Leave Me Alone

by Kes Gray

A young boy struggles to stand up to his bully until his friends show him that eight loud voices are stronger than one! Brilliantly told by award-winning author Kes Gray, a difficult subject is treated with a wonderfully light touch.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Kes Gray is a bestselling, multi award-winning author of more than 70 books for children. He eats Ideaflakes for breakfast, spreads silliness on his toast and lives in a place called Different. Kes was the second bestselling picture book author in 2018.

Reviews

[Nadene Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about what happens when you face up to a bully. A little boy is feeling sad and frightened from being teased and bullied by a giant every day. However the little boy has friends: a fly, a frog, a robin, a cat, a rabbit, a cow and other animals who notice he is feeling sad and want to help him. They insist on helping him even after he says ‘There’s nothing you can do for me/There’s nothing you can say’. Next time the bully comes 8 voices all shout ‘LEAVE HIM ALONE’ and the bully goes away!

This book reinforces the anti-bullying message in a light hearted way using rhyming verse and large colour illustrations on each page. The rhyming verse can allow for the children to predict what will be said next by what has been sad so far. It can allow discussion on the emotionally challenging topic of bullying prompting further discussion and exploration on right/wrong and good/bad behaviours. The book may seem to a child who was getting bullied that they need friends to help, who may feel that he/she doesn’t have any friends but this can be explored in more detail with the children. It could therefore be used during Religious Studies/Humanities.

This book would be suitable for Key stage 1 due to the simple structure of the book. It would be good for reading to the class to allow for interaction throughout the book but would also be suitable for individual reading.

[Natalie Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be good to use, whether the teacher sees bullying or not, in her class to show the importance of peers and the support system of respecting one another. Students need to be aware of social issues going on around them. This book is a bout a young boy who is bullied every day, but doesn't speak up because he does not think anyone could help him. Thankfully his friends prove him wrong! The animals stand up for what is right and save his friend from the bully. This is also a good reminder that no matter if the kid is your close friend or not, if you see any kid being bullied stand up for them and report the bully!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book and have used it as part of anti bullying week at school.
We discussed the lesson in the story and the children (aged 8) decided that like the animals in the story they need to be aware if anyone around them is upset and try to help them.
It is more about promoting awareness than to help a child who is being bullied as I agree with the review previously that noted they may feel they have no friends. The child in the book felt this way and felt no-one could help him but the animals knew it wasn't right and stepped in.

Give the book a go!

[Davina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to be the naysayer here, but I can just HEAR the kid who is having this read to him because he is getting bullied say, "But I don't have any friends! I can't make them go away like the boy in this book, he has all the animal friends to stand up for him!"

One of the things about being bullied is the feeling that you don't have any friends. Therefore, what is the message in this book? That you have to have friends to stand up for you against the bullies? Um. Okay.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with Lion vs. Rabbit, are great for teaching the importance of not being a silent bystander when a bully appears. Sometimes just asking what's wrong isn't enough because talking about it can be hard. But if you keep your eyes open and see what's going on, you can be very powerful just by standing with a friend and saying "no" or saying that your friend is fine and important. This is a simple book but I like the discussions that could happen from it.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leave Me Alone – A tale of what happens when you stand up to a bully by Kes Gray and Lee Wildish – Lovely book about how to stand up to a bully… repeating phrases and a few rhymes lead you through this simple book with a powerful message. Great to share with a class and discuss how it is easier to stand up to a bully when you have friends helping you out and backing you up.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just goes to show that friends who care are more powerful than any issue, and that you should let them help you. I feel like this is a book every school child should read, teenagers too- so they understand that bullying can be stopped and that they don't need to feel isolated and upset. Because they aren't alone and bullies can be defeated.

[Olga Kilicci · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book. it encourages kids to share when they are being bullied, so they can get a little help and support.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of illustrations and hopeful story line. One of my daughters favs

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Vandana Sehgal]

I am sure we all have said or heard this at least once in our life, leave me alone. The feelings behind it are fear, embarrassment, or even humiliation. Kes Gray has quite well captured those feelings in his book, Leave Me Alone. Through this story, Kes highlights the most pressing problem of many children and schools, and this is of bullying.

Bullying affects students of all ages and gender. Kes has managed to explicitly present the emotions of a child who fears a bully. The problem with bullying is that children get scared and avoid asking for help. The sufferer feels that there is no end to the pain and if they will open to anyone then either they will call for more trouble or embarrassment. They are made to think that keeping quite is the best solution and no one has the strength to stand against the bully.

‘Leave me alone,’ I said.
‘They’re far too big for you.
They’re far too big for anyone,
There’s nothing you can do.

In the story, Gray uses a clever device: different animals approach the boy, who is sitting alone and sad, trying to comfort him. Through their conversations, we see how hard it can be for others to know how to help, and how difficult it is for the victim to open. This allows readers to explore the many emotions surrounding bullying.

‘Leave me alone,’ I said.
‘Sorry’ said the cow.
‘I’d like to cheer you up as well,
But need to find out how.’


Through this book, Gray has provided multiple ways to express the feelings of a child who is suffering in silence. By writing this book, Gray offers loads of vocabulary and multiple scenarios to help readers understand how to talk about this sensitive issue and not let become a trauma in the life of a child. Parents and teachers can use this book to open conversation and dig deeper into this issue.

The best part of this book is when all the animals come together and stand with the boy to tell the bully to LEAVE HIM ALONE. It showed that a bully can become powerless when everyone stands together.

The illustrator, Lee Wildish, has done a fabulous job in handling the difficult emotions and expressing the true feeling of someone who is caught in this difficult situation. The colour tones are easy for eyes and text is well highlighted. I found some pages a bit disturbing and loud in colours. Some illustrations may feel intense for very young readers, though older children may better grasp the abstract emotions they portray. In picture books, it is good to keep visuals simple and child- friendly, so that the focus remains on the story and emotions.

Despite a few concerns with the illustration style, Leave Me Alone is a powerful picture book that tackles bullying with sensitivity and courage. Together, Kes Gray and Lee Wildish have created a book that not only tells a moving story but also opens the door for important conversations.

While the book simplifies a complex issue—real-life bullying may not always be solved so quickly—it remains a powerful tool for opening conversations and encouraging empathy, making it highly effective for both classrooms and families.

You can read more reviews like these on www.anewyou.se

https://www.anewyou.se/leave-me-alone/

[The Keepers of the Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young boy wants left alone, different animals try and figure out why. When it turns out to be a giant bully, can they figure out to stand up to the bully. The illustrations are well doe and complementary of the text. The text is simple and teaches young children a great lesson about standing up for themselves. This is a great book for parents to share with their children at any age.

This book was featured on The Keepers of the Books' March Picture Books Book Haul. For more reviews, recommendations, or online librarian advice, please visit us at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3v...

[Nikky Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So important to talk about things. This book focuses on the dark shadow a bully puts on you. A shadow of darkens and sadness. It’s gray his friends stand up for him and he feels cared for and becomes happy. It would have been good if he also stood up for himself after his friends. Love it though and want to read it again and again to my kids to teach them about bullies and to talk about problems.

[Lauren Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that explores the importance of talking to your friends about why you are sad and any issues you are having. This book could be used to encourage children to talk about their feelings and tell someone when they are being bullied so that they can get help.
The book would be a good resource to use in a PSHE lesson focused on bullying and emotions.

[Zoe Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had a beautiful message behind about sharing problems with others so they can help and support you so you do not feel so alone. The book uses rhyme and animals to make it accessible to all.

[Moyra Duckmanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to share with ks1 children to address the subject of bullies. A story told in rhyming stanzas of a boy facing being bullied. His friends notice the impact of the bullying on the boy. Can they help him?

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy is bullied & won't tell anyone, but his friends stand beside him.

[Jennifer McCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A problem shared is a problem halved.... a statement shown by the story of the book. It is always better to tell someone what it is your thinking.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute anti-bullying story - about telling friends and not shutting everyone out. I plan to read it a few more times if I can and gently make sure the kids don't miss the point 👍

[Nadia Buffa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave Me Alone is tale of a little boy who gets picked on by a giant. Many friends within in the story try to cheer up the little boy. However, every time he is approached by one of his friends, he screams, “Leave me alone”. His friends are persistent and they try very hard to get the little boy to express his feelings. Finally, the little boy explains that his problem is a giant bully who teases and bullies him every day. The little boy is convinced no one can help him solve his bullying problem. As the bully approaches, the little boy runs away. However, all of his friends, with the loudest and biggest voice they can find, shout at the bully “Leave Me Alone”. The bully disappears, and the little boy is happy the bully will never come back because all of his friends stood up to the bully and scared him away.

Leave Me Alone is a great book to include in a text set on bullying and respect for others because it teaches children that they are never alone in a bullying situation. They know that they have friends who care about them and what them to be happy. It also shows that one of the best ways to cope with bullying is to stand up to the bully. When a bully sees that there are many people standing up for the victim, the bully will most likely not bully the child again because he knows the victim has many supporters who will stand up for him.

[Margaret Welwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Leave me alone,” protests our sad little protagonist. “My problem is a giant So big he blocks the sun . . . .

A giant full of nasty words, A giant huge and strong, Who casts a shadow over me As dark as it is long.”

Kes Gray put this small sad rhyme into the mouth of the little boy before the current terrorist attacks cast their black shadow, but his message of despair still rings true. And, as many other fine picture books for children do, this story offers hope. Through the compassion, courage and initiative of the rabbit, the fly, the cow, the frog, the pig and others who inhabit his world, our young hero finds peace and safety.

After sharing hundreds of stories with children over the years, I’m now more fully realizing why I like this genre. Simply and cleanly, these stories affirm truths we learned as children—that we need each other, that meanies can very quickly become cowards, and that even the smallest of us has important work to do.

[Cierra Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super cute book about a girl who is sad because she is being bullied and doesn't think it will ever stop. She hesitantly tells her friends who then stand up for her to the bully and force him to leave her alone forever. The illustrations are very character like and without a lot of detail. I really like this book because it shows the power of friendship and how standing up for each other is needed when we can't stand up for ourselves.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing book about bullying - I wasn't sure what audience it was aiming for and was seemingly inappropriate for both little ones and slightly older school-aged kids. Some of the rhymes made me cringe too.

[Mary Raccuia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bullying is hard. This book helps young children understand how important it is to let others them help when they are being bullied. A good read for young children before and during a unit on kindness.

[Chris Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to show how a crowd can help instead of just being bystanders. This is good for counseling and classrooms trying to build respect. Unfortunately, there is not a resolution for the bully.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure that young kids will get the message from the way that this book is written.

[Tif · Rating 1 out of 5]

The illustrations are kind of cute, but all I got out of it was that if you are a giant you are unquestionably a bully.

[Savannah-Alicia Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. Illustrations are touching and Gray sends the message that we are never alone even when we feel like we are.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly simplistic and naive view of how to deal with a bully. If only it were that easy...