Punch!: A Story About Kindness – A Funny Picture Book About Empathy and Bullying for Kids

by Michael Hall

Badger, Frog, Moose, Elephant, and Bear are best friends. But when Badger experiences a personal loss and his emotions are too big to contain, he goes looking for trouble and takes his sadness out on his friends. He trips Frog, shoves Moose, kicks Elephant, and pokes Bear with a shovel. So Bear gathers the others, and they come up with a plan to teach Badger a lesson. Only that lesson is not what Badger--or readers--expect. In fact, Badger's friends treat Badger with kindness, offering him what he needs the most to sooth his raw emotions--a surprising turn of events that Badger takes to heart when Bear needs a little comfort in return.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Emotion, Grief, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Michael Hall is the author/illustrator of The New York Times bestseller, My Heart Is Like a Zoo, as well as the critically acclaimed Perfect Square, It’s an Orange Aardvark, Red: A Crayon’s Story, and Frankencrayon.

Before becoming a children’s author, Michael was an award-winning graphic designer whose work — including graphic identities for the City of Saint Paul, Macalester College, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the Hennepin County Medical Center — has been widely recognized for its simple and engaging approach.

Michael lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this book shows two different uses/definitions of various onomatopoeia words.
And also teaches that using violence in response to someone else’s violence isn’t the way, especially when there’s probably a reason they behave the way they do and you may be able to help them solve it rather than make it worse by behaving like them.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: PUNCH! A STORY ABOUT KINDNESS by Michael Hall, HarperCollins/Greenwillow, April 2025, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-06-286621-9

“What are riches untold
In a life without compassion?
For there's no winter as cold
As a life without compassion
There's no prescription that's sold
That can heal you like compassion”
– Todd Rundgren (1981)

In PUNCH! A STORY ABOUT KINDNESS, Michael Hall’s recognizable style—painted paper that forms the basis of digital collages—is employed to depict a cast of animal friends. It’s a picturebook that uses clever wordplay to set up surprise page turns. It’s a story with a powerful lesson/proposition for young audiences.

“GRRRRRR!
Badger was looking for trouble.
And he found it.
Badger tripped Frog,
shoved Moose,
kicked Elephant,
and poked Bear with a shovel.”

Bear, who turns out to be the wise leader of the bunch, crafts a “...plan to teach that Badger a lesson.”
But the punch that Bear subsequently delivers to Badger, while the latter is digging in the hot sun, is not the painful sort of punch. Instead, it’s the cold, tropical fruit sort of punch.

It is said that empathy is the key to understanding a friend's perspective, especially when they're navigating difficulties. PUNCH! proposes that one turn the other cheek, and feel empathy for those who trespass against us. Behind the humor of the tale is a call to abandon violence and vindictiveness in favor of compassion and forgiveness. It is a sentiment that has been advocated by wise and holy men for thousands of years. It was certainly a tenet of the Summer of Love.

Hall’s story of the crew helping Badger become his old, loveable self again, will resonate with young audiences who may well have experienced their own run-ins with being treated unfairly and hurtfully by peers. I bet that, amidst four-to-eight-year-old audiences, there will be a couple of kids who really take to heart the kindness being demonstrated here. I can imagine these kids one day resisting negative, reactive impulses and, instead, taking action–however big or small–to help the one who has been unkind to them feel less stressed and angry, to make things better rather than worse.

Thus, PUNCH! is a very fun story containing a superb lesson.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story introduces children to passive aggression by confusing homonyms for aggressive behaviors and kind actions. Cute illustrations of the animals camouflage the harm of such a message.

[Cassandra Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great lesson for children and adults alike. To always come from a place of love ❤️

[Reanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable book! Teaches about being kind to someone, even when they aren't being very nice. A simple act (or 3-part plan) of kindness is infectious 😊

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Badger takes his anger out on this friends, they respond with kindness.

"When Badger hurts his friends, do they hurt him back?" (front flap)

For no apparently reason, Badger hits each of his friends when he sees them. His friends react by developing a plan "to teach him a lesson." They sneak up on Badger where he is digging and do something to Badger using a word with a double meaning: one an innocent noun and the other onomatopoeia for the sound of something hitting something else. But instead of hitting Badger back, his friends give him things. This soothes Badger who then responds with caring to his friends the following day.

This picture book teaches young readers to respond with kindess.

The illustrations gradually reveal the death of Badger's pet snail Snaily, which is the source of his anger and the reason he lashed out at his friends unprovoked.

While responding to conflict, hostility, or negativity with kindness can be a valid response in certain situations, it can be also be dangerous. The fact that Badger's response to the negative emotions he was experiencing was to commit physical violence others was never addressed. Badger never recognized that his behavior was wrong, never apologized, and never suffered any consequences. Someone with so little emotional control is dangerous, especially if that person is an adult but also if that person is a larger child.

"Choosing to be kind" to someone prone to violent outbursts places ones directly in harm's way. It is a valid response not to be kind to someone who is physically aggressive. One's own safety always comes first. Rather than engaging with someone who takes out his anger on others, one should avoid that person and seeks recompense if something happens during an unavoidable interaction. Violence is always a choice on the part of the perpetrator, and one must be on guard not to have one's empathy/sympathy weaponized against one.

The illustrations were done with painting paper and digital line art and digital shapes.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love Michael Hall’s illustrations and love the book Red: A Crayon’s Story, so I had to read this one. Punch tells the story of Badger, who is in a bad mood for one reason or another. He keeps hurting his friends by tripping them and doing other mean things. But his friends all have a plan. They are gonna get him back. But not in the way you think! This book is a great lesson in double meanings. Words like “belt” and “punch” can mean a lot of different things and maybe using them for something good might help a friend who is in their feelings. Love how the illustrations really do the talking in this picture book and how each character’s personality really shows out. Kindness rocks!

Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 257

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First: I am torn on this one. I am out of school for summer, so unsure how my students would react. I feel it is great for older students, but seems intended for younger students.

Now: I love Michael Hall's work and have most of his books between my two schools. This book uses language to show ways to be kind when someone is angry or sad other than violence. Yet the words used are usually attributed to violence: punch, smack, slug, belt, and sock. I see many ways to use this book with my first graders and up, but not sure how I will use it with my younger students or low language students. I will share it with my Speech and Language and ASD teachers before using it with these students.

[alicebme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think parts of this were a silly stretch, because how many people do you know would pick up a slug and hand it to another person? That's two people holding a slug, and the picking the slug up part was probably extra icky. I really love the rectangle appendages though, and for sure you could use this book for a painted paper or just construction paper art lesson. I myself am a badger, and mostly this book reminds me that I am lucky to be married to NOT a badger.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have known and worked with Michael Hall for several decades. His wit, creativity and talent always amaze me. "Punch!: A Story About Kindness" comes at a time when many people are struggling with their feelings -- adults and children alike. This book creatively uses wordplay and illustration to tell a story of kindness over revenge with soundalike words. Brilliant and fun to read.

[Aolund · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deceptively simple story that uses homophones to tell a tale of grief and friendship. Despite its simplicity, this one is better for older readers/listeners since they will be able to appreciate the double meanings of the words.

Themes: Kindness, Grief, Friendship
Age range: Preschool-Early elementary

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars (I loved it)

There was so much to like about this book! First, the onomatopoeia words (and their multiple meaning) were such a engaging inclusion. I also think the whole concept about Badger acting out but his friends treating him with kindness instead of acting mean back is great. Especially when the reader learns the reason for Badger's mean behavior.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Hall's minimalist art delivers individual characters in box-cut squared papercuts that present each character by minimalist features of color and size. Badger must have awakened on the wrong side of the bed as he encounters each of his forest peers with aggressive cruel acts: Elephant, Bear, Moose and Frog. 'Kill him with Kndness' is the theme of this SEL story.

[⋆｡˚꒰ঌ worm ໒꒱˚｡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet kids book about "kindness"- but more so about treating people/friends with such kindness- even when they aren't so nice- you never know what someone is going through. This book is so charming with the art and the story! :)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Badger reacts to his sadness with hurtful actions, his friends make a plan to respond.
Tie-in with SEL discussions about kindness, death/grief, friendship.
ELA: homonyms, onomatopoeia.
Target audience is lower elementary.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of multiple meaning words and a plan to comfort a friend who is hurting and acting out. Love the illustrations made of basic shapes. Very relatable to children who could then make their own characters for retelling.
Another success for Michael Hall and libraries everywhere.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief can take on many forms - including pushing others away and trying to hurt them in the same way that one hurts. This book is an interesting take on this, providing an empathetic glimpse to those who are grieving.

[Stormie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this to a group of kids learning social skills and emotional regulation skills. The kids were so distraught about reading a book about violence, until they actually listened to the story. The kids loved it! Us teachers, loved it!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badger is in a bad mood so when he walks passed each one of his friends, he hurts them in some way.

Each of the animal's responses is presented in two different scenarios causing this title to be extremely confusing for children. Not recommended.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrator research: This book is wonderful. Loved the author's bio
I laughed out loud:
"Michael Hall used to believe,
incorrectly, that slugs were simply snails taking a vacation from their shells. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota."

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through the artwork we learn that Badger is grieving the loss of his friend, Snaily, but we don't know that when Badger takes out his negative emotions on his friends. Those friends then decide to teach him a lesson. Using a play on words the friends deliver a punch, belt, and sock to Badger.

[Suburban Homeschooler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures and short phrases make it seem like a preschool book, but the vocabulary requires an older audience. 3-5 yr olds probably won’t get the double-meanings. Good for elementary.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever use of words to make the reader think that the character are going to respond with anger, but they actually respond with kindness. Kids will like how it plays with their expectations.

[Tracy Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

These illustrations!!!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and unexpected.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very simple story about how to be kind. HOWEVER the author uses homophones for the kindness actions that ALSO mean harm. This will be confusing for children.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting use of language, but I think it might be above the targeted reading level of this book. The conceit and execution are both pretty toddler/preschooler directed. Collage illustrations.

[Laura Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected surprises within the pages. I loved the play on words. This would be fun to read aloud & discuss.

[Mary Karlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hal’s surprise and peal of laughter when the punch was delivered was worth five stars for sure!