Information, a division
of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--Corrina Austin, Locke's
Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada "Booklist"
Moss tackles the ever-present issue of teasing by specifically
talking about what someone should say when they see someone else
being teased. The main character of the story sees teasing
happening all around her, but at first, she stays silent. When the
tables are turned on her, she quickly realizes that being an
innocent bystander won't work any longer. She uses the newfound
empathy to comfort other targets of bullying and prove the
harmfulness of teasing and the power of friendship. The
illustrations from Lea Lyon do a wonderful job of depicting the
emotions of the characters and Moss even includes some discussion
questions at the end to make sure the lessons really hit
home.--Kylie Hall "Teacher.org" (8/16/2017 12:00:00 AM)
Most appropriate for children in grades two through six but, this
short, sweet story offers a lesson for all ages -(National
Education Association)-- "NEA Today"
Simple text...realistic watercolor drawings will pull readers into
this story...One person can make difference is the theme...--
"Kansas City Star"
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