Reviews

Taking the Bully by the Horns
by Kathy Noll, Jay Carter
& Flora Cusimano (Illustrator)
Unicorn Press;
ISBN: 0937004111
December 31, 1998

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Comments About The Taking the Bully by the Horns

• Got Kids? This is a book to have on your shelves. I love the overall language and voice of this book. It is most certainly written for children, but it is done intelligently and with respect to where kids are in their lives today. The layout is smart; it makes logical sense, in terms of how the bully process starts, proceeds, and ends. "Taking the Bully by the Horns" could potentially restore the confidence of many children and arm others sufficiently to prevent trouble all by themselves. I recommend this one!

  Main Street Mom

• This is one of the easiest reads on bullying that I have come across!! Bravo! You have taken a very sensitive issue and made it bearable...even better...overcome - able:-)! Excellent work. Your book connected with the child in me. I was very emotional reading it. I was reading it from a child's perspective...at first. Then I really could identify with some of the potential bully behaviour that exists within my role as a parent. It is effective and life changing! I will read "Taking the Bully by the Horns" with both of my children. WELL DONE!! Thanks again for writing that fabulous book! I will do as much as I can to push it in the schools and the community at large.

  Angela Fubler
  Educator & Child Advocate
  from Bermuda

• Remember, you're no less important because they're older, or bigger than you. They might even feel they're better than you, but that's only ego. --Kathy Noll & Jay Carter Take time to read this book. It will give you an insight to bullies, victims, and reactions. It is written for ease in understanding; young people can tackle this book with success, learn why's and how's of bullying, and learn that people who are bullied don't have to be "victims," and actions--not reactions--can be taken to improve situations. This simply written book can be an effective tool against bullying and at the same time provide an insight at to why young people turn to bullying.

  Ginny's Educational WebPages

• Noll defines a bully as anyone who "does something against your will that causes you to feel bad," and cites a study that found 76.8 percent of students say they have been bullied. This book is a down-to-earth and humorous way to broach this often hurtful and embarrassing subject. The situations are true-to-life, and Noll does a wonderful job bolstering the self-respect of the victims. Children will certainly learn a lot from her positive writing and upbeat approaches to difficult situations, including specific tips on how to handle the many different types of bullying.

  As a former teacher who recognized and struggled with the effects of bullying in the classroom, I saw firsthand that there is most definitely a need for Taking The Bully By The Horns. In addition to being a terrific tool for children, this book is a great parent resource for helping kids navigate their way through the often rocky waters of adolescent relationships, and teachers can use the lessons learned in it to maintain safe environments in their classrooms. The bullying examples in each chapter can easily be used in classroom role play, and teachers can use the information to teach and model specific appropriate behaviors.

  Perhaps the best words Kathy Noll has to offer are, "Be good to each other." This simple advice, along with the mantra, "I'm special and proud of who I am," truly sum up the message she impresses upon her readers throughout the book. Follow her hints and suggestions, and you will gain the power to eliminate the bully worries in your life! Break out of the Bully Cycle!

  Laura Gallagher
  Children's Television Workshop