Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully [With CD]

Chester the Raccoon #4

by Audrey Penn, Barbara Leonard Gibson (Illustrations)

Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and will not be returning - ever. Chester is upset that he won't get to play with his friend anymore. Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life. Many young children must face the loss of loved ones or the need to attend a funeral. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, School, Friendship, Fiction, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2008

Reviews

[E8RaH!M · Rating 3 out of 5]

مجموعه کتاب‌های چستر راکن به منظور آموزش رفتارهای اجتماعی نوشته‌اند.
برای تمرین روان‌خوانی پسرم گرفتم .

چستر راکون در مدرسه مورد آزار یک زورگو قرار می‌گیرد و او این مشکل را با مادرش مطرح می‌کند.
مادر به بچه راکون‌ها می‌گوید که شاید آن بچه‌ی زورگو نیاز به ایجاد ارتباط و دوستی دارد اما نمی‌تواند به نحو صحیحی آن را بیان کند.

البته که نظر نویسنده خیلی اوقات درست است اما نه همیشه.

حس می‌کنم در مورد آموزش مواجهه با زورگویی در مدارس کتاب‌های بهتری هم هست.

[Sajede · Rating 5 out of 5]

زورگوی بد گنده هم دلش بازی می‌خواد

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as the original story, but I'm sure it will appeal to children who love the characters.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

At only a year and a half old, my Granddaughter is too young to understand the story, but she loved the beautiful pictures of all the different animals. This is another book added to her ever growing collection of books she will "have to grown into".

[Sue Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester and his pals have been getting bullied by a badger and do not know what to do. Mrs. Raccoon sits the kids down and tells them a story. In the story a forest floor is covered with shiny yellow stones that are cherished and collected. One day a blue stone, with sharp points, is found among all the fabulous yellow stones. No one wanted this ugly rock until they were shown how to value it and help the stone become a better stone. So the animals went to work chipping off the points and polishing the rock. Soon they had a shiny rock they could cherish, though it was still blue.

Chester and his pals return to school ready to show some yellow rock spirit toward the bully badger. As a group they approached the badger so closely that the badger became scared. When Chester got nose-to-nose with the badger he smiled and invited the bully to play with everyone. Astonished, the badger agreed and soon after he stopped his bully ways and joined the other animal kids. He was even conscience of being gentle so his quils would not bust the toys.


This is another cute Chester Raccoon picture book that helps young children understand sometimes difficult concepts. This one on bullies takes a rather benign approach that may work with younger children. The story had the bullied kids be extra nicer to the bully, hoping they can wear down his anger, frustration, loneliness (Mrs. Raccoon’s theory), and whatever causes kids to bully.

The illustrations are colorful, expressive and convey the story well. I think any young child would love this book and would learn to be a little nicer to others and to include others despite appearances or defenses. That is a terrific thing to instill in children. The fabric of our society is only as strong as the threads which weave it. A nice message: be nice even to those who treat you badly because you just might help that person change for the better. OK, maybe that is a lot to get from a 32 page young children’s picture book, yet I say what I think in reviews and I think this book is a wonderful way to entertain and teach.

Note: received from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chester and his friends are terrified of the playground bully. Thankfully, they have Chester's mom to go to for wisdom and practical advice on how to take charge of the situation and tame the bully in question. This is another beautiful book in the Chester series. When children have anxieties, it's always great to have a Chester Raccoon book on hand.

The book seems well targeted for children in the preK-3rd grade categories. Though I'm not sure every younger child will relate as well. I did read it to my 4 yr. old grandson who seemed to understand and love it. However, that may have been due to the relationship between Chester and his mom shining through, along with the cooperation of his friends, more than the details of the bullying situation.

My other concern is the book's length. For children of this age group, it may be too long. Having 32 pages looses a child's attention when he or she's this young.


However, it's a given that children will love Chester and friends. The spectacular illustrations are sure to please them. Perhaps taken in a two-session reading experience it will be perfect. The beauty of this book makes it another collectible one for a child's library.


4 taming a bully stars

[Jenny Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I have heard of the kissing hand, I have not read the story. Chester Racoon and the Big Bad Bully seems to be from that series. Chester Racoon and his brother and sister are dealing with a school bully and are reluctant to go to school. Their mother reassures them and later tells them a fable of sorts about a rough stone that becomes beautiful once it has been smoothed. It implies that the animal children should befriend the bully and help him smooth out his rough edges.

While the story is nice and the pictures are cute, the storyline is disappointed. I agree that those who are being bullied should band together and not have to deal with a bully alone, I do not agree that every bully can be befriended.

The bully is predictably a badger and the teacher is predictably an owl. While a sweet idea, I have rarely seen this solution work especially when the teacher can’t get through to the students. I think this story falls short of even brushing the surface of this complex bully problem.

I received this book free from the publisher to read and give an honest review.

[Julie Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Chester Raccoon book, and another great message to impart! Chester and his friends are dealing with a bully at school, and when Chester's mother learns of this, she tells them a story, as only she can do. She explains that maybe if the kids change their perspective and the way they see the bully, maybe they can get to the root of what makes the bully a bully in the first place. As usual, she is right!

I love these books because the illustrations are colorful and attention grabbing, and the story is always a good lesson that kids don't even realize they're learning.

Highly recommend:

5/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Audrey Penn’s Chester books! The Kissing Hand was wonderful and all the follow ups have equally wonderful illustrations and great messages. This one gives young ones a possible solution to problems with mean classmates or bullies-offering kindness and friendship. Sadly, there is no mention of reporting incidents of bullying to an adult and often, that is necessary as well. Still, it is recommended that libraries serving PK-grade 3 have not only Penn’s The Kissing Hand, but the complete set of books featuring Chester, his mom and his brothers.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Unfortunately, the simple solution given for changing bullies into friends is unlikely to work in most playground situations. It would have been far better to have had the invitation to play be turned down at least once before the bully changed. Feels like a book written to check the box for addressing bullying without actually giving kids truly helpful solutions.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I look forward to sending to my nieces. It kind of goes over the power of kindness, backed up by larger groups of kind people. I kind of wish the Badger could have just been misunderstood, instead of truly a bully, but there are definitely bullies who are not misunderstood, so I guess this works.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the message here is not quite so good as the one transmitted in The Kissing Hand, Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully has the same beautiful, colorful illustrations and is a delight to read.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time Chester and his friends must figure out how to interact with a bully. His mom tells a story about smoothing out rough edges of a stone. The friends band together and ask the bully to join them and play at recess.
Mixed feelings about this working in all situations.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how Chester's mother explains why some bullies are, well, bullies. Chester had a problem-solving solution when dealing with his bully at the end, though I'm not sure how well that'd work outside of the story.

I love how full and lush the illustrations are in these books.

[Wendy Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Chester Raccoon story! These books are always great ways to lead to more discussion with your child but leave you smiling. The illustrations are great. I highly recommend not just this book but all of Audrey Penn's books.

[Kaelyn Cleevely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it shows how cruel bullies can be and having to become brave to overpower these bullies. In life, there are mean people all over and the only way to fight these bullies is standing up for yourself and the others around you. Super cute read, loved reading it to my students.

[Diana Pettis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read aloud.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too wordy for story time. Best shared at home.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't fun at school anymore because a badger classmate was a bully. Mrs. Raccoon made a suggestion of how to change the bully into a friend. Gorgeous illustrations.

[Darlena Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how different animals came together to solve the bully badger problem. I could see using it with children to teach overcoming a bully with collective kindness.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful story on turning a bully into a friend.

[Mrs. M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully is a cute book with a nice message. It takes a little longer to read than some other children’s books, though, due to the amount of words on a page.

[Shireen Hakim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story with a relatable plot, for younger readers. I am disappointed Teacher Owl didn't get more involved in the bully situation.

[Gülçe. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

[Elena Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a funny 😄 book 📖 and I really Liked It. And little kids at first would probably be a little bit worried but, at the end it would be better

[Amanda Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Penn is a favorite author and Chester Raccoon is a favorite book character in my classroom. This is a great book to use with students when talking about bullies and how to handle a situation with a bully. Kindness is always the answer and this book shows just how important kindness really is.

[Diana Valdivia-Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great to help children learn about bullying in school and outside at recess. I can make a school play about bullying in recess. The pages are glossy, framing, page break, and motif. I like this book to read about school bullying.

[Melissa Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description:
In this latest addition to the Kissing Hand book collection, Chester Raccoon must learn to deal with another common problem of childhood: a bully at school.

When Mrs. Raccoon learns that there is a bully problem at school, she decides to investigate the situation. But after seeing the bully for herself, she shares a story about a forest that was full of smooth yellow stones, and how the animals living there changed a pointy stone they found into a smooth stone so that it wouldn't hurt any tender paws.

Chester, Ronny, and Cassy (the new friend he made when they moved in the previous book) follow the spirit of Mrs. Raccoon's story when they next encounter the Bully. Approaching him as a group, they invite him to play, proving that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him or her a friend.

This book encourages children to understand that many child bullies are themselves unhappy and gives readers a good example of settling differences by peaceful means. Educators will embrace this story about a positive strategy for dealing with a bully.

My thoughts...
Chester and his school mates are being bullied by a very bad, bad bullying badger and is making school miserable for them. All the little animals, including Chester dread going to school. There are four great lessons presented in this book:
1) The fact that Chester and his brother, after a bit of prompting, are able to discuss the matter with their mother, an adult. This, for most children may be difficult at times, but when they have a trusted adult to confide their problems with, it makes life so much easier for them. 2) After Mrs. Raccoon shares an old fable from her childhood, the children in the story learn that just because something is different (something that is rough around the edges), does not mean there isn't a hidden beauty lurking beneath it's rough exterior...3)it can be changed with a little help of caring friends, which is the third great lesson taught here. 4) Of course the woodland children take this fable and apply it to the bully badger; a group effort in kindness. They have also been told by mom raccoon that many times bullies are bullies simply because they are unhappy, feel excluded and have not learned that they can settle their difference peacefully.

This is a lot of very profound wisdom packed into a small book and the author is a master of taking very complex issues and wording them in a way that even the youngest of children can understand and relate to. This is a wonderful skill and we are fortunate to have writers that are willing to share.

I would recommend this book to every classroom, both young and old. Sadly, bullying is a problem that occurs everywhere all over the world - and even though there may be new programs left and right that are encouraging children NOT to bully - it still happens. This book is one that each teacher AND counselors should share with their classrooms, and could also be used at home with a parent to learn what to do in a bad situation. Absolutely no one deserves to be bullied and this book will help make things better for everyone.

[Patricia (Patricia's Particularity)]

Chester and the Big Bad Bully is a wonderful book for all children to learn how to deal with bullies who may be picking on them. Because of a mean badger bully, Chester and his friends are afraid to play on the playground at school. Mrs. Raccoon comes to the rescue with words of wisdom and advice for Chester and how to 'deal' with his bully. Mrs. Raccoon does this in the way she does best: by telling a story. Mrs. Raccoon compares the bully to a rough blue stone, with many rough edges, amongst many smooth yellow stones. Because this stone was different it wasn't desired like the other ones... that is until all of its' rough edges were smoothed out. After hearing this story Chester and his friends go back to school armed with courage and understanding. Instead of being afraid, Chester invites the badger bully to play with them instead of alone.

While this is not the first book in the much loved Chester series, like the rest, Audrey Penn takes an issue that most children (and even adults) have (in this case bullying) and turns it into a life lesson that its' readers can take with them. Not only does Audrey Penn focus on bullying but she also presents another side of the conflict, one that is not usually understand until we are adults: people act out when they are different from others. In this way Audrey Penn uses Mrs. Racoon's story to show that while one might be different (blue with rough edges) after accepting these differences (smoothing out the rough edges) life is better (you get to play together), even though you are still different (the stone is still blue).

One cannot forget Barbara L. Gibson's wonderful illustrations that compliment Audrey Penn's story perfectly. Gibson gives you plenty to look at while making sure to not detract from the main point of the story on each page. Another wonderful book to add to any children's shelf.

[Tricia Scott]

Chester and the Big Bad Bully is a wonderful book for all children to learn how to deal with bullies who may be picking on them. Because of a mean badger bully, Chester and his friends are afraid to play on the playground at school. Mrs. Raccoon comes to the rescue with words of wisdom and advice for Chester and how to ‘deal’ with his bully. Mrs. Raccoon does this in the way she does best: by telling a story. Mrs. Raccoon compares the bully to a rough blue stone, with many rough edges, amongst many smooth yellow stones. Because this stone was different it wasn’t desired like the other ones… that is until all of its’ rough edges were smoothed out. After hearing this story Chester and his friends go back to school armed with courage and understanding. Instead of being afraid, Chester invites the badger bully to play with them instead of alone.

While this is not the first book in the much loved Chester series, like the rest, Audrey Penn takes an issue that most children (and even adults) have (in this case bullying) and turns it into a life lesson that its’ readers can take with them. Not only does Audrey Penn focus on bullying but she also presents another side of the conflict, one that is not usually understand until we are adults: people act out when they are different from others. In this way Audrey Penn uses Mrs. Racoon’s story to show that while one might be different (blue with rough edges) after accepting these differences (smoothing out the rough edges) life is better (you get to play together), even though you are still different (the stone is still blue).

One cannot forget Barbara L. Gibson’s wonderful illustrations that compliment Audrey Penn’s story perfectly. Gibson gives you plenty to look at while making sure to not detract from the main point of the story on each page. Another wonderful book to add to any children’s shelf.