I’m sure that none of my readers would ever bully anyone, but have you ever been bullied by someone else? In this second book from “The ABC Animals” series of reassuring stories for children new to school by British publisher Thingley Press, Bertie Bullfrog has a secret. He hates school. It’s not because the classes are difficult or his teacher is mean. It’s because he’s being bullied by Liam Lizard and Christopher Crocodile. Bertie is too small and shy to do anything about it, so he just pretends not to notice. However, one day there’s a new student in class, Tamara Tree-Frog. She and Bertie become good friends. Will Liam and Christopher try to bully her too? If so, what will Bertie do? And will the other students in the class help Bertie?
Bullying has been around ever since Cain bullied Abel, but if anecdotal evidence is any indication, it would seem to be a growing problem in schools today, and in many cases school officials either are powerless to stop it or simply won’t do anything about it. This is one reason why more and more people are choosing to educate their children at home. However, for any child who is experiencing bullying, whether in school or in the neighborhood, Bertie Bullfrog and the Bullies may provide some insight on how to go about finding a solution as it illustrates the importance of having courage, standing up for oneself, showing kindness to others, and understanding the value of friendship. Activities in the back of the book include coloring, a maze, and a word search. Charlie the Cheating Cheetah is the next book in the series. ( )