An empowering story about how friendship and imagination can help overcome bullying.
When a classmate hurts his feelings by calling him a fairy, Brandon turns to his imagination and his two best friends, who rally to his side. Brandon informs his pals that he is now a zombie who will destroy his enemies with his tears. They respond by turning into a ghost and a vampire, ready to protect him from the mean words being thrown at him during recess.
What starts as a bullying moment ends in a creative and empathetic exchange between the boys. Brandon is able to smile again — especially when the friends come to a decision on his new nickname: the Zombie Prince.
Luc Melanson’s graphic illustrations bring humor to this sensitive story about kindness and imagination healing the hurt left by unkind words.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6
Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7
Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting)
An empowering story about how friendship and imagination can help overcome bullying.
When a classmate hurts his feelings by calling him a fairy, Brandon turns to his imagination and his two best friends, who rally to his side. Brandon informs his pals that he is now a zombie who will destroy his enemies with his tears. They respond by turning into a ghost and a vampire, ready to protect him from the mean words being thrown at him during recess.
What starts as a bullying moment ends in a creative and empathetic exchange between the boys. Brandon is able to smile again — especially when the friends come to a decision on his new nickname: the Zombie Prince.
Luc Melanson’s graphic illustrations bring humor to this sensitive story about kindness and imagination healing the hurt left by unkind words.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6
Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7
Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7
Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting)
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Sep 1, 2018 |
| Specifications | 24 pages | 8.25 in x 10.375 in |
| Keywords | bullying; supportive friends; books about school; resilience; self empowerment; name-calling; power of imagination; acceptance; respect for self; courage; compassion; child as narrator; first person narration; connecting; inferring; Common Core aligned; CC Literature Craft and Structure; CC Literature Integration of Knowledge and Ideas; grade 1; grade 2; grade 3; picture book; |
| Written By | Matt Beam was born in Toronto and is a writer, photographer, and teacher. He lives with his partner, Lorraine, in downtown Toronto. Visit Matt Beam's website: http://mattbeam.com/ws/content/home.htm Follow Matt Beam on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authormattbeam |
| Illustrated by | Luc Melanson is a Governor General's Award-winning illustrator. He lives in Laval, Quebec. Visit Luc Melanson's website: http://www.lucmelanson.com/ |
| Written By |
| Matt Beam was born in Toronto and is a writer, photographer, and teacher. He lives with his partner, Lorraine, in downtown Toronto. Visit Matt Beam's website: http://mattbeam.com/ws/content/home.htm Follow Matt Beam on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authormattbeam |
| Illustrated by |
| Luc Melanson is a Governor General's Award-winning illustrator. He lives in Laval, Quebec. Visit Luc Melanson's website: http://www.lucmelanson.com/ |
| Audience | ages 4 to 7 / grades K to 2 |
| Reading Levels |
Lexile AD830L
Fountas & Pinnel Text Level N Guided Reading N |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7 |
“Details move deftly between the real and the imaginary …” —Montreal Review of Books
“Details move deftly between the real and the imaginary …” —Montreal Review of Books