 Making an impact. It’s something we all strive towards, especially when talking about bullying. Research states that 1 in 5 children experience bullying and making an impact on this statistic is something towards which teachers, parents, and leaders have been working for many years. Along with equipping students with tools to deal with conflict and emotion from a young age so that they do not become bullies, educators have striven to also provide tools to those adjacent to the bullying--the bystanders. While studies show that 20% of children are bullied, it also reveals that nearly 71% of children witness bullying. The encouraging news is that 57% of the time, that bullying ends within 10 seconds of peer intervention. This means that a large population exists which can be leveraged as a force for good.  But what happens when standing up to bullying (often referred to as being an upstander) goes wrong? Like fighting fire with fire, things can quickly go from bad to worse. While standing up to bullies is vital, doing so through the use of violence, mocking, or returning the bullying will only cause more trouble. So, as we teach children to be upstanders, it is just as important to teach them how to be upstanders. In the picture book A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos, we once again meet A. Blob, the purple bully introduced in the 3-book series inaugural book, This is A. Blob. In this new tale, A. Blob is back to its bullying ways and, for a while, it seems like the children will never be able to ride the school bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl decides to take a stand. A. Blob on a Bus introduces the idea of being an upstander to young readers and opens the door for conversations on what to do when they see bullying occur. The companion craft below is designed to help leaders begin discussions about why it is important to stand up to bullying along with how to do this in a positive way. The kids will love making their own "A. Blobs" and you will love the learning happening along the way! *** MAKING AN IMPACT A companion craft for A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos
The Lesson: Step 1: Read A. Blob on Bus out loud Step 2: Open a discussion about the story. How did A. Blob’s presence change the environment of the bus? If no one liked the way A. Blob was behaving, why did it take so long for anyone to stand up to it? What are some helpful ways to stand up to others? What are some not-so-helpful ways? Step 3: Craft time! As you make the craft, continue the discussion on being an upstander. Begin mixing your ingredients. As you mix, talk about some of the “ingredients” that create a bully. Why do some people bully others? Talk about what it means to have empathy and why it’s important to put ourselves in the shoes of others. Even though some people bully others because they have been bullied or hurt themselves, does that make their behavior ok?
The school bus before and after A. Blob's arrival. Which bus would you rather be on? -Images from A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos, illustrated by Jeffrey Burns Using examples from the book, remind children that the way we treat one another has an impact on them and the situation. We have the power to change and so it is important to stand up against bullying, even when we aren’t the ones being bullied. We must be upstanders, not bystanders! However, there are helpful ways to be upstanders, and not-so-helpful ways. When we react to bullying with more bullying, the problem only becomes worse. Show the students how when we hit the mixture, it becomes hard and resistant. However, when we treat it gently, it is soft and pliable. Discuss positive ways to stand up against bullying.
*** If you use this craft in your classroom or home, we’d love to see! Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and use the hashtag #ABlobCraft.
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 My Book – A. Blob on a Bus by L.A. Kefalos
They were adorable. They were die cast metal, shaped as yellow school buses, with tiny rubber tires and “New York City Schools” inscribed in black bold letters across the side. When I handed the souvenir to my niece, my sister wondered out loud, “Why a bus?” OK, so there have only been two times I have been asked that question, and, to answer my sister--just in case she is reading this--because EVERYONE gets a Statue of Liberty or an I Heart NY keychain. Plus, these buses were so darn cute. I really should have bought a key chain for myself. I think I will go back and get one.  Not only is New York City my favorite city in the world, and that shade of yellow my favorite color (well, for coffee mugs and number two pencils) but my second book, A. Blob on a Bus, just happens to take place in a bus. You might be thinking, “Why a bus?” to yourself. Let’s just say you are. Well, there is a reason behind it.
And as sure as the day is long, it happened: first the brake lights appeared, followed by the slow, painstaking lowering of the blinking, red eight-sided sign emblazoned with white letters: “TOO BAD,” ordering me to stop and wait for a child to appear from the house and board the bus. As, I settled into my seat, drinking my morning coffee, to wait for the emergence of Johnny-Come- Lately, I noticed HER, peering out the back window of the bus. She was looking directly at me. She appeared to be around ten or eleven years old. She was expressionless--no smile, no frown, just an empty stare. Maybe the expression was one of angst because it was the first day of school and, perhaps she had butterflies in her stomach. You know those pesky insects that show up to remind you that your future is uncertain. For some reason, I still get them at the mere mention of the words, “first day of school.” However, the little girl’s clothing--in contrast to her expression--was rather imaginative. She had a bright, royal blue blouse on underneath a cream-colored vest that appeared to have some shiny metallic strips woven into the fabric. Thin blue and silver streamers dangled against her long brown hair. I thought the glitzy outfit was her attempt to be accepted by the rest of the herd. But then I noticed that she was standing all alone in the back while the rest of the pack were seated, paired up according to type inside the giant yellow ark. The outfit obviously wasn’t an attempt to blend in as the others were moderately dressed. She clearly stood out from the rest. “Why is she staring at me?” I thought, as I averted her gaze and looked down, pretending to have difficulty placing my coffee cup back in the holder. I admired my nails as I placed the coffee in the cupholder. I had just had them painted a sapphire blue with gel nail polish. The gel caused the nails to shine much more than the regular polish I normally wore. I marveled at the color of blue, realizing that it matched the stapler that I had sitting on my desk back at the office. The office that I was going to be late arriving to because I was still waiting on a child to board the bus.  A. Blob wreaks havoc on the playground in L.A. Kefalos's first picture book, This is A. Blob. When I looked up to see if there was any sign of life from the house, I saw that she was still staring out of the back window at me. A bevy of questions flooded my mind: Why is she still looking at me? Why is she standing? Isn’t that dangerous? Doesn’t this bus have seat belts? Why aren’t all school buses required to have seat belts? Why isn’t Noah paying attention to his passengers? Isn’t he concerned with their safety? Why isn’t she smiling? Is she being bullied? I had already written my first picture book, This is A. Blob, about a bully who wreaks havoc on a playground tormenting other kids. In my research for the book, I had read that a school bus was a hot spot for bullying. Besides the fact that the bully pretty much had a captive audience, there is very little adult supervision. Bullies tend to target their victims any place where adult supervision is low. Yes, there was the school bus driver, Noah, but there can be as many 70 kids on one bus for him to supervise and his focus obviously is on safe driving. I felt a little helpless sitting there. I really couldn’t surmise anything from the situation. I knew it was up to the adults in the child’s life to notice the signs of bullying. The mood changes, the minor health complaints, the changes in their grades and sleeping habits. All I could do was sit and wonder about the one who wandered away from the herd and was standing there gazing intently at me. I don’t know why I did it. It may have been the fact that she was standing alone, looking like an outcast, in need of provision, or maybe it was the blue streamer gesturing me to show kinship. Whatever the case, I decided to flash my freshly painted nails at her, one hand, five fingers, palm-side away from her, in some tribal “I feelyasister” greeting. I don’t know what I expected to happen. Maybe she would give me a sign of the duress she was in. Most likely, I was being selfish and was hoping it would cause her to look away and end the awkwardness I was feeling being under the microscope. But she did something totally unexpected: instead of looking away, she returned the greeting in “I’ll see you and raise you” fashion and flashed back five nails decked out in blue and white zig-zags matching her vest and streamers. Clearly her nails were far more stunning than mine. The gesture caused me to spit out my coffee and laugh out loud. Her expression-less face broke out in a huge smile as well. In the meantime, I hadn’t noticed the brake lights on the bus were gone, as well as the flashing red stop sign. The bus began to move and make its way toward the unknown future. The girl with the streamers had sat back down in her seat when the bus continued its journey. I followed behind it for a way before I had to make a left-hand turn. When I put on my signal to turn--to my astonishment--the little girl’s head popped her head up over the backseat, smiled, and flashed me the five-fingered backward hand wave, good-bye. I returned the smile and the wave, and she sat back down in her seat. I drove to the gym at a leisurely pace. I was no longer hurried or concerned about getting my full work out in. Instead, I was thrilled that I had the idea for the next book in the A. Blob series. My only worry –would having a tiny pink butterfly flying out the back window of the bus at the end of the story be too much?  Don't miss the bus! The A. Blob on a Bus Blog Tour continues tomorrow over at the Mom Read It blog! Head over there to check it out, or check in here where we will be posting links to all the stops along the tour!
 Can one act of bravery change everything--including A.Blob? It's official: A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos is now available for purchase! We are so pleased to bring this new resource to teachers, parents, and leaders who are looking to start conversations about bullying, empathy, and kindness. With its beautiful illustrations and rhymed verse, A.Blob on a Bus explores the issue of bullying from the perspective of the bystander, asking young readers "What would you do?" and empowering them to help make their community a better place.
Although studies reveal that 1 in 4 children faces bullying, research also shows that early interventions, such as reading topical books and holding discussions can help change that statistic for the better. Through her writing, L.A. Kefalos hopes to be a part of that solution. “We are all in this together”, Kefalos shared, “children, parents, teachers--the whole community. My book can't end bullying alone. It is just one line in an enormous conversation. But it can start the discussion.” A. Blob on a Bus is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. With each purchase, you also receive a FREE download of the accompanying material discussion guide with lesson plans, craft, and discussion questions to guide conversations and help young readers learn to be upstanders.
March is Women's History Month; a time of the year when we celebrate the strong and amazing women who have made this world a better place. What began as a mere week of celebration in 1981 was soon extended to an entire month in 1987. Since then, the stories of thousands of women, from riveters and researchers to suffragettes and singers, have been brought to light and told, some, for the very first time.
Catching Up With L.A. Kefalos 1. Where are you living and working now? I am living in New York City and working in Westchester County for a company that works in the entertainment industry. I am a lead Automation Engineer there. I write my children's stories on the weekends. I love both jobs and I adore NYC. 2. March is Women’s History Month! What women have inspired and encouraged you in your life? Well, first and foremost, I must say my mother. She always offered me encouragement and supported me in whatever I wanted to do. She made me think I could accomplish anything. I studied electrical engineering in college. I guess I am always inspired when I meet any strong, independent, and intelligent women, especially those breaking down barriers.
4. In your upcoming release, A. Blob on a Bus, we get a cameo from a character found in your animated short--Alexandra. What inspired you to bring her into the Blob universe? Well, I have written a couple of stories with Alexandra and there are more stories in my head for her. In A. Blob on a Bus, I was looking for a character to stand up to a bully and I thought, “Who better than Alexandra?”. She is a confident little girl. I think confidence is key to standing up for yourself, and others. I know it is difficult, especially for young people to have such confidence. I hope Alexandra helps those who read this story to realize it is possible to say something when someone is being unfair. The challenging part for the book was getting her to look more like the style of the illustrations in the Blob series. For one thing, she needed to age a few years. I wanted her to be a little bit older for her ride on the bus. Our illustrator, Jeff Burns, did a fabulous job in transforming Alexandra. I am really happy with the outcome.  Alexandra in Crocs, Pots, and Widebeests, by L.A. Kefalos (2009) 5. Alexandra is definitely a strong female character. What do you hope children will learn from Alexandra both in this story and in previous stories including her? In my stories, there is always a lesson to be learned or some kind of message. In Crocs, Pots, and Wildebeests, I wanted to get kids excited about the library. When I was a kid, the library was a magical place for me. I remember going for the first time, and coming out with a stack of books and thinking, “I can bring these all home for free?”. Kids who are not going to the library are missing out. As far as Alexandra in A. Blob on a Bus, there are many messages in the story, but I think the main message that I wanted to convey to children is that we all have a responsibility to watch out for one another and that we are stronger working as a team.
7. One of the main themes of A. Blob on a Bus is standing up against bullies. Why did you choose this as the focus for the trilogy’s second installment? It is the natural progression when you have a problem, you have to figure out how to solve it. Standing up to a bully can be one solution, but you need the support of everyone around you, whether it be classmates, teachers, or parents. 8. What are you most looking forward to when the weather turns warmer? Taking my dog to the park without 6 layers of insulation on! *** If you would like to learn more about National Women's History Month and explore the stories of the women that it celebrates, visit womenshistorymonth.gov/. To learn more about L.A. Kefalos, visit our Author Page. L.A. Kefalos's newest book, and the second in The Blob Trilogy, A. Blob on a Bus, will hit shelves this spring! Be sure to pick up your copy of the first book in the series, This is A. Blob, today!
 It’s easy to label people; He’s a nerd, she’s smart, he’s dumb, he’s nice, she’s a bully, etc. Labeling helps us simplify an often complex world and creates a sense of safety and belonging for those who can’t find it anywhere else. Unfortunately, far from solving the problem, such behavior often makes it much worse. When we label others and try to put them into boxes, we lose so much of what makes them, them. We miss out. And we send the message that they will never be anything else, for better or worse.
Begin the activity by reading through This is A. Blob. Talk about what can be learned about the main character through the story. Were there any surprises? How would it change the story if other children in the book knew about A. Blob’s secret? Can they think of a few people in their own life about whom they have made assumptions? Have others made assumptions about them? What did this mean for their relationships and the way they treated others and themselves? Following discussion, give each student a piece of lined paper with a space to draw a picture (download templates here). Instruct them to write about something that most other students don’t know about them and include a picture (it can be hand-drawn or pasted in). For example, are they a great big brother? Do they take dance classes? Do they love cooking special dishes with their grandmother? Be sure to note that this should be something they are comfortable sharing and shouldn’t be anything too personal.
Next, give each student a cartoon person to color and design to resemble themselves (download template here). Finally, cut the picture in half and glue the edges to the written stories to make two flaps. If you have the time, allow students to present their projects to the class. Following presentations, have students either write or discuss what they learned and how or if it changed the way they viewed their peers. Will this change the way they approach other relationships?
It’s easy to label people. Getting to know people takes time and vulnerability. It takes patience and the willingness to admit you were wrong sometimes. However, it is the first big step in resolving a multitude of issues such as prejudice and bullying. Once we learn all the things about each other that are different than we thought, the more we can begin to discover all the things that are the same. I hope you enjoy this activity and it helps bring your classroom closer together. What are some fun things about yourself that not many people know? Share in the comments! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully.
This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.  Happy December!!! It’s a month for spreading joy and bringing cheer. One simply can’t help smiling as sleigh bells ring, gifts are exchanged, and people wish good tidings everywhere you go; the joy is simply contagious. Perhaps no other time of year demonstrates the catching quality of attitudes quite like the Christmas season. Unfortunately, not all contagious attitudes are so cheery. Negativity and bullying can spread like wildfire, as can the sadness and pain that accompanies those actions.
You will need:
In the book we read about A. Blob and learn that it has no friends because it bullies…and it bullies because it has no friends. Sadly, this situation is not uncommon. Many children who bully and cause pain do so because they are in pain or have been bullied themselves. Often, the response to bullying is to respond with anger, violence, and more negativity and the vicious cycle continues. This craft recollects the main character of the story while also providing a visual reminder that our actions and attitudes can be catching—for better or worse.
Directions
3. Once you have your desired shape, fold the blank half of paper over to the shaving cream half and press GENTLY. It is crucial that you don’t completely press the paper down or else you will just get a colored piece of paper and the shaving cream squished everywhere, then unfold your paper
4. Taking a craft stick or any flat scraping device (I used cardboard), gently scrape the shaving cream off the paper, leaving your print behind 5. Let paper sit until dry 6. Once dry, draw on eyes and any words or designs you’d like. I wrote “Attitudes are Contagious”. You could also draw A. Blob’s thoughts and emotions inside  7. Talk about what students learned from the craft. Do they see how one attitude easily transfers to others? How will this affect the way they act in the future? 8. Hang up finished prints as a reminder to spread joy and not negativity! Pro Tips:
We hope you enjoy this quick and easy craft! Check back here each week for more crafts and insights. If you try this craft at home, please share your work in the comments! We’d love to see what you create! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully.
This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.   “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” ― Abraham Lincoln I was reminded of this quote by our 16th President as I attempted to complete the poetry challenge set forth in last week’s blog. Trying to gain some inspiration, I read several poems written in the same forwards-backwards style of the challenge and I was struck with just how much a simple change of perspective can alter our outlook and attitude entirely.
Instead of viewing the world in black and white, we must allow ourselves to see in radiant Technicolor. Some might view such thinking as little more than a way to let bad behavior go unpunished; however, I would disagree. Taking the time to see things from someone else’s perspective is, instead, a way to let good behavior find its way out. It is a way to cut bad behavior off at its source. Looking for the positive doesn’t dismiss the negative; it simply doesn’t allow it to take control. We can’t make every person and every bad situation better, but we can choose not to despair. This challenge was a stretch for me, but I’m so glad to have taken it on. Not only did it stretch and sharpen my skills as a writer, it reminded me to slow down, step back, and look for a new perspective. I hope it has done the same for you! So, without further ado, here is my forwards-backwards poem:
*** Let us know what you thought of the poem in the comments below. If any of you have taken up the challenge, please feel free to share your work, as well! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. This first installment in a series follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book demonstrates that a bully can come in any shape, size, or color and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.
 Extending stories into classroom activities is always a fun and effective way to help children remember what they’ve just read and establish a deeper connection with the lessons of books. When I found this recipe for chocolate pretzel treats, I knew right away that they would make a perfect extension for the picture book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos. Not only are they affordable and easy to make, they look exactly like the gooey, purple main character of the story!
In the picture book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos, we are introduced to an interesting character named A. Blob that looks a little…different than the other students. When we first see A. Blob, it’s acting less than kind, punching, oozing, stealing lunches, and being a general bully. As the story progresses, however, we learn that perhaps there is more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Through this simple story, children will learn about why people bully, the importance of empathy, and that bullying never solves problems. Here’s what you’ll need to create your own A. Blob treats: Ingredients
I purchased my candy at a local bulk-candy store. However, you should be able to find white melting chocolate at most grocery stores. If you don’t see the color you need, simply melt the chocolate and add a little food coloring! If you aren’t able to get your hands on any candy eyes, mini marshmallows and a dot of chocolate will do just fine! Directions
If you don't have a microwave, you can easily improvise a double boiler with a pan, water, and a glass bowl. Simply fill the pan with a small amount of water and place the glass bowl into the pan so there is about 1-2 inches between the water and the glass bowl. Bring the water to a gentle boil and let it simmer. Add the chocolate to the glass bowl and stir until melted.
Notes
As you and your students mix up your own delicious A. Blob treats, take the time to discuss what “ingredients” went into making A. Blob act the way it did. When you pour the yummy, sweet chocolate over the hard, salty pretzels, talk about ways we can respond to difficult situations with kindness. Ask questions such as “would these treats taste very good if we poured something sour over them, like vinegar? What if we just added more salt?” In the same way, responding to bullying with bullying will just make a yucky mess.  When the time comes to give A. Blob its candy eyes, talk about the importance of empathy and looking through the eyes of others. How could empathy have helped A. Blob and the other students? How can we all use empathy in our everyday lives? What are ways we can look through the eyes of others? Finally, when the treats are finished, remind your students that we all deal with difficult things in our lives and, like the chocolate covered pretzels, these hard things are often hidden inside. We can’t always tell by looking at people that they are hurting. That is why it is so important to treat everyone with kindness—even bullies! *** I hope you and your students have fun making these A. Blob treats and that they bring a little sweetness to your day! Let us know in the comments how yours turn out! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several animated shorts, including “Who’s that Knocking,” “Chug,” and “Croc, Pots and Wildebeests,” which was nominated for Best Independent Short Short, Ages 5-8, at the 2009 Kid’s First Film Festival and for best short at The Los Angeles Women’s International Film Festival, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully.
This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that A. Blob may have more than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.  As many of you know, October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This event was created by Pacer to help bring awareness to the issue of bullying and unite students and adults from all over the nation to work together to end bullying once and for all. One important part of National Bullying Prevention Month is Unity Day. Unity Day is a day on which Pacer encourages schools, communities, and individuals to show that they are united against bullying and united for acceptance and inclusion. A few ways they suggest doing this are by organizing assemblies, participating in walks or runs, and wearing ORANGE —the color of bullying prevention! To show our support of Unity Day, we decided to adapt our fun This is A. Blob Slime craft to be ORANGE!! This craft, designed to accompany the picture book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos, is a fun way to begin the discussion about bullying with your younger children while joining in the Unity Day activities. As you mix your slime ingredients, talk about the “ingredients” that go into making a bully, such as insecurity and pain. As the mixture turns gooey, discuss how small words and actions can lead to a big sticky mess of bullying when they combine!
Another fun idea is to give the slime away as a random act of kindness for your celebration of Unity Day! However you choose to play, the important thing is that you have fun and bring awareness to the importance of bullying prevention!! Here are the steps you'll need to create your own ORANGE A. Blob!
Step 1: Read This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos Step 2: Discuss Open discussion about the book: Were A. Blob’s actions acceptable? How do you think these actions made the other children feel? Why do you think A. Blob acted the way it did? What would/could you do if you were on the playground to stop bullying? Step 3: Create!
3. Mix in food coloring until the desired color is achieved. I used 15 drops of red and yellow to get this particular shade of orange.
4. In your smaller bowl, mix 1tsp of Borax with 1/2 cup of warm to hot water. Again, the hotter the water, the easier this step will be and the slimier your slime will turn out. Make sure to stir until the Borax is completely dissolved.
There are so many exciting ways to spread the message to stop bullying and start living with kindness. I hope you enjoy this little twist on our favorite craft. Let us know how YOU are celebrating Unity Day in the comments below! Fun with This is A. Blob Slime! Happy Unity Day 2016!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  Books are excellent tools for helping children build empathy and become upstanders! This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several award-nominated animated shorts, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully. This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book demonstrates that a bully can come in any shape, size, or color and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.
 Fear It drives us; drives us to succeed, drives us to fail, drives us to run, and drives us to stay. Fear can be our best friend, prompting us to flee when we sense danger, or our greatest enemy, paralyzing us into a state of helplessness. Fear can inspire us to work harder than we ever thought we could, and it can cause us to act against our own self interest and even the interests of others. It is this dichotomy that has inspired society’s fascination with the topic. Strangely, the same biological response which causes us to shake in our boots also provides a sort of high, and countless TV shows, films, and books have been created to draw out and exploit that shivery feeling. There is, perhaps, no better example of this than the month of October and its 30 day fear fest leading up to Halloween. During this season, we not only enjoy being afraid—we actually pay for it!
You see, fear is a master of disguise. It hides behind bravado, prejudice, and violence, fueling these harmful actions so quietly that it is often ignored and thus allowed to fester. From bully to victim and everyone in between, bullying is riddled with fear. The children who are bullied are afraid of harm, their parents are afraid of doing the wrong thing and seeing their child hurt, bystanders are afraid of becoming outcasts or being bullied in return, and children who bully act largely out of underlying fear. While it may express itself in many ways, it is indeed fear which often drives bullying scenarios. But why does any of this matter? Until we recognize the root cause of bullying, we will continue to simply treat symptoms, never truly eradicating the problem. Giving children bullying-solving skills may work for a while, but when fear crops up, if they don’t have the tools to properly recognize and address that fear, they will very likely succumb to it. Fear is designed to keep us safe so, unless we understand where it is coming from, we will have a difficult time turning it off.  While rationalizing through fear is difficult for anyone, it is especially difficult for children. One portion of the brain which plays a significant role in our bodies’ response to fear is the prefrontal cortex. It is this part which interprets the event we are experiencing and compares it to past experiences, helping you decide the level of threat and appropriate response. However, many studies have shown that the pre-frontal cortex, the rationalizing part of our brain, doesn’t fully form until age 25. This means that an elementary aged child is going to have greater difficulty rationalizing the reasoning behind and consequences of his bullying behavior. One way you can help create context for your students is through reading. Studies show reading fiction helps develop empathy, which is recognized as a core life skill and the foundation for sound relationships and classroom climate. Additionally, books provide entertaining and safe ways for children to explore emotions and consequences, storing these lessons away for a later time. Picture books, such as The Weird Series, by Erin Frankel and This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos, are excellent examples of books that help students identify and work through the fear behind bullying and standing up to bullying. By reading why these characters might be bullying or why other students are standing by, students are given a framework of reasoning on which they can later build using their own experiences.
Another way to help your students recognize the fear driving their bullying is to provide a visual aid that helps them walk through the steps we take mentally when dealing with fear. On a sheet of paper, have your students draw a picture of a bullying scenario. Ask the students to create a general caption written in the first person, such as "I pushed Jane". Next to the picture’s caption, write “I did this because…”. With the students, look at the drawings and talk about what that “because” might be. Maybe the answer is “I didn’t like her”. Draw this out, as well. Next to the new caption write”…because…” again, prompting the child to explain why he or she doesn’t like the other child. Perhaps it is because she is new. From there, write “I didn’t like that she was new because…” And onward until the true reason, “I was afraid she would take away all my friends. I was afraid I would be all alone”, comes out. Now that the root fear has been identified, you can begin to discuss solutions to the fear. Coping With Fear In addition to helping children recognize their fear, it’s important to provide coping skills to deal with those fears in a healthy way as well as work to create an environment of safety. Let your students know that they can talk to you about anything without fear of punishment. If you are able, set aside time to check in with each child for a minute or two each week to talk through any issues they might be having or to offer some words of encouragement. Even taking the time to write a small positive word for each child on his or her desk daily can have an enormous impact on the classroom climate. When students feel accepted and important, they will be less likely to feel the fears that lead to bullying.
Finally, one of the best ways to cope with fear is to talk about it. Talk with your students about why they find the situation frightening. What is being done to prevent it from happening? What steps can be taken to bring about a solution if the frightening situation does occur? This helps students take control of their fear and provides positive tools for confronting it. *** Bullying is a complex issue. Not only do factors outside of fear contribute to bullying, overcoming fear is a process that will not happen overnight. These are simply suggestions to help you begin searching beyond the surface of bullying and bystander behavior to heal the root of the problem rather than the visible weed of actions it produces. Fear isn’t all bad. In fact, it can be very good and even entertaining. That’s what Halloween is all about, right? So, this October, this month in which we recognize fear, both good and bad, let’s try to build environments in which everyone feels safe and cared for and may the scariest thing in your classroom be the ghost on the door!  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________  Books are excellent tools for helping children build empathy and become upstanders! This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8. Written by Lori Kefalos, author of several award-nominated animated shorts, This is A. Blob is the first of a series following this bully. This first installment follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book demonstrates that a bully can come in any shape, size, or color and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.
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About Laughing Leopard PressHello! We are Laughing Leopard Press, an independent book publisher from Akron, Ohio. At Laughing Leopard Press, we’re interested in publishing works that contribute to our understanding of this wonderful world. Through this blog, we hope to add to that understanding with commentary on life, literature, and a few things in between. We hope you enjoy the blog and take some time to talk with us in the comments or on our social media sites. Happy reading! 
This is A. Blob by L. A Kefalos. $14.95
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