Happy Friday, everyone! It’s time for a Perfect Picture Book review and craft activity.

The book I’m recommending is one that belongs on every school library shelf, as well as in every home. It addresses the problem of bullying – an issue of concern in schools and playgrounds everywhere. In fact, I’ve prepared a kid’s anti-bullying toolkit guide with some simple action steps to take. It’s a free gift when you sign up to get my awesome quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/8pglH

Reading a picture book with your child creates a bond. It also gives you an opportunity to talk about sensitive issues like bullying.

LLAMA LLAMA AND THE BULLY GOAT

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney

Publisher: Viking Juvenile (2013)

Ages: 3-5+

Themes: Bullying

Opening Lines:

“Llama, llama busy day.

Writing, counting, pictures, clay.

Roll a pancake. Draw the sun.

Almost everyone has fun.”

Synopsis:

From Amazon: Llama Llama is learning lots of new things at school and making many friends. But when Gilroy Goat starts teasing him and some of their classmates, Llama Llama isn’t sure what to do. And then he remembers what his teacher told him—walk away and tell someone. It works! But then Llama Llama feels badly. Can he and Gilroy try to be friends again?

Why I like this book:

• Great read-aloud…all of Anna Dewdney’s books are!
• Sweet engaging illustrations
• Perfect book for very young children who are dealing with bullying

How a parent can use this book:

• As a wonderful launchpad for talking about bullying
• Rhyming wordplay…young children love to rhyme and rhyming is a great literacy tool.

Related Activity:

PLAYING WITH CLAY

Photo courtesy: http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/claysaltdoughplaydoughcraftsactivitiesideaskids.html

Young children need lots of time with sensory activities. Playing with clay is one of the best. You can make your own (there are many recipes available online and there are several in my Show Me How book) or use store-bought play dough or clay. Rolling, patting, pressing, coiling – what fun!

You will need: Clay (either homemade or store-bought), surface to work on (I love the thin vinyl cutting mats that stores usually sell in 2 or 3 packs…one side is smooth and the other has a bit of texture that helps to keep it from sliding on the table), blunt implements to create interesting patterns (spoon, jar lid, old credit card).

1. Your child will love to just play with the clay…probably pulling off small pieces…that can be a game in itself…have a small plastic bowl or cup for her to drop the little pieces in. You can count them or put them in groups of 2 or 3.
2. I recommend one color at a time (or no color if you are using homemade clay and you haven’t put food coloring in)…otherwise you may have rainbow clay (which is pretty cool also!).
3. If you want to play at making shapes, you and your child can roll little balls, big balls, cylinders, snake shapes.
4. Once you’ve made shapes, you can combine them to make animals or snowmen or people or whatever your child’s imagination creates.

Don’t forget – click this link: http://eepurl.com/8pglH and grab the free Anti-Bullying Toolkit Guide for Kids. You’ll also get the first issue of my quarterly newsletter (with picture book recommendations, quick and easy craft projects and simple healthful child-friendly recipes all tied in to a seasonal theme…plus tips for parents and teachers), Picture Books Help Kids Soar, when it comes out this winter.