The Reading Warehouse

Bullying is a hot topic these days, and author Missy Wetzel's inventive children's book, Caleb and Willie, offers parents and teachers a fun, new way to talk about the issue with their kids.

Far from typical, this is a story about six-year-old Caleb who is being bullied by none other than his grandparent's new rooster, Willie. Sounds a bit silly, right? But truth is always stranger than fiction, and this crazy story is based on events that actually happened in Wetzel's life.

Young readers will laugh at Willie's ninja-rooster skills but sympathize with Caleb's frustrating predicament when he keeps getting blamed for Willie's destructive actions-and is forced to miss out on a fun fishing trip with Grandpa...and eat oatmeal for the second day in a row.

A great read for the classroom, the story of Caleb and Willie helps students consider bullying in a new light by setting it in an unexpected context. Complete with discussion questions at the end, this book brings kids into a larger conversation about how to deal with bullying and what happens when you make a bad decision.