Empowering Children Through Positive Relationships

For the kids who make up the Bayside Bunch, school is not just a place of learning from books; it is also a place to connect with one another and with their community. Selwyn, QB, Grace, and Chico are lucky enough to attend a school where their individual skills and personalities are celebrated and they feel welcome and appreciated. In this story, Selwyn is unexpectedly called out from his classroom to go to the Principal’s office, and he has no idea why. Though frightened, Selwyn bravely proceeds to Principal Jones’ office to see what punishment might be in store for him. Luckily, there is more than one reason to visit the Principal’s office, and Selwyn is happily rewarded for his courage. This positive and uplifting book series connects with elementary school-aged readers in a variety of ways, through visually inclusive settings and approachable language. Each spread features a full-page illustration on one side with a small block of text on the opposing side. The length of text makes the stories accessible to a wide range of readers, while the content is pertinent to children and adults alike. Unlike other books in this series, this one is written in rhyming couplets, which makes the text easy to read aloud while being pleasant to listen to, as well. Complementing the text are illustrations that simultaneously support the events taking place in the story while amplifying the positive relationships that exist among the students and the adults in their lives. This visual affirmation of supportive interactions gives each of the books a feeling of connectedness that celebrates the differences found in every reader. While this series can be read in order, doing so is not critical to the understanding of the characters or the circumstances of each individual installment. This is an inclusive and important series to share with elementary school-aged readers no matter where they live.