Lunch Box Bully

I Like to Read

by Hans Wilhelm

Max outwits a bully and makes a new friend in this Level F book, perfect for first-grade readers.

Big Bob is a bully who takes Max's lunch every day. Max's friends try to help him deal with it. "Don't look at him," says one friend-- but Big Bob takes Max's sandwich anyway. "Give him a gift," suggests another friend. Max gives Big Bob a lemon ice, but the bully doesn't like lemon-- so he squashes it on Max's head.

Clever Max figures out a way to outwit Big Bob, and starts bringing lemon-flavored lunches. And once his lunches are safe, Max reaches out to Big Bob in friendship. Soon all of the children enjoy lunch together!

This easy-to-read story includes extra material for both kids and adults on dealing with bullies-- a list of Do's and Don'ts for young readers, and a list of anti-bullying resources for grown-ups.

This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System.

The award-winning I Like to Read series features guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!

Level F books, for early first graders, feature longer, more varied sentences than Level E. Level F books encourage kids to decode new multi-syllable words in addition to recognizing sight words. Stories are more complex, and illustrations provide support and additional detail. When Level F is mastered, follow up with Level G.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2020

Reviews

[Erin Buhr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guided reading level F book on bullying. This is a simple story about a bunny who is being bullied by a boar. The boar keeps stealing his lunch. The bunny tries a variety of ways to stop the bullying until he lands on a humorous and effective solution. I like that the bunny solves his problem independently and that straightforward guidance on dealing with bullies is mentioned at the back. The story isn't overly creative but that is hard to accomplish within the limits of a guided reading level text. It is a good, not great, book for newer readers.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the turtle, and I very much like the last couple pages.

Most importantly, I really like how the book gives a list for what kids can do when they are faced with a bully.

[J.M. Northup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Advice

My granddaughter asked me to read this book, so I did. It was a cute book, and I liked that it had some good advice. I didn't like that there were no adults present, especially at a school, but they were added in the advice at the end.

It was nice to see the kids empowered to handle the bully themselves. However, I felt this missed the ability to show the importance of involving adults for guidance and protection. Thankfully, all the friends had good advice, but what if they didn't? Also, how easily the child could be depressed when their advice kept failing. The authority of an adult would be beneficial.

I thought the ending was great. I just wish the bully would have apologized. Accountability is importance, especially when learning to grow beyond our mistakes. I'm less concerned that we didn't learn why the bully was being mean, but felt opportunities were missed.

[Tyler McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had never heard of it or read it as a child, so it caught my eye at the library. I thought the story was overall very beneficial for children considering how prominent bullying is. It was also very important to see how authors of children's books are making an effort to bring awareness of bullying to kids at a young age. It is important for kids to grow up with the knowledge that bullying is wrong and that kids should treat one another the way they would want to be treated. I enjoyed the artwork and the color palette the illustrator used. It is bright and captivating. Overall I think this book has an important message that kids should read about.

[Teresa Alpizar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern Fantasy
Prek-1st grade
This short and easy book incorporates an important theme of bullying and how to handle it. I appreciate the author writing this story for younger readers because it helps them understand what bullying or being mean may look like and feel like, and they are also able to learn how to solve that issue. The author even includes different solutions on bullying at the end of the book!

[Pinky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Max is bullied by Big Jim until he gives him a lemon sandwich.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an appropriate book for how to deal with a bully. Big Jim keeps stealing Max's lunch. Max tries different strategies to get Big Jim to stop. I also appreciated the ending.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Max is being bullied by Big Jim. This book shows the various ways he tries to make the bully stop. I think kids who are being bullied will feel seen with this book.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.