Lunch Every Day (Picture Book)

 

Publication date: September 7, 2021

My Thoughts:

The author's note on the back cover includes a picture of long time educator Jim Perez who has been running innovative bullying prevention programs in Southern California. This is a story about Jim as a bully in his younger years and the unasked for charity and grace that was shown to him. This kind of intervention of kindness and compassionate action is what helped him to become the leader that he is today, and this simple picture book says just enough of the story to show all of that about him. 

As a middle school teacher, this picture book is a great way to have conversations about why people do what they do. Even in the pre-service, teacher preparation program that I teach in, this is a great way to really talk about how punishment does not work, but compassion and action does. 

Another thought: what a great model text to use as a way to start an oral history project in the classroom and focus on one pivotal story that changes the trajectory of your interviewees life. It also can help students try and learn from their own pivotal moment by writing and/or drawing. 

From the Publisher:

Every day Jimmy takes ‘Skinny Kid’s’ lunch at school. No way will he be caught dead standing in that FREE LUNCH line. Even when he’s called into the principal’s office, Jimmy just shrugs. “Yeah. Whatever.” Until a surprising act of kindness stops him in his tracks. For a split second a door cracks open into Jimmy’s heart. Who knows? Maybe he’ll just kick that door right open.