About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing their first experience with a playground 'king' or 'queen' who uses intimidation to control the play space. It is a perfect tool for children who are coming home with worries about threats that seem physically impossible but emotionally overwhelming, such as being put in a hole or a cage with bears. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor captures the quintessential fear of the childhood bully while providing a gentle, logic based solution. Through conversations with his father, Kevin learns to deconstruct the scary scenarios Sammy creates. This story is developmentally ideal for preschoolers and early elementary students, modeling how humor and critical thinking can strip power away from a bully without resorting to aggression. It emphasizes the importance of a supportive parent-child dialogue in building social resilience.
