The Meanest Thing to Say

by Bill Cosby; illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood. Cartwheel Books; $3.99

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Bill Cosby's The Meanest Thing to Say has empowered many a four- to eight-year-old to resist the schoolyard bully. Cosby encourages young readers to respond to taunts simply by saying, "So?" instead of giving away their true feelings or responding aggressively. While "So?" will not always disarm a bully, it is one terrific tool for children to put into their social-skills toolbox. With appealing illustrations of a multiracial group of kids, the book models compassion for those who bully because they are lonely and hurting and don't know how to be friends.

Neither preachy nor unrealistic, it encourages children to counter aggressive behavior without resorting to meanness. In a foreword to parents that is also appropriate for teachers and administrators, Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint explains how both victims and perpetrators of bullying benefit from adult guidance. Like Little Bill's dad, we can teach our kids some creative ways they can use to respond to difficult situations.

--Jane Brown, MSW, creator of Adoption Playshops

© 2001 Copyright Adoptive Families Magazine.  Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 

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