King of the Playground

I bought the book because my 4-year-old son had been on the receiving end of some of the unfriendly behaviors that are the basis of the book. My son loves the book. Aside from the fact that he gets the author's premise (reasoning rather than reacting), he just genuinely enjoys it. He laughs out loud at some of the situations in the book. It didn't trigger the meaningful discussion I'd hoped we'd have about bullies (unbridled parental optimism on my part there!), but it's made for a lot of fun bedtime reads.

Kevin yearns to play on the playground equipment in his neighborhood, but a bully named Sam won't let him. He proclaims himself "King of the Playground" and threatens Kevin with bodily harm if Kevin dare use any of the play equipment. Kevin wisely takes his problem to his father. I like the way father and son interacted and I like the bond between them. That made a good story even better. Kevin's father makes gentle suggestions to the boy about what he thinks might work with Sam; he tells him that "words are stronger than fists." By using his analytical and reasoning skills, Kevin in time befriends Sam and the boys as well as other children enjoy the playground in peace.

I like this book because it helped my son to recognize a bully before he hit the kindergarten playground. It opened the door to discuss how to deal with kids that are less than nice when there is no grown up around.

This book will definitely appeal to many children, especially those who may be dealing with a bully. Everyday Kevin walks to the neighborhood playground in hope of having great fun. But each day, without failure, a boy named Sammy is there. Whenever Kevin approaches a piece of equipment, Sammy will say he can not go on it because he is the "King of the Playground" then threatens to hurt Kevin if he does not listen. Together, Kevin and his father discuss what Sammy is doing to Kevin, and they work through the difficult situation. Soon Kevin gains enough confidence to stand up for himself, and does with remarkable results! I enjoyed seeing how Kevin could open up to his father and how they, together worked out the problem. The understandable text and colorful illustrations flow together smoothly, and add a great deal of feeling to the plot.

As a Kindergarten teacher I make a point to read this book every year to my students, to show them that a scary or seemingly hopeless situation can result in a good friendship with a little perservernce and creativity. I like the fact that the Dad was a good source of support for the child, and that the Dad is shown working outside and inside the house in some non-traditional roles. Buoyed by his father's support, Kevin returns to the playground, always trying new ways to secure a spot on the playground. Children need more tools like this for resolving conflict in a non-violent manner.