For Lotty, as for most children, the start of a new school year is exciting, so when a bully targets her, she is devastated. Despite its didactic intent, the realistic story is kept lively by Lotty's creative solution (she forms a club whose members stick up for anyone being bullied) and by the illustrator's variety of expressive animal students.

PreS-Gr 3-On the first day of school, Lotty Raccoon encounters Grant Grizzly, the class bully, who taunts and teases her at every turn. Ignoring him does not work, nor do several other tactics she tries. Finally, she comes up with a solution: a Bully Blockers Club. She recruits other students who have been bullied by Grant. Whenever the little grizzly begins intimidating someone, a club member calls out, "Hey, what are you doing?" Thus they attract the attention of adults and other students to his behavior. After a class discussion on bullying, the teacher and students come up with rules that will help everyone feel safe and welcome. Although this story is purposeful, it is told with humor and drama. The illustrations are colorful and engaging, and the last page contains a discussion on bullying for adults. Rather than having a didactic approach, this is a kid-friendly tale that teachers might use as a springboard for discussion.-Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.