Who doesn't have a memory of being bullied on the playground? Recess is a break from class time, from sitting, from processing, but it's also a time when tempers flare, and bullies have opportunities to inflict pain.
These two gems show children some ways to handle bullies on the playground.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon introduces us to first grader Molly, who is the shortest girl in her class. She also has buck teeth and a voice like a bullfrog. On top of all that, she is clumsy. But her grandma gives her encouragement and great advice such as, "Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you." Molly follows all of Grandma's advice and has become a self-confident young lady. And then...
Her family moves to a new town and she has to leave behind all her friends and her beloved grandmother. Starting at a new school is probably the hardest part of moving for most kids, and poor Molly Lou begins getting teased right away. The schoolyard bully, Ronald Durkin, calls her "shrimpo" while they are playing football in gym class, and she runs under Ronald's legs, scores a touchdown, and the Ronald feels foolish.
But that doesn't stop him from teasing Molly Lou and the next day he calls her "bucky-tooth beaver," so she faces the sky and, with a giant smile on her face, stacks ten pennies on top of her teeth. And Ronald feels foolish, but like most bullies, Ronald still hasn't learned his lesson, so on the third day of school, he tells her she sounds like a sick duck and mocks her voice.
Molly Lou sings out, "Quack!" so long and strong that Ronald falls over, hits his head and has to go to the nurse. Of course, all the other students are thrilled to have a recess without Ronald, and he again feels foolish.
But sometimes bullies are stubborn, and Ronald tries again. Again Molly keeps and positive attitude and proves him wrong, and on the fifth day he finally stops - cue the "Hallelujah Chorus."
David Catrow's illustrations exaggerate the facial features of the characters,
Interview about Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon with author Patty Lovell
You can purchase Stall Tall, Molly Lou Melon through Amazon.
Mean Jean rules the playground at her school. She was The Recess Queen and everyone followed her rules. Nobody swings, kicks, or bounces until Mean Jean swings, kick,s or bounces, and if some poor kid messes up, they get smooshed.
Then a new kid moves in and doesn't know about Mean Jean's reign of terror. Katie Sue is a teeny tiny recess-loving kid and when that recess bell rings, she zips outside and PLAYS! Mean Jean gets right up in Katie Sue's face and lets Katie Sue know the rules. Here is my favorite part: Katie Sue just says, "How DID you get so bossy?" and goes off to play again.
This doesn't go over well with Mean Jean and she thunders along behind Katie Sue, ready to smoosh her. Then Katie Sue pulls a jump rope out of her backpack and says, "Hey, Jeanie Beanie, let's try this jump rope out!"
Mean Jean doesn't know what to say, no one has ever asked her to play, so she just stares and Katie Sue jumps and sings her jump rope rhyme, and then the other kids start yelling, "Go, Jean, go!" Jean jumps in and from that day on, she is too busy having fun with her friends at recess to bother with bullying the other kids.
The illustrations in this book are so fun and bright, Laura Huliska-Beith captures Katie Sue's exuberance and Mean Jean's domineering spirit so well.
Author Alexis O'Neill tells the story of Mean Jean with vivid descriptions and fun nonsense words like bouncity, kickity, swingity, and kajammered. Kids will love to listen to them and enjoy saying the refrain right along with you.
The Recess Queen is available on Amazon.
- Bringing Fun Home read aloud of The Recess Queen
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