The Bully: A Discussion and Activity Story

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Jason is the target of a schoolyard bully, and the bullying is
escalating. He feels scared and alone, abandoned by his friends.
Fortunately his mother recognizes the signs of bullying. Despite
Jason’s hesitation, they agree to notify the school in the hope that
working together will stop the bullying.

This short, simple story in a workbook-like format is followed by a
series of questions and answers for children designed to generate
discussion and clarify issues about bullying. A word-search puzzle and
connect-the-dots activity, along with cartoon-like illustrations to be
coloured, invite further involvement by the child while the subject is
being discussed. Several questions and answers just for adults provide
background information, and a brief bibliography suggests other useful
resources.

Parents and primary teachers will find this a useful resource with
which to address the problem of bullying. It is unfortunate that because
of its simple format and appearance the book is unlikely to receive wide
exposure. Recommended.