Lennie

Stuff Happens #8

by James Roy

Stuff Happens is an important new series for boys aged between 7 and 11 about everyday challenges. Created by series editor, Susannah McFarlane, and written by established authors Tony Wilson, Andrew Daddo, Philip Gwynne, Will Kostakis, Oliver Phommavanh, Scot Gardner, Justin D'Ath and James Roy, each book features a different character and follows them as they overcome a particular everyday challenge. It explores those everyday struggles in life that boys can sometimes be reluctant to quarrels with mates, a bad day at school, fear of disappointing mum and dad, rejection and not fitting in.

Stuff Happens. Real-life stories for boys. Suitable for beginner and newly confident readers.

Stuff happens sometimes. Everyday stuff. At school, at home, with sport, with mates.

For Lennie it happened when he argued with a teacher.

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2015

Reviews

[Fafa NF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuff happens sometimes. Everyday stuff. At school, at home, with sport, with mates, etc.
For Lennie it happened when he argued with a teacher. Lennie loves facts, and he loves nothing more than letting everyone know about it.
One day, half an hour before the end-of-school bell, his relief teacher Mr McDonald (McDonnell) talk about the moon and Lennie tells that Neil Armstrong’s mother’s name was Moon but Mr McDonald said it was not quite right. Lennie insist that it is right and end up said that Mr Mc Donald was wrong and Lennie are going to prove it.
Soon after went home, he look up the fact once more time to prove that almost-eleven-year kid could be right and an almost-seventy-year-old could make a mistake. Soon after Lennie knew the fact, He realises that no one can be right all of the time, and that's okay - no one is perfect.

Stuff Happens is a series that tells about challenges that can be happens everyday especially for boys. The stories explore those everyday struggles in life that people can sometimes be reluctant to quarrels with mates, a bad day at school, fear of disappointing mum and dad, rejection and not fitting in.
Stuff Happens explores feelings and emotions in an entertaining and humorous way, allowing us to understand that it is OK to express emotion.
This book taught us that it is okay to make a mistake as long as we admit it and want to keep learning from our mistakes.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a few books in this series as a way of helping Mr 9 understand some of the emotions he was experiencing in the playground and couldn't put words to - frustration, embarrassment, anger, feeling left out etc. He really identified with the stories and so we sought out and read a few more. These books are an excellent way to start those conversations with younger boys - they are told with great empathy and humour and in a language they can understand (including the universal language of handball). I gave a couple of these to one of the teachers as well, who also recognised what a great idea they are.