TOM AND THE TWO HANDLES

"Look," said Tom. "Kenny gave me a bloody nose." It's an irresistible opener and the story behind the injury will provide strong reader identification for boys beginning to read. Tom and Kenny are good friends and Tom would like to keep the friendship going, but he is losing consistently at the sort of roughhouse play small boys engage in. He has to learn to use his head as well as his hands and Tom's father provides him with some mild boxing advice and a strong aphorism: "A problem is like a jug with two handles." Tom's choice is to make up or get even and Tom manages to try out both handles before this short and satisfying story is through.