Michael Goodly is both excited and nervous, because he's about to start fourth grade in a new school. He wants to fit in and play football, but it looks like being mean and hurting people may be the only way to be accepted by some of the other players. Is acting tough and hateful the only way that Michael will be allowed to play football with these guys?
Acceptance and fitting in are very important to young people and bullying is an issue that many of them face today. Author Arlene Freeman assures children that they don't have to act tough or mean to be considered cool. In fact, Michael learns that being nice and helping others is the perfect way to gain friends and become one of the 'cool kids'!
Cool Kids is filled with bright, colorful pictures that immediately capture a child's attention, but keeping younger children interested may be hard, because of its length. I believe that Cool Kids is better suited for children in elementary school, and I consider it a valuable resource for both home and school.
I received a copy of this book from the author via iRead Book Tours. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This unique picture book focuses on a 4th grader who starts a new school. When Michael tries to join the football team, he’s met with a group of bullies who won’t allow him to play if he doesn't play the part of a bully. Michael betrays his close friends to impress the bullies and begins to physically transform into a monster. Can he ever become himself again and make it up to his real friends?
In a longer word count than traditional picture books, Cool Kids takes on the issue of bullying by focusing on the way being mean can make you feel (and look!) ugly. With a clever approach, Michael actually sees himself becoming something ugly as the result of his actions. Illustrations can sneakily include clues — so keep your eyes peeled! But as he realizes what he has done, he starts to change his ways and becomes himself again. Cool Kids can be a starting point for conversations with children about changing schools, bullying, and being true to yourself.
Cool Kids is a wonderful children’s book with a very important message.
The story is about Michael and his friends. They’re starting at a new school and want to join the football team, but the team isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. So Michael decides he’s going to change who he is and become more like the kids on the team so he can fit in. But his new behavior causes more problems. Michael realizes that maybe changing himself to fit in wasn’t the right choice after all.
This is a quick, easy read with lovely illustrations and a good message for kids. It shows kids that changing your behavior to try and fit in, or becoming a bully for the sake of being “cool” isn’t a good thing. Don’t be mean to others, especially not your friends, because it’s not cool. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, because it will backfire, and that’s not cool. Sometimes being the “cool kid” just means being yourself.
I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend it to parents with younger readers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
