Midwest Book Review ** Children’s Bookwatch (November 2012)
“Bertie the Bookworm and the Bully Boys” is book III in the Fabled Forest Series, written for children ages 1-12, an illustrated early chapter book for excited pre-novella readers. A cast of familiar but colorful magical forest characters parade through this gentle teaching tale about bullying, the value of literacy, and ageism.
All the Fabled Forest residents who wish to attend a regular spelling and reading circle with Bertie the Bookworm, a wise forest elder. However Slam and his group of bully boys have repeatedly disrupted this learning circle with their behavior. Cheets, an adorable elf who is testing the difference between right and wrong, needs to learn a lesson about tolerance and choosing not to aid in bullying. Will Bertie be allowed to continue his literacy teaching without harassment? Will Pansy, a pixie who defends literacy and truth and also Bertie, be able to help Cheets learn to make wise choices in behavior and friends? Many nods to familiar fairytale characters weave in and out of the story gracefully, and the magical Fabled Forest is a good learning ground for all. Children of middle school age will enjoy this combination of fantasy and reality in a good manners and literacy teaching package. The colorful illustrations add just the right touch of mystery and fantasy to the story. ~~ Midwest Book Review