Behaviour Matters: Giraffe Is Left Out - A book about feelin

by Sue Graves

Feeling bullied is a common concern among young people. Readers will discover constructive ways to deal with feeling left out and bullied as they explore what happens when both Giraffe and Leopard exclude each other. This relatable fictional story told through entertaining animal characters is meant to help readers discover healthy ways to handle their feelings. Bright illustrations provide a fun twist on a common character-building narrative. Questions for further discussion allow readers to process what theyve learned and how it relates to their own lives.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 25, 2014

Reviews

[Gabrielle Sandford-Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIRAFFE IS LEFT OUT - A BOOK ABOUT FEELING BULLIED

Giraffe Is Left Out is a lovely short text that explores the feelings of various animals in the classroom of being “left out”. The actions against Leopard eventually occur to Giraffe, who realises how upsetting it is to be excluded from a group. Therefore, the text could be used to discuss the emotions of being left out and who to talk to if they are being bullied.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is a good book about being left out and then turning things around. I do not like the part of the subtitle where it mentions bullying. I do not feel that what happens in the book requires the bullying tag.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monkey, Little Lion and Giraffe are friends. When Leopard joins their class, Miss Bird tells the three friends to make Leopard feel welcome. But Giraffe doesn’t want to include Leopard. He doesn’t want to share his friends with anyone else. So he treats Leopard unkindly. So when Leopard is passing out invitations to his birthday party, Giraffe doesn’t get one. His friends tell Giraffe is he would have been kinder, he would have been included.

It gets the point across, but the writing is pretty flat.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like behavior books where a character learns a lesson due to the natural consequences of a bad behavior, because I think that's highly relatable. We all make mistakes. In this book, Giraffe didn't want to be friends with the new kid at school, so Giraffe won't let him play their game. The next day, Giraffe feels left out when he is the only one who doesn't get invited to the new kid's birthday. I also love an ending where the character learns a lesson and things get patched up.

[Alanah Shirfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

8 year old: "I like giraffe is left out because it's about someone not being kind to people but then they made up and they learn not to bully each other."
A good way to promote understanding around friendships, bullying and feelings, along with colourful illustrations.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a series of books on behavior. Giraffe finds it difficult being asked to share his friends with the new kid and jealousy has them being a bit mean/exclusive. Giraffe feels sad when they are later excluded and eventually learn to be more accepting in a team building exercise.

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pages are jammed with words and pictures and a jumbled message about bullying and being left out. Resource section could do more to address the causes of bullying and corrective action.