The kids at Ralph Bunche Middle School love to pick on
Elliot Kravitz-Carnucci. He struggles with his weight, looks like a geek, makes
top honors, and lives above the Carnucci Home for Funerals in South
Philadelphia with his distant, workaholic father and Nonna, his quirky,
overbearing grandmother.
Since his parents divorced, he splits spending his time with his funeral
director father and his mother Rayna, who dreams of becoming the queen of
commercials on the west coast.
At the hands of his peers, Elliot experiences a series of bullying episodes
that escalate from entrapment in a school supply closet to a brutal “swirly”
(head dunk in the toilet) that lands him in the hospital
emergency room.
Elliot has a small circle of loyal friends and a mentor named Duke, an aging
school custodian, who root for him to overcome his bullying issues so that he
can enjoy his life as a teenager and a budding singer/performer. Can Elliot win
his fight against the nasty bullies, or is he doomed forever? Read this funny,
sad, and crazy book to find out.
Buy this book from all e-book outlets, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. For Teachers. Kids, and Parents Cool Things to Do if a Bully's Bugging You Take a look at my latest bully prevention book, Cool Things to do If a Bully's Bugging You: 50 Classroom Activities to Help Elementary Students. This book gives students enjoyable activities to help them overcome bullying while it's happening. Teachers will appreciate the fact that the book helps meet curricular goals in English/language arts and social studies. Counselors can help bullied kids by using the book with groups and individual students.
For Parents
WHO SAYS BULLIES RULE: COMMON SENSE TIPS TO HELP YOUR KIDS COPE
"In today's world of parenting, one needs to be brought up to speed with the latest ways kids bully kids. This book gives parents a contemporary guide for communicating with their children and reducing the probability of their children becoming targets. The tweens and teen years are far more challenging to navigate as a child than a generation ago. This book will be a valuable navigation guide for both the child and the parent." John P. Halligan, motivational speaker, ryansstory.org
"Finally, a practical book has arrived that teaches you exactly what to do if your child is being bullied, including how to ensure open communication, how to handle all types of bullying situations effectively, and how to even avoid bullies in the first place. This book goes way beyond what we already know about the negative effects of bullying. This is a must read for all parents of school-age kids. Don't wait–your children need this information!" Alexandra Barzvi, Ph.D. , assistant clinical professor of child and adolescent psychiatry, New York University Medical Center; founder and director of Madison Psychology; and host of "About Our Kids" on Dr. Radio
Why I Wrote This Book
Why let your children suffer at the hands of a bully? Arm your kids with tactics to help them break the bullying cycle. This book helps you learn how to navigate the school system so that they will work with you to get results. Your kids will learn indispensable tips to help them beat bullies at their own game. Try it. It works!
For Kids
BLUE CHEESE BREATH AND STINKY FEET: HOW TO DEAL BULLIES
Blue Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet: How to Deal with Bullies (American
Psychological Association)
Product
Description
This book tells a story about a young boy in
school being bullied by a classmate. It offers advice and recommendations about how
children can stand up to bullying without fighting. It also addresses
self-confidence and self-respect. (Richly illustrated. Softcover, hardcover
available.)
Endorsement
from Morgan, a Reader
I am a certified school counselor, and I find Blue Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet to be
a very well-written book on the topic of bullies. Catherine DePino uses a
captivating plot line to inform children about what to do if a bully harasses
them.
The "Plan" to ward off a bully that is mentioned
in the book is very appropriate and useable for children. Being in the field of
counseling children, I can attest to this. I could only hope that every elementary and middle
school English class would have Blue
Cheese Breath and Stinky Feet as a part of the curriculum. This book
empowers kids as well as helps them build tolerance for someone who is not
like them. Bravo to DePino for what I call an exceptional book!
Why I
Wrote This Book: From the Author
I wanted kids to know that
they could do something about bullying and that they are not powerless and
alone. The title shows how kids can make up silly, senseless names to hurt
other kids. The plan to help kids deal with bullies is something every child
can try. It's important to remember that every bullying episode needs an
individual plan geared to that event. This plan is a starting point that every child
can use.
For Teachers to Use as a Classroom Resource in Bully Prevention Programs
REAL LIFE BULLY PREVENTION FOR REAL KIDS: 50 WAYS TO HELP ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
From the
Publisher, Rowman and Littlefield
Many states mandate character education,
and school districts across the country need anti-bullying education programs
to counter the rising tide of aggression and relational aggression that is the
norm among many students.
In fact, many school districts now require
teachers to include lessons on bully prevention in their curricula. Real
Life Bully Prevention For Real Kids addresses this pervasive problem
by
offering hands-on activities that can be done in elementary and middle
school classrooms and youth leadership programs, such as scouting,
theater groups, and
religious education classes.
Book Reviews
"The fifty activities are creative and offer
variety apart from the usual assignments." April 2009, VOYA
"This book is clearly written by someone with
plenty of teachingcand writing experience. Do I ever wish my grade school
teachers had this book to draw upon decades ago! Real Life Bully Prevention
for Real Kids is useful, well-crafted, and much-needed." Sean
Toner, chairman of the Philadelphia Writers Conference Free Forums at Drexel
University
"This informative, up-to-date and practical
guide on the subject of bullying is a valuable source for understanding and
dealing with the problem. Parents, teachers, concerned citizens, and even
bystanders will find this book enlightening and helpful." Fran Pelham,
Professor of Communications at Holy Family University "
"DePino's creative approach, packed with examples,
leads you with ways students can deal with bullying. She confronts the problem
while fostering skills, such as writing, presentations, and marketing."—Miriam
S. Shnycer,author of The
Shadows of Death
Why I
Wrote This Book:I
wanted to give teachers practical ideas for teaching bully prevention while
giving reading, writing, and speaking practice that they can mesh with their
reading/language arts, social studies, or health curriculum.
I used the word real in the title because I wanted to
provide teachers with activities they could use in a real classroom with real
kids. The activities are based on those I've used in my own classroom, so I know
they'll work.
IN YOUR FACE, PIZZA FACE: A GIRL'S BULLY-BUSTING BOOK
Product
Description
Carly's got a problem.
She's been friends with Sandra, Liz, and Lauren forever, but now Sandra and Liz
have decided to dump Lauren as a friend, and Carly's stuck in the middle. When
she decides to stand up for Lauren, the other girls turn on her as well.
Relational
Aggression is a common theme in girl bullying, and Sandra
and Liz seem to be experts at dishing it out. They make Carly's life miserable
by using teasing, threats, shunning, and physical bullying in their attempts to
ostracize her.
Fortunately, Carly has
some good friends, supportive parents, and school employees to help her. By
accepting assistance from others and by using her own ingenuity, Carly begins
to see an end to the bullying. She also learns the importance of asking for
help if she needs it. Most of all, she learns that there is always a way to
solve a bullying problem. There's always hope.
Why I Wrote this Book: From the Author
I
thought that girls needed their own book about bullying because girls' bullying often
appears different from boy bullying. I give specific suggestions for dealing
with girl bullying, which sometimes involves more subtlety and takes the form
of whispering down the lane, exclusion from activities, and spreading
rumors.
