It's NO NAME-CALLING Week!

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities. No Name-Calling Week was inspired by a middle-grade novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe in which a group of students organize a "No Name-Calling Day" at school. Motivated by this simple, yet powerful idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition, created by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and consisting of over 40 national partner organizations, organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools for the first time in 2004. The event is now held annually in schools nationwide.

Find out more at the GLSEN No Name-Calling Week website here.

James Howe has come out with other "companion" books for The Misfits: Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside, and coming up, Also Known As Elvis. Find out more about James and his books here.

Today is the start of No Name-Calling Week!

Inspired by James Howe's awesome MG novel THE MISFITS, No Name-Calling Week is a wonderful real-world event.

With lesson plans (for elementary, middle and high school), resources, and even art lessons - No Name-Calling Week is a great event to know about - and to integrate into your life and school.

Imagine our world being one where no one said "gay" or "lame" or "bitch" as a negative. 

Think about the names you're heard - and maybe even the ones you've said.  We have the opportunity to recognize that our words are powerful... and we can use that power for good!  And we can start right now!

Namaste,
Lee

Kid Lit Authors and Illustrators' "It Gets Better!"

My thanks to the wonderful Lisa Yee who told me about this, and to my friends Bruce Coville, Ellen Hopkins and Jay Asher and all the authors and illustrators featured!

And hey, if you're wondering about your summer reading, this video's a great starting place for your list - look at all these amazing authors and illustrators who want to help make things better!

Pinky and Rex and The Bully

By James Howe, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

I'm pretty excited about this easy reader chapter book with a gender non-conforming main character.

Pinky is a boy. And his favorite color is - you guessed it - pink!

Pinky's best friend is a girl. Her name is Rex.

Kevin, the 3rd grade bully, says that makes Pinky a sissy.

So Pinky decides he'll go back to being called "Billy." And he'll give up his favorite stuffed animals. But will he have to give up his best friend, too?


When you fall in love with Pinky and Rex, know there's a whole series James Howe wrote about them! Add your review of "Pinky and Rex and the Bully" in comments!

Totally Joe

By James Howe

A Sequel to "The Misfits," this book is about Joe. He's 12 and knows he's Gay, and through the "alphabiography" he's been assigned to write, he tells us about his life in essays A to Z.

Joe has a crush on another boy in his school, but he has to find a way past rumors of a kiss, homophobia, and a bully to come out - as a happy with himself gay kid.


Add your review of this book in "comments!"

The Misfits

By James Howe

7th grade sucks when you don't fit in, and everyone calls you names.

"Fatso!"

"Know-It-All!"

"Fairy!"

"Geek!"

Well Bobbie (who's overweight), Addie (who's smart and outspoken), Joe (who's effeminate and gay) and Skeezie (who everyone thinks is a 'hooligan') are four misfits who decide they're going to do something about it.

They form a third political party for the student council elections, and their platform is about ending name-calling once and for all...


Add your review of this book in "comments!"