Nobody Knew What to Do: A Story about Bullying

by Becky Ray McCain, Todd Leonardo (Illustrator)

Overview

The Children's Book Sense 76 - Spring/Summer 2001
2002 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College

Straightforward and simple, this story tells how one child found the courage to tell a teacher about Ray, who was being picked on and bullied by other kids in school.

Faced with the fact that "nobody knows what to do" while Ray is bullied, the children sympathetic to him feel fear and confusion and can only hope that Ray will "fit in some day." Finally, after Ray misses a day of school and the bullies plot mean acts for his return, our narrator goes to a teacher. The children then invite Ray to play with them, and, with adult help, together they stand up to the bullies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807557136
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	11/01/2017
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	994,423
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.30(d)
Lexile:	AD690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Becky Ray McCain is a mother of three who received her M.A. in Special Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Being a mom, writing children's books, studying Native American culture, and teaching students with autism are her passion. 

Todd Leonardo has been a professional illustrator for more than 20 years. Born into a family of artists, he was nurtured in visual creativity from a young age. He holds a degree in Graphic Design from San Jose State University. Todd lives in California.

Editorial Reviews

The Children's Book Sense 76 - Spring/Summer 2001
2002 Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College

"Best suited for reading aloud, this picture book addresses the problem of bullying at school. From the very first sentence, the spare text allows children to acknowledge their feelings of powerlessness in the presence of a bully, even if they are not the focus of the intimidating behavior...McCain successfully presents a problem without sentimentalizing or sensationalizing it. A brief discussion about 'Bully Prevention' for adults is included."—School Library Journal

"Picture books about bullying are not uncommon, but this one is unusual in at least two respects. First, the story is told from the point of view of a boy watching bullies torment a classmate. Second, the resolution does not come about because the bullied child stands up for himself, or outsmarts or humiliates the bully. ...Every child enjoys a vicarious escape from a bad situation, but in this sobering book, McCain offers something more urgently needed: a way out—at least in schools where adults take bullying seriously. An appended note discusses bullying prevention."—Booklist

From the Publisher

K-Gr 3-Best suited for reading aloud, this picture book addresses the problem of bullying at school. From the very first sentence ("Nobody likes to think about it, even though we know it is not okay to hurt a person-"), the spare text allows children to acknowledge their feelings of powerlessness in the presence of a bully, even if they are not the focus of the intimidating behavior. A nameless protagonist serves as a spokesman for all of his classmates who don't know what to do, finally seeking help from his teacher when bullies plan to attack his friend. Getting help from an adult "so we could all figure out what to do" provides children with an active strategy as well as permission to tell without "tattling." McCain successfully presents a problem without sentimentalizing or sensationalizing it. Muted oil-on-paper illustrations are a bit stiff but still expressive. A brief discussion about "Bully Prevention" for adults is included.-Teri Markson, Stephen S. Wise Temple Elementary School, Los Angeles Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal