THE BRAVE NEW KID

A child stands up for himself in Maheshwari’s picture book about dealing with bullying.

When Ari’s family moves, he’s excited to live near his cousin Siya, but nervous about attending a new school. Full of anxiety, he tells his parents he doesn’t want to leave them, so his father gives him an old, favorite scarf to help Ari (who has pale skin and dark hair) feel close to them. At school, the teacher and most of the kids are nice, but two boys immediately start picking on Ari, mocking him for being short and trying to steal his scarf. Each day seems to get worse until he eventually tells his parents what’s happening. Taking their advice, he stands up for himself: “ENOUGH! Leave me alone. If you make fun of me again, I’ll tell the teachers.” The teacher punishes the bullies, but he also finds a way to encourage Ari and the boys to connect. Maheshwari, a psychiatrist, introduces numerous healthy emotional tips into the narrative and surrounds Ari with supporters, although the teacher’s awareness of the situation and delayed intervention may prompt young readers to question why help didn’t come sooner. Mahamuni’s illustrations reuse postures and poses, only substituting different colors, which can make the images feel repetitive. While the original characters are well-drawn, the backgrounds, populated by clip-art children, undermine the overall effect.

A good discussion starter for strong, independent readers and trusted adults.