WHAT IF BUNNY’S NOT A BULLY?
Illustrated by Christine Battuz
Published by Kids Can Press
ISBN 9781525300554
Gertie the elephant says everyone on the playground should stay far away from Bunny because she's super mean. But Kitty has questions: How did Bunny become a bully? Was she born that way? Was she stung by a bullybug? Or maybe she caught the bully flu? Wait, does that mean bullying is contagious? And if it is, couldn't the other animals catch it, too? But ... then no one would play with them either, and that doesn't seem fair. Is it possible that Bunny is sorry? Should they give her a second chance?
Not your typical bullying story, Lana Button's fresh take flips the focus from the child being bullied to the one being called a bully. In cadenced rhyming text, the compassionate and insightful Kitty leads children through a series of questions that get at the core of the assumptions we make about others and how it feels to be on the other side of name-calling. Christine Battuz's expressive illustrations use tenderness and a touch of humor to complement the emotional level of the text. Altogether, this is a perfect child-level exploration of empathy. It would be an excellent choice for discussions about bullying, or more broad issues of social development. It also works for character education lessons on empathy, compassion, fairness and inclusiveness.
REVIEWS
“... the message of giving friends a second chance is well expressed, and teachers will find a useful opportunity in identifying for children who the real victim of bullying is in this story.”
— Booklist, March 2020
“A playful approach to a serious topic, this is a great choice for young readers to explore what it means to be a bully and to reflect on the power of forgiveness.”
— School Library Journal, April 2020
“... a beautifully illustrated atypical bullying story for primary aged children ...”
— CM Magazine, June 2020
Download a free activity guide for What If Bunny's Not A Bully? HERE
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