Ryan Respects

March 1, 2006
Gr 1-4 -Young readers will identify with the realistic situations and believable characters in these stories. In" Ashley", a girl must choose between doing her own work or -reusing - a paper that her brother did for the same assignment several years earlier. Reading her brother -s story about honesty forces her to think hard about doing the right thing. In "Ryan", a race at school results in name-calling when a classmate is last across the finish line. -Doug the Slug - might sound funny but Ryan doesn -t know that he has hurt the boy -s feelings. When the tables are turned and his brother calls him -Cryin - Ryan, - he realizes how hurtful words can be. Both protagonists have parents who move subtly in the background, reinforcing the importance of honesty and respect. Both books can be read independently or used by adults as part of a discussion on character. Colorful cartoon illustrations add to the appeal. Schools looking for books to support character-education programs will want to consider these titles." -Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2006
K-Gr. 2. In this title from the The Way I Act series, elementary-schooler Ryan learns how to be respectful of his friend Doug. Watercolor paintings show an idyllic neighborhood, but in every neighborhood there is always insensitive teasing. At school, the teasing happens following gym class, when Ryan calls out, "Doug the Slug," after Doug places last in a running race. At home, the teasing takes place between siblings. Ryan's older brother, Judd, calls him "Cryin' Ryan," because Ryan needs his toy rabbit to fall asleep. In both cases, a third party offers a not-so-subtle reminder to be more respectful. Ryan's friend Amy asks him to consider how he would feel if someone called him a name. Ryan's father reprimands Judd, who apologizes immediately, after which Ryan thinks he should apologize to Doug. He does the next day. Kroll's smooth text tells a strong story of children developing important social skills and then watching them pay off.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)