Children's Book Review: Leave Me Alone: A tale of what happens when you stand up to a bully

Leave Me Alone: A tale of what happens when you stand up to a bully
Written by:  Kes Gray
Illustrated by: Lee Wildish
Published by:  Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 2011
32 pages

from goodreads.com:
In this sensitively told story, a little boy is feeling sad because every day he has to face a bully. But the little boy also has friends. A frog, a cat, a rabbit, a cow, and other animal friends insist on helping him, even after he tells them: "There's nothing you can do for me/ There's nothing you can say." Fortunately, he is mistaken, because the next time the bully approaches, they all join with him and shout, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" And it works! The bully turns around and goes away. Author Kes Gray's gently clever use of rhyming verse gives a difficult subject a wonderfully light touch. Large color illustrations on every page capture the spirit of a story that will have special meaning for many little boys and girls.

* Bullying has become a huge issue in schools across America.  What used to be thought of as a middle/high school problem is now affecting even Kindergartners.  While I wouldn't read this book to group of sixth graders, I thought it was a great read for my 3 and 5 year old children. In this book a little boy is being bullied and feels alone.  His animal friends can tell that something's bothering him and want to help.  Told in rhyme with simple text it shows the power of friends banding together.  If my kids were a little older I would use this book as a discussion starter about bullying and what they can do if they feel like they are being bullied. 

Family Rating:  1 1/2 thumbs up.