Product Review: Spaghetti in A Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are {Paperback}
Having the Courage to Be Who You Are
I admit that while I wanted this book for my daughter I think I actually wanted it more for me. I was a very unique child who grew into a very unique adult without even wanting or trying to be different from other people. My crazy naturally curly hair, my funky clothes and my desire to not hang out in a crowd probably made me stand out even more than this anti-social girl hoped and desired. In middle school my hair was a million different colors and looked completely insane with black roots with orange and yellow streaks mixing into a crazy curly mess before a time when it was ‘cool’ to be different. In high school I hung out with all the other ‘weirdos’ who made me laugh and thought it was great to make homemade music videos, write and perform interesting songs on guitar and jump off bridges. Needless to say, I wasn’t known for being normal and not everyone is kind to people who are seen as different. I am thankful that the people who were unkind to me never deterred me from being myself and I hope that is a message that my daughter gets and understands for herself loud and clear.
Lucy, the curly haired girl in Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, is quite a different individual. She likes to eat ketchup on her toast, she laughs loud and tells silly jokes at lunch and her poofy hair is as big as her body. Her Papa Gino tells her that no one likes the same things that even if we are all different on the outside we all share a heart with feelings on the inside. Lucy would have continued on with no conflict with her spaghetti in a hot dog bun-eating ways until a class bully, Ralph, decides Lucy is his next target. The book portrays a very realistic picture of a child feeling bullied at school. Lucy is shown thinking and playing by herself at recess, afraid to say anything for fear of being a tattletale and then not even talking to her Papa Gino at home when he asks what is wrong because she is confused as to why someone could be so mean to her. Luckily, in the story Lucy has a chance to help Ralph when he is in trouble and had the courage to be a good person and treat her bully the way she wanted to be treated with positive results. I hope my daughter will continue to eat spaghetti out of a hot dog bun if she so chooses despite all the discouragement she could face from all the Ralphs in the world. As parents, let’s give our kids the encourage, skills and values to help them cope with any of these difficult challenges they may face for being themselves.
You are out of this world Special! – From Maria
- Be Proud
- Love Yourself
- Have Courage
- Practice Giving
- Make Each Day Count
- Celebrate Differences
- Spread Kindness
- Share a Smile
- Forgive
- Never Give Up
About Maria Dismondy: Maria is an elementary school teacher and author from Michigan. I absolutely love the book Maria co-authored called The Juice Box Bully which I would recommend to any parents with elementary school aged children. Check out Maria’s blog if you are interested in learning more about topics like information on teaching caregivers, parents and teachers about character traits. Her website is fun with a positive vibe and I love her Writer’s Guide to Getting Started pdf for any potential children’s authors out there. I also want to throw in her favorite quote she has in her “About” section because I also really love it. Now if we could get past that whole Michigan vs. Buckeye (former Ohioan that I am) thing, I think Maria and I could probably be great friends.
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale
Extra! Don’t forget to download the free Readers Guide for this book!
Spaghetti in A Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are {Paperback}
Price: $9.95
Momma's Bacon 