ENDORSEMENTS
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down presents basic information about child abuse that would benefit any child. This book also has potential to provide courage and affirmation to those children who have, unfortunately, already suffered from this kind of exploitation.
-Kay Erland
Elementary School Guidance Counselor
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down should be in every child's classroom. It covers a very sensitive issue in a way that allows a child to process a potentially harmful situation. The greater good is that the story may end abuse before it begins in one child's life.
-Diane Niezwaag, RN BSN
Elementary School Nurse
-Kay Erland
Elementary School Guidance Counselor
Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down should be in every child's classroom. It covers a very sensitive issue in a way that allows a child to process a potentially harmful situation. The greater good is that the story may end abuse before it begins in one child's life.
-Diane Niezwaag, RN BSN
Elementary School Nurse
Don't Call Me Michael
After reading the book Don't Call Me Michael, I felt it was a good reading book that had a strong message that bullying was not good but also added empathy, actions and reactions for everyone involved. This book was one that the students could relate to and not feel outdated with terms, feelings and writing. I found myself reading this book and seeing all aspects and especially the feelings of children and their thinking. This book also gave insight as to why certain actions occur with children.
As a superintendent, I usually don’t recommend books, but this was an exception to the rule. After reading the book, the students in our school took a different perspective towards bullying, thus reducing our altercations and actions in our school district. I am letting my fellow administrators know about this book. If it demonstrated a reduction in bullying in our school, I think it can do the same for other districts.
-Greg Darling, Superintendent
Humboldt Community School District (Humboldt, IA)
Most all of us can identify with a most terrible school day, especially when it involves bullying. Yet Christopher and Michael's tale reveals how everyone is not who they seem to be, even when you live in a town called Harmony!
-Dr. William Withers, Assistant Director
Institute for Leadership Education Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)
Behind most bullies lie kids with their own problems. Don't Call Me Michael chronicles the story of young Christopher and his troubles with his constant bully Mike who seems to be out to ruin every aspect of his life. But when they are forced to work together, Christopher finds that Mike's ways are odd, but there is a reason why he has made his life's goal to torment him. Don't Call Me Michael is a fine pick and will resonate well with younger readers.
-Helen's Bookshelf
MBR Bookwatch
Joyce Crawford draws you in to feel the pain of Christopher–the victim of a bully, Mike–while also discovering the reasons Mike acts out. She puts us into the middle of this difficult relationship to understand true forgiveness and kindness.
-Rev. Regan Stoops
First Baptist Church (Mt. Pleasant, IA)
Hello my name is Rachel Darling. I really enjoyed the book Don’t Call Me Michael. I noticed that the book really helped prevent bullying. After we read the book, I relished how much bullying decreased.
I truly recommend this book to others! I can’t wait for Joyce Holton Crawford's next book to come out!
-Rachel Darling, Fourth Grade student
Taft Elementary School (Humboldt, IA)
Don't Call Me Michael is a well-written story that will hold the reader's interest through each chapter. It is one of those books that begs for a block of time so it can be read without interruption! Joyce Holton Crawford demonstrates her understanding of elementary students and the problems and concerns they face in the course of their school days. Her descriptions of their fears, embarrassments, and coping skills are up-to-date and right on target. It is a great book laced with humor that imparts the author's message of dealing with the problem of bullying, understanding circumstances that may cause someone to become a bully, and the importance of being a friend.
Bullying affects everyone, so this is a great pick for any elementary grade-level teacher for a read-aloud about how nonviolent techniques can solve problems and conflicts. It holds the students' interest with many points for involving classroom discussion.
-Micki Bartlet, Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Lincoln Elementary (Charles City, IA)
As a superintendent, I usually don’t recommend books, but this was an exception to the rule. After reading the book, the students in our school took a different perspective towards bullying, thus reducing our altercations and actions in our school district. I am letting my fellow administrators know about this book. If it demonstrated a reduction in bullying in our school, I think it can do the same for other districts.
-Greg Darling, Superintendent
Humboldt Community School District (Humboldt, IA)
Most all of us can identify with a most terrible school day, especially when it involves bullying. Yet Christopher and Michael's tale reveals how everyone is not who they seem to be, even when you live in a town called Harmony!
-Dr. William Withers, Assistant Director
Institute for Leadership Education Wartburg College (Waverly, IA)
Behind most bullies lie kids with their own problems. Don't Call Me Michael chronicles the story of young Christopher and his troubles with his constant bully Mike who seems to be out to ruin every aspect of his life. But when they are forced to work together, Christopher finds that Mike's ways are odd, but there is a reason why he has made his life's goal to torment him. Don't Call Me Michael is a fine pick and will resonate well with younger readers.
-Helen's Bookshelf
MBR Bookwatch
Joyce Crawford draws you in to feel the pain of Christopher–the victim of a bully, Mike–while also discovering the reasons Mike acts out. She puts us into the middle of this difficult relationship to understand true forgiveness and kindness.
-Rev. Regan Stoops
First Baptist Church (Mt. Pleasant, IA)
Hello my name is Rachel Darling. I really enjoyed the book Don’t Call Me Michael. I noticed that the book really helped prevent bullying. After we read the book, I relished how much bullying decreased.
I truly recommend this book to others! I can’t wait for Joyce Holton Crawford's next book to come out!
-Rachel Darling, Fourth Grade student
Taft Elementary School (Humboldt, IA)
Don't Call Me Michael is a well-written story that will hold the reader's interest through each chapter. It is one of those books that begs for a block of time so it can be read without interruption! Joyce Holton Crawford demonstrates her understanding of elementary students and the problems and concerns they face in the course of their school days. Her descriptions of their fears, embarrassments, and coping skills are up-to-date and right on target. It is a great book laced with humor that imparts the author's message of dealing with the problem of bullying, understanding circumstances that may cause someone to become a bully, and the importance of being a friend.
Bullying affects everyone, so this is a great pick for any elementary grade-level teacher for a read-aloud about how nonviolent techniques can solve problems and conflicts. It holds the students' interest with many points for involving classroom discussion.
-Micki Bartlet, Second Grade Classroom Teacher
Lincoln Elementary (Charles City, IA)