Bubble-Gum Radar

Reach for this book when your child is facing their first real tests of integrity or the pressure to bend school rules just because a friend did. It is an ideal choice for the early elementary transition where children are learning that their actions have consequences even when they think they are being clever or discrete. This gentle story follows Timothy and his friends as they navigate a school-wide ban on bubble gum, only to realize that their teacher, Mrs. Appleby, seems to have a supernatural ability to spot rule-breakers. It addresses the heavy feelings of guilt and the nervousness that comes with keeping a secret from an authority figure. Parents will appreciate how it validates the temptation of peer influence while ultimately modeling that honesty is the only way to clear one's conscience. It is a perfect tool for opening a dialogue about why rules exist and how to make things right after a mistake.