Timothy Tolliver and the Bully Basher

by Aaron Shepard

**#1 KINDLE (US) BESTSELLER IN CHILDREN'S CHAPTER BOOKS (SEPT. 2013)**

Timothy Tolliver and his friend Arnie Rosenberg have a problem -- a gang of older bullies called the Stinks. But besides being a fourth-grader, Timothy is also a world-class inventor. He and Arnie get the bright idea of defending themselves with Timothy's science-project robot.

When their first try fails, Timothy finds a way to update the mystical formulas that gave life to the Jewish clay monster, the Golem. The robot comes alive, and it looks like their worries are over -- till the robot stops following orders and takes matters into its own hands.

Can Timothy bring his creation back under control? Find out, as the Golem legend replays in a modern American elementary school.

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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Monkey King," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.

Genres: Childrens

44 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Aaron Shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and reader's theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Aaron's lively and meticulous retellings of folktales and other traditional literature have found homes with more than a dozen children's book publishers, large and small, and with the world's top children's literary magazines, winning him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. His extensive Web site, visited by thousands of teachers and librarians each week, is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater, while his stories and scripts have been featured in textbooks from publishers worldwide, including Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, SRA, The College Board, Pearson Education, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, Barron's, Hodder Education, and McGraw-Hill.

Reviews

[Shantale Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for my nephews so they would understand bullying is not acceptable

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars because of its simplicity. I got it to read to my daughter and she loved it, but I can't tell if she loved the story or the way that I told it. I have a habit of being emphatic when reading stories aloud in general, this is even more the case when reading to my children.

The story follows two boys that make a robot mad scientist style that serves the purpose of defending them against bullies. Of course things go awry as one might imagine when considering that what we intend isn't always what we get. Eventually the boys work out a solution to the problem and the story ends.

There aren't a lot of plot twists or moral commentary embedded into the narrative so I respect the author from that standpoint. There was certainly plenty of opportunity, but I think leaving that up to the reader (or the parent) to interpret was both a safer and (ultimately) preferred option.

If you have a chance to read it, great. If not, there isn't a lot you'd miss that you couldn't tell in a 20-30 minute short story of your own.

[Luvenia M Harris]

When Timothy & his friend came up with a way to bash the gang they'd been running from, they never thought it would turn out this way....! Find out how they manage to deal with they'd modern version of "The Golem".

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern golum proves to present unexpected challenges to the two young friends who create him. It is a fun short story.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.