I give kudos to Dr. Jackie C. Cogswell for writing a subject that is so relevant for today and greatly needed to assist young people. When I picked up this book, I was expecting a story more like the last one. Then I kept reading and soon discovered that this was over the top! The author did an excellent job; another beautiful book from Jackie. Valuable websites listed in the end notes for more information on bullying.

I enjoyed the character of Luke Michael Giggleheart, a sweet and shy 8-year-old boy and his friend Mario Martinez. Luke is not too sure how to handle the school bully Harry Jones, also known as Bulldog Jones, who is a mean 10-year-old.

The story begins with Luke experiencing one of his biggest fears, being stuffed inside a school locker by the local bully. Along the way, Luke meets a lion, a tiger and an angel with much excitement from dreams to pictures in his head, like a TV screen, where everything gets recorded. Then one day Luke becomes very brave and strong; finding his identity, purpose and value in Jesus.

This is a great book with a wonderful message, teaching on repentance and grace, connecting with God's heart, and having joy. I will be adding it to my "favorites." I highly recommend this one to all kids who have had an encounter with a bully at school, on the bus or in your neighborhood. Learn what the Bible says about fear, lying, attitudes and bullies in a super-fun and giggly way! ( )

Have you ever been bullied? What was your reaction? How did you handle it? Even if you’ve never been bullied or, heaven forbid, been a bully yourself, you likely have known someone else who’s been bullied. Luke Michael Giggleheart is an eight-year-old boy who lives with his mom and dad, older sister Sophia, and little brother D. J. His Papa (grandfather), whom he remembers fondly, is in heaven, and his best friend is Mario Martinez. However, Luke has a problem. Harry Jones, whom everyone calls Bulldog, is bullying him. On Luke’s worst day ever of school, Bulldog stuffed him in his locker like a sausage, and while he had an itchy belly button, had to go to the bathroom, and was getting hungry, he had to wait for Mario to get the teacher and janitor to let him out.
Luke also has an unusual brain issue. It’s like he has a TV screen in his head and there are many different channels—a scary one, a bad attitude one, a bowling one, a football one, a random one, and a yummy one. But his mom has started a Bible Buddies Club for Luke and his friends to learn about Jesus, so there’s also a God Channel. Luke wants to be a superhero like David, the king in the Bible who doesn’t have a last name (how weird is that?), but the Scary Channel keeps replaying the scene where he got stuffed in the locker by Bulldog and he’s afraid. Then one night, after his mom reads to him from the Bible before bedtime, the God Channel is playing and they pray for Bulldog. Then Luke has a really neat dream. How will a super-ginormous lion named Tyler, a saber-toothed tiger named George, and an angel named Zack help Luke to be brave and deal with his bully?
Author Jackie Chirco Cogswell, who is a family physician and the mother of three children, first introduced the Giggleheart family in A Heart Ready to Fly: Giggleheart Adventures No. 1, where Luke’s sister Sophia is flying home with her brother and meets a goofy angel named Frank who uses the Bible to teach her about judging others and her "little bit of a not-so-nice-ish attitude." Bullying is certainly a very real problem that many kids have to face today, so it’s great to see a book written from a Biblical perspective that’s intended to assist those who are dealing with the toxic effects of bullying. Luke learns what the Bible says about fear, attitudes, and bullies in a fun and giggly way. There is a page at the end with a list of websites to find more information on bullying. It’s a wonderful resource to make kids more aware of this important subject. ( )