A young boy witnesses many forms of bullying as he attempts to take a letter to the mailbox. e only word in the book is ‘NO,’ and it only appears three times. Powerful images convey a message against bullying and warfare, and depict the possibility of peaceful coexistence

Pasta Blanda

Summary:
A little boy with a red hat is walking a letter he has written to a mailbox. On his walk, there are planes dropping bombs and a military tank blowing up a house and a man vandalizing and then being chased by an officer. At the mailbox a bully stands there ready to hit the little boy, but the boy says, "No!" the only word written in this book. He stands up to the bully and he puts his letter in the mailbox and walks home. The walk home is different, there are people getting presents and cleaning up the explosion and a bike that falls from the sky.
Comments:
This books' theme is standing up to bullies. The illustrations show a small boy standing up to an older boy and saying, "No!" to bullying. ( )

Response - This is mostly a wordless book. The pictures dramatize conflict through the perspective of a young boys. The pictures reveal a lot of meaning and can prompt a lot of discussion.

Curricular connection - standing up to bullying; peace and resolution conflict

VOYA 3Q 2P- Tough subjects for picture book- hard to understand narrative, requires a lot of discussion re:war, politics, violence. Wouldn't recommend for read aloud unless ready to tackle and explain these issues. ( )