Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it has a really good message with a different take on the anti-bullying story.
Mister Cool
By: Birdy Jones
Illustrated by: Tara D Lynch
Pages: 32 pages – ages 6+
Published by: POW! on January 6, 2015
Theme/Topic: Anti-bullying
Genre: Self-help
Opening and Synopsis:
Opening: “Don’t know if you heard… but I’m Mister Cool.”
Synopsis (publisher’s description): “The clever tactics of Mister Cool, who faces down the mean kids at school with confidence, show elementary-school-age kids how to deflect bullying with humor and create friendships through kindness.”
Mister Cool – Our Review
Why I liked this book- I think that this book is a marvelous story about how to be yourself, and how to use your talents to take away a bullies’ power. It’s great how Mister Cool seems like he’s perfect at whatever he does, and while that may be true, he still gets bullied. It shows that anyone can get bullied.
And using what they can do, and a witty (but kind) comeback, they can make new friends or maybe show a bully that he/she is wrong. The illustrations are funky and have a slightly abstract, notebook kind of feel. It is very imaginative. This is a really well-done book.
Activities and Resources-
Education World has a list of anti-bullying lesson plans – click HERE.
Bullying No Way! has a list of anti-bullying activities – click HERE.
You could role play with your kids and act out some of the bullying things Mr. Cool goes through (like getting tripped) and try to figure out another way to handle it (Mr. Cool breaks out into cool dance moves).
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!