If only it were so simple or the bullying was as basic as poor Timmy had to deal with in this book. I realize this is aimed at young readers, however, the world has changed and if it's only a sandwich that the bully has been snaking from you and you get an adult to listen to you and respond so quickly, little Timmy must live in a wonderful place, maybe Candyland.

Also, it doesn't actually teach young Timmy how to deal with the bullies of his future on his own or, and I find this worse, how to deal with the emotions that this sandwich stealer created and just what emotions might happen later if it becomes worse than sandwich stealing.

Did we bother explaining the emotions that cause a kid to be a bully? No.

Lastly, where is young Timmy supposed to get this book? If he gets it from the school library, one of two things could happen, the bully could ratchet up the bullying right there before he gets to check it out or the librarian should be able to assist him right away. If he wants it from the store, his parents would know there is an issue.

I'm sorry, I wanted to take bullying by the horns and all I think Timmy is going to end up getting is gored, maybe not this school year, but in the coming ones.

Young Timmy is bullied every day on his way to school. Another boy forces him to hand over his lunchtime sandwich. At first he keeps quiet and puts up with it.
The encouragement to open up about it to a teacher comes when 7ft, a popular athlete talkes to the kids about the problem.

A very good idea and a perfect starting point to speak with young children about the issue and I loved to see how young Timmy is rewarded for finally plucking up the courage to talk openly about his daily scare.

The picture book also addresses an important fact:
victims of bullying and harassment have to understand and to open their eyes and not feel ashamed to see,
what is happening to them is exactly that, bullying and harassment. Because the tendency to blindfold themselves (oh no, that's not really bullying, he's just that way, he's much worse to others etc.) is there.

The illustrations didn't do it for me, I'm afraid. They look to me very much like the drawings of a teenager and of a book in this price range, I simply expect more.

The story also sadly misses out on a very important point: to take a closer look at the bully. No child was born one, much more likely they just copy what they experience themselves.
I would' have loved to see the teacher talking to the boy and asking him why he behaved the way he did and help him understand, bullying others isn't the solution to his problems.

Still, the book addresses an important issue and tries to encourage young victims of bullying to speak openly about it and for that alone I'm happy to recommend it.

The author created this story for children who are just reaching school age. He believed in teaching children before they enter first grade what bullying is and teaching them that it is unacceptable behavior and how to end it regardless of what the bully says to them. He thought this to be the best time in a child’s life to introduce to them what it is before they experience it for real.
This book shows bullying in action by telling a story how one child could stop their own torment by stepping up. It may sound simple to an adult, but for a child, seeing this displayed in the book can be very easy to understand.
Describing the effects of bullying from the victim's point of view and then telling them by demonstrating the actions that can be taken by everyone for a resolution.
This book can address fears about what a child may think adults will or won't do when confronted with bullying. It is also a good book to start the discussion with your child about what to do in a hypothetical situation. I appreciate that it is not too long and allows parents and caregivers many different potential actions they can take as well. This is something I agree with I have seen too many children bullied this is one of the best books I have read on the subject..

This feels like a student assignment, and looks like one as well. It diverges to all sorts of topics, and doesn’t just stay on bullying. Plus, it is overly long and convoluted. Other books have done this better. And if you are going to use a Harlem Globetrotter example (or a similar one) then let them create the books.

*thank you to Netgalley and iUniverse for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

3 stars.

Quite a heartfelt book about bullying. It is such a huge topic these days within school and also out of school. This shows young readers that it is not OK for somebody to bully you and that you can tell somebody and have them help you. You dont need and never should, put up with it. It's OK to tell a grown up. I hope this book helps other children to be able to stand up and speak up. Bullying needs to stop for good.

This book demonstrates bullying in action how one child could stop their own torment by stepping up. It sounds simple to an adult, but for a child, seeing this modeled in the book can be very illustrative. In the plot, a young boy is bullied. Luckily, not too much detail is given about the actual bullying. They describe the effects of bullying from the victim's point of view and then address them with demonstrating the actions that can be taken by everyone for a resolution. This book can alleviate fears about what a child may think adults will or won't do when confronted with bullying. Its also a good book to start the discussion with your child about what to do in a hypothetical situation. I appreciate that it is not too long and allows parents and caregivers many different potential actions they can take as well.

Timmy is being bullied and he is silent because he does not know what to do. Until he learns that it could be easily stopped. Simply written, easy to understand and read. This book encourages kids to stand against bullies and explains how that can be done. A good book for kids.

As I’ve mentioned numerous times, I request these books as I read them to my grandson. This one is no exception. A simple book with a powerful message. My grandson is on,y six, but I’m trying to instill in him, the need to talk about any issues he may be having. No matter how big or small. This book was a major help in starting the dialogue. Well done Hunter Dan.

This is a delightful contemporary story about a young boy called Timmy who is being bullied by an older boy called Billy every morning on his way to school. It is only after a visiting speaker talks to the school that Timmy takes his advice and trusts a teacher to stop the bullying. It is related in a child friendly manner, with colourful illustrations and has an important message for youngsters.

I think this book is a great way to help children be more aware that bullying is not right and should be reported to an appropriate adult. It is also great that the consequences of doing so are so positive for Timmy, reinforcing that victims shouldn’t keep quiet. I just wish this could happen for all victims!

I highly recommend this to parents and teachers to help raise awareness that bullying is never acceptable and should be reported.

I requested and received a copy of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

“I can’t tell anyone because he said if I do he will beat me up.” Take the Bullying by the Horns provided a real life situation where a bully is picking on someone and that someone is unsure what to do. This book provided concrete steps on what to do if you or someone you know is being bullied. The entire book was written in kid friendly language. The book outlined Timmy as a nice, kind, caring, scared, and brave child whereas Billy was described as a bully and mean to others. I liked the basketball tie in to this story and how having a role model talk about bullying helped Timmy come forward about what was happening to him. I would definitely recommend this book to my teacher friends.