The Trauma of Everyday Life

Description

The touching story of a school principal and the bully whose life he’ll change, by beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Patricia Polacco.

Mr. Lincoln is the coolest principal ever! He knows how to do everything, from jumping rope to leading nature walks. Everyone loves him . . . except for Eugene Esterhause. “Mean Gene” hates everyone who’s different. He’s a bully, a bad student, and he calls people awful, racist names. But Mr. Lincoln knows that Eugene isn’t really bad-he’s just repeating things he’s heard at home. Can the principal find a way to get through to “Mean Gene” and show him that the differences between people are what make them special?

“A touching and complex story that sends a positive message to kids and creates hope for these working with kids who seem to be lost and categorized as bullies.”—Children’s LiteraturePraise for Mr. Lincoln’s Way

“A touching and complex story that sends a positive message to kids and creates hope for these working with kids who seem to be lost and categorized as bullies.”—Children’s Literature

“Visually appealing, with colorful, expressive illustrations that beautifully enhance the text . . . a sweet story about learning to respect oneself and others, and is well worth the reader’s attention.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This story is vintage Polacco–a multicultural neighborhood setting, a cast of believable characters (some larger than life), and a satisfying ending guaranteed to bring tears to even hard-boiled cynics. Polacco’s signature watercolor illustrations take on springtime hues here; they’re especially apparent in Mr. Lincoln’s bright pink shirts and ties. An excellent choice for storyhours, this should prompt some interesting discussions about bullies and their motivations.”—BooklistPatricia Polacco (www.patriciapolacco.com) is the beloved New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of over fifty picture books. She visits as many as two hundred classrooms in a single year, not only speaking but listening to the hundreds of children that she meets. Grateful for what teachers have done for her, she is also a popular keynote speaker celebrating teachers everywhere. She lives in Union City, Michigan, where she enjoys speaking to the myriad children who come to visit her and the famous meteor, the object of one of Patricia’s best-known stories.CN