Tales from the Bully Box Now Available

I am pleased to announce the release of Tales from the Bully Box, a middle grade anthology of super awesome stories for the super awesome kids in your life. If you know a kid, have a kid or love a kid, please check out this new book which aims to open communication between kids and their parents/peers/teachers.

Excerpt: Bullying stinks, but knowing what to do about it can make things better. In Tales from the Bully Box, you will find short stories about kids just like you. They get bullied, and sometimes they even bully. But most of the time, they are bystanders who have to figure out what to do when they witness the bullying all around them. In “Hailey’s Shooting Star,” one-handed Hailey proves her worth on the basketball court and as a friend. In “The Eyes on the Back of My Head,” you’ll get to stare straight into Mike Mansky’s soul with a pair of super-secret laser eyes. Filled with stories that take readers on a journey from the classroom to summer camp and the basketball court to the mall, Tales from the Bully Box inspires kids to be the best friends they can be.

Questions from the authors are included for each story to help parents, teachers or caregivers engage in discussion with the children they love.

This is the first book in a the Colors for Causes series by Elephant’s Bookshelf Press. EBP will donate proceeds to organizations that support bully prevention.

To find out how you can help stop bullying, check out The Bully Box or PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.

I hope you enjoy reading the stories as much as I enjoyed editing them.

Cat~

P.S. Did I mention I have 3 short stories included as well? Lucky for me, my publisher edited those!

Going on a School Visit…and I’m not afaid.

Can I just say that I LOVE reading to kids?

Good, because I just said it. Tomorrow I get to read one of my short stories and help a high school-led anti-bully group talk about the impact of bullying.

I love speaking, I love kids and I love proactive teens who want to help make a better world for the upcoming generation.

Thanks, Lexi for seeing the need in our community and founding BRAVE. Thanks, Mrs. Anderson for taking on the BRAVE project so it could expand to more classrooms and more grades. And lastly, thanks to the peer helpers who take the time to spread the word about Building Relationships Against Violence Everywhere.

Now get ready fourth graders, cuz here I come.

BRAVE the Unknown

This morning, my Dear Daughter and her Awesome Speechie Friend (aka, ASF) embarked on a BRAVE new journey.

They have spent the past few weeks creating an anti-bullying program for one of our elementary school classes. Only one, because a certain amount of research is going into this program to help them better understand the impact of teaching methods on behavior modification.

They have researched bullying and the way we learn. They have discussed deeply what they feel is the most beneficial message to spread to youngsters in regards to peer interactions. They put together a presentation and rallied support from teachers and principals.

They are BRAVE. Through their program, they will be Building Relationships Against Violence Everywhere. Their mission statement is clear. Their goals for the year extensive and measurable. They are committed to creating a program for the highest risk demographics for bullying: children in grades 3-6.

They are finalizing their website, which should be online in the next week or so. This site will be a resource for parents, teachers and students to help them build relationships based on respect. When it’s live, I’ll link to it for you.

I’m very proud of DD and her ASF, even as I’m sad as to how this program came about. Bullying is prevalent and damaging. It’s an issue nearly every child has to deal with on some level. It’s often under-addressed or swept under the rug by parents and educators who aren’t quite sure how to deal with certain behaviors.

I can only hope their research will indicate a new model of programming that will help our school district and community get a better grasp on the bullying that has almost become an acceptable and expected part of childhood.

BRAVE the unknown. Take a chance and make a difference.

 How about you, dear readers? How is the bullying in  your community? Does your school have a solid anti-bullying program in place? If so, have you seen a difference? If not, are you interested in starting one?

Curious minds want to know.