Annotated Bibliography
Date: 10/20/01
Title:
The Meanest Thing to Say
Author: Bill Cosby
Illustrator: Varnette P. Honeywood
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., New York, 1997
Conflict: A new kid, Michael, shows up at school and he tries to make trouble for Little Bill and his friends. Little Bill has to figure out what to do about Michael.
Character change or growth in understanding: Little Bill learns with the help of his dad that there are ways of dealing with bullies other than having to beat them up and maybe getting beat up yourself. Little Bill feels good at the beginning of the story, terrible in the middle of the story, and finally he feels very happy at the end of the story because not only has his dad's advice worked but Michael has become a friend.
Lesson or universal theme( this might address how a character is being excluded or being made to feel different) Michael was trying to assert himself as the new kid and he was making everybody miserable. Michael wasn't a bad kid, but Little Bill didn't know how to deal with him, until Little Bill asked his dad what to do. Grown-ups sometimes have good advice because they have lived longer than their children. Little Bill learned how to defuse Michael's mean streak so Michael could be included in the group, and he learned that his dad had some good suggestions.
Summary: A new kid comes to school and makes everybody miserable calling kids names. One boy named Little Bill feels particularly bad about what has happened and takes on the challenge of confronting the troublemaker. Little Bill succeeds with the help of his dad and the troublemaker becomes a friend.
Rating: 4 stars!! Excellent book with colorful illustrations; a must read!
