Nobody Knew What to Do A Story About Bullying

Author: Becky Ray McCain https://www.jacketflap.com/becky-ray-mccain/14665
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Date of Publication: 2001
Illustrator: Todd Leonardo https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2910879.Todd_Leonardo
Genre: Designation: Fiction
Lexile: 690L

Nobody Knew What To Do A Story About Bullying

Summary:

This is a great story about how kids can "fight back" against the bullies. In this story there is a child named Ray. Ray is bullied by a group of his classmates. The classmates see the bullying, but do not know what to do. They try to ignore it until they just can not anymore. They approach their teacher and she in turn tells the principal. Eventually the bullies are confronted by the principal and teacher and told they can not treat Ray or anyone like that.

Target Audience:

The message in this book is one that can be beneficial at any age. The illustrations and story are simplistic, however the message is not. I would recommend this book for grades 1-4. The author also has a page at the end of the story about bully prevention. 

Evaluation:

I find that most books written about bullying are to help your student or child grow as an individual. They typically have a message or lesson to be taught through examples. Not all children will be bullied but most may witness a bullying situation in their lives. Stories like this give them options and thoughts on how to handle those situations.

Reader Response Activity:

A great place to start would be to brainstorm before reading the story. You could make a list of things that would be unkind to do or say to another person. After you make that list then brainstorm again for things you could do to help in those situations. Once you have your two lists, then read the story and discuss afterward. See if the students were able to come up with situations or solutions similar to those in the book.