Henry and the Bully by Nancy Carlson

32 p., Penguin, 2010.

Sometimes it takes more than one approach to end bullying. First-grader Henry accidentally bumps into a new second grader, Sam, who reacts by kicking Henry's ball out of reach. When Henry protests, her response is hostile. Henry asks a teacher for help, and the teacher promises to protect him. But at the next few recesses, the teacher is distracted and Sam continues to bully Henry. Henry experiences typical childhood signs of stress: unhappiness, a tummy ache, difficulty concentrating, and fear of going to school. Then, by chance, he sees Sam in an embarrassing situation away from school, and when they're back at school, she threatens to kick his ball into space if he tells. Henry responds with kindness and empathy, which clearly come naturally to him and which stuns Sam. Then he invites her to play with him, and all the kids have fun. Henry's world has become a safer place. Illustrated with colorful, vivid animal characters and displaying genuine understanding of children's experience, this appealing story shows children that just being their best selves may be enough to stop someone from bullying them.

Ages 5-11
Main character's cultural background: non-human
Cultural context: non-human: