Pinky and Rex and the Bully: Ready-To-Read Level 3

Wow! We have just the book for second graders. Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe is an interesting book. You should read this book because it teaches the important lesson to be yourself. This is a book about a 7-year old boy named Pinky who gets bullied by a third grader named Kevin because he likes the color pink. Pinky gets scared and confused. He doesn't know if he should change the things in his life that he loves so that the bully won't bother him anymore such as his favorite color, his name and his best friend. We were sad and embarrassed for Pinky when the old lady named Mrs. Morgan came to rescue him from the bully. You should read this book to find out if Pinky changes himself for the Bully. We recommend this book to second graders who hate big bullies. We give this book 5 stars!

My 4 year old loves pink. His room is pink, his stuffed animals are pink. He has often been hurt by thoughtless children AND adults who can't resist pointing out that PINK is a girl color. We encourage him to be himself and enjoy in spite of what any one else thinks. But even our loving support couldn't do what this book does. It lays the issue out in a clear understandable way. The choice to give up what he loves to suit others and avoid bullying humiliation is painful to read. My boy instantly connected with what Pinky was losing and cried bitterly. When the elderly neighbor perceives the problem and offers her own experience as example we were so relieved. But best of all in the end when Pinky gets his PINK stuff back and confronts the bully. He is no longer self doubting. He is prepared to stand up for himself and what he likes. He became a permanent hero for us. Poignant, without being maudlin or sappy. Well done and Thank you.

Billy was nicknamed "Pinky" because of his love for the color; even his stuffed animals have a bit of pink somewhere on them. He's got no problem with the name until a school bully begins taunting him, calling him a girl (generally not received well by seven-year-old boys), and generally intimidating him.Pinky, wondering if he's too old for such a nickname, decides to change his name back to Billy, and give his beloved animals to his sister. Fortunately, an older neighborhood woman teaches him to accept himself as he is:"It's hard to be different, isn't it, Billy? ....But, believe me, it's worse not to be yourself. Don't change for other people, Billy. Other people will come and go in your life. Do what's right for the one person who will always be with you--yourself."Her advise, and some newfound assertion by Billy/Pinky helps him out: "Pinky walked straight up to Kevin and poked him in the chest . . . 'I'm not a sissy and I'm not a girl. And if you think so, it just shows how dumb you are.'" OK, so Pinky gets slightly physical, but, overall, this is a fine book for the bullied--and those who bully them. Forty pages long, with lovely soft color illustrations, a non preachy tone, and a nice inter-generational angle. This book really seems to know the seven- year-old's mind.