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I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness
This picture book tells the story of an elementary school girl named Vanessa who is bullied and a fellow student who witnesses the act and is at first unsure of how to help.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published April 24, 2018
25 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
About the author
Kerascoët
53 books145 followersHusband and wife team of Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset.
The story is that they were faced with signing both their names and possibly taking up too much of the cover, so they decided to name themselves after Marie's parent's village in Brittany.
The story is that they were faced with signing both their names and possibly taking up too much of the cover, so they decided to name themselves after Marie's parent's village in Brittany.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
June 8, 2018
I Walk with Vanessa is a wordless picture book that teaches the importance of kindness and empathy towards others. I picked up this one not knowing exactly what it was about, but it deals with bullying.
Vanessa is a young girl who’s been bullied on the street by another boy. Others in the neighborhood have witnessed it and it makes them all sad. A girl down the street decides that she wants to do something about it and she tells other students. She decides to meet Vanessa for school in the morning. They walk to school together and others join in.
I’ll admit that I LOVE the lessons this book teaches to young children. My only issue is that there isn’t any emphasis on the children telling any authorities- adults, teachers, or parents. This bugs me, mainly because we live in a day and age where adults need to know when children are angry and acting like this. I feel that it can prevent future, more serious outcomes. I did appreciate that a page is added in the back to help children understand what bullying is and how to help, but I really wish there would’ve been something in the story about turning in this boy who is causing problems. Of course, a random act of kindness is where we start, but everything isn’t ‘kumbaya’ when you have groups of kids together and in my opinion, bullying needs to be stopped and never ignored.
Overall, we enjoyed the book and I think it's one that should be in every school and library.
See this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
4****
Vanessa is a young girl who’s been bullied on the street by another boy. Others in the neighborhood have witnessed it and it makes them all sad. A girl down the street decides that she wants to do something about it and she tells other students. She decides to meet Vanessa for school in the morning. They walk to school together and others join in.
I’ll admit that I LOVE the lessons this book teaches to young children. My only issue is that there isn’t any emphasis on the children telling any authorities- adults, teachers, or parents. This bugs me, mainly because we live in a day and age where adults need to know when children are angry and acting like this. I feel that it can prevent future, more serious outcomes. I did appreciate that a page is added in the back to help children understand what bullying is and how to help, but I really wish there would’ve been something in the story about turning in this boy who is causing problems. Of course, a random act of kindness is where we start, but everything isn’t ‘kumbaya’ when you have groups of kids together and in my opinion, bullying needs to be stopped and never ignored.
Overall, we enjoyed the book and I think it's one that should be in every school and library.
See this review @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2018/...
4****
June 9, 2018
I absolutely loved this children's book that teaches children, as well as adults, the importance of kindness from the majority to overcome the few bullies in the world. Beautifully illustrated picture book that includes a page in the back that lets children and adults learn some helpful ways to help in both circumstances. A definite 5 star children's book!
June 30, 2018
A wordless picture book in comics format that teaches a simple lesson about empathy/bullying, followed by a list of tips for kids and adults on the topic. By the husband and wife team of Marie Pommepuy and Sebastian Cossett, who gave us the younger horror story, Beautiful Darkness (which is a very different book, which is cool), and illustrated Malala's Magic Pencil. Sweet, with lots of color (and lots of ethnicities).
Come on People, Smile on Your Brother, by The YoungBloods:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-2-...
Believe!
Come on People, Smile on Your Brother, by The YoungBloods:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5-2-...
Believe!
July 20, 2018
A new girl moves in and starts school. She feels lonely and one boy is mean to her. Another girl notices and goes to call for her in the morning, she tells her friends and soon everyone is making sure she doesn't feel lonely. A nice story, told without words. A great book to have in school.
October 13, 2018
I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it's a wordless picture book. But, sometimes, those can be really powerful.
I Walk with Vanessa tells a story about a girl who is new to town. Nobody really seems to welcome her, and even worse, a bully picks on her after school. Another little girl notices this, and it troubles her. So, the next day, she starts a chain of kindness that ends up impacting many.
The illustrations are quite cute, and an interesting thing is done with the colour palette as the wave of kindness spreads. There's a nice little discussion at the end, more for parents who might be reading the book with their kids, but still worthwhile. I especially liked the bit that differentiated between tattling and telling, for kids who might be worried about getting accused of the former while trying to help: "Tattling is getting someone in trouble, and telling is getting someone out of trouble.
Overall, this is a really strong picture book, even though it doesn't have any text. The pictures are more than enough to tell the story and convey the emotions of the characters. I would definitely recommend this one.
I Walk with Vanessa tells a story about a girl who is new to town. Nobody really seems to welcome her, and even worse, a bully picks on her after school. Another little girl notices this, and it troubles her. So, the next day, she starts a chain of kindness that ends up impacting many.
The illustrations are quite cute, and an interesting thing is done with the colour palette as the wave of kindness spreads. There's a nice little discussion at the end, more for parents who might be reading the book with their kids, but still worthwhile. I especially liked the bit that differentiated between tattling and telling, for kids who might be worried about getting accused of the former while trying to help: "Tattling is getting someone in trouble, and telling is getting someone out of trouble.
Overall, this is a really strong picture book, even though it doesn't have any text. The pictures are more than enough to tell the story and convey the emotions of the characters. I would definitely recommend this one.
September 28, 2019
Wordless picture book about being the new kid, bullying, stepping up and not being a bystander, and simple acts of kindness that can make a difference.
Pair with Bluebird and Each Kindness
Pair with Bluebird and Each Kindness
February 1, 2018
Richie’s Picks: I WALK WITH VANESSA: A STORY ABOUT A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS by Kerascoët, Schwartz & Wade, April 2018, 978-1-5247-6955-0
“Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all”
-- The Black Eyed Peas, “Where is the Love?” (2003)
“There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.”
--Eldridge Cleaver
I’m with the late Eldridge Cleaver on this.
Over the years, in writing about children’s and YA literature, I’ve frequently cited childhood incidents that scarred me and have stayed with me for forty or fifty years: the five-year-old stranger who blocked the sidewalk and told me he hated me. The thirteen-year-old who called me “faggot” and made fun of my clothes and my changing voice. The fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds who slammed me into lockers or slammed my books and looseleaf out from under my arm. The unknowns who burned down a house under construction in my neighborhood and then spray painted racial epithets on the charred remains because the house was being built for a black family.
These incidents are part of who I became, why I get involved in movements for social change, and why I want to promote a socially-conscious book like I WALK WITH VANESSA.
I WALK WITH VANESSA is a wordless picture book in comic format that features a black child whose family moves to a new neighborhood. At school, the “new kid” is initially shy and reluctant to participate. On the way home from school, a young bully confronts Vanessa on the sidewalk. We can tell by the red that surrounds the scene that the bully is spewing some pretty awful stuff.
A female classmate who is chatting with friends nearby, overhears the bullying and observes Vanessa walking home, crying. She tells her friends about it and they each walk away crestfallen.
Shaken by what she saw, the classmate spends the afternoon and evening brooding over the incident and, the next morning, she has an idea.
She races over to the house she saw Vanessa entering the previous afternoon, knocks on the door, and talks with Vanessa. The two girls depart for school holding hands. Then, beginning with the friends of the observer, scores and scores of children gradually join in, walking to school with Vanessa. The bully is ignored as a sea of smiling children pass by him.
The story is followed by two brief-but-valuable sections of advice: “For Children: How you can help someone who is being bullied,” and “For Adults: Some useful words to use when talking about this book with children.” These sections were drawn up with the assistance of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the ADL website has extensive lesson plans for using the book.
I don’t harbor illusions that I WALK WITH VANESSA will change the world. After all, back in the Sixties, those bullies I encountered all went to church on Sunday and heard about the Golden Rule. But, then again, there were plenty of impressionable young people who heard a good sermon about treating others in the manner one would like to be treated and embraced the concept.
I WALK WITH VANESSA will strike a chord with a certain number of children who may later make a difference in someone’s life as a result of having experienced this book.
These days, with so many of our neighbors being vilified because of their color, race, ancestry, or religion, it’s essential that we and our children actively participate in trying to stop the hate and bullying. It devastates me to think of my little grandkids encountering the sorts of bullying that scarred me.
I WALK WITH VANESSA is an engaging and thought-provoking wordless tale that will serve as a resource in teaching our children well. I encourage you to read it, share it, gift it, and make sure it’s in your kid’s school library.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all”
-- The Black Eyed Peas, “Where is the Love?” (2003)
“There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you’re going to be part of the problem.”
--Eldridge Cleaver
I’m with the late Eldridge Cleaver on this.
Over the years, in writing about children’s and YA literature, I’ve frequently cited childhood incidents that scarred me and have stayed with me for forty or fifty years: the five-year-old stranger who blocked the sidewalk and told me he hated me. The thirteen-year-old who called me “faggot” and made fun of my clothes and my changing voice. The fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds who slammed me into lockers or slammed my books and looseleaf out from under my arm. The unknowns who burned down a house under construction in my neighborhood and then spray painted racial epithets on the charred remains because the house was being built for a black family.
These incidents are part of who I became, why I get involved in movements for social change, and why I want to promote a socially-conscious book like I WALK WITH VANESSA.
I WALK WITH VANESSA is a wordless picture book in comic format that features a black child whose family moves to a new neighborhood. At school, the “new kid” is initially shy and reluctant to participate. On the way home from school, a young bully confronts Vanessa on the sidewalk. We can tell by the red that surrounds the scene that the bully is spewing some pretty awful stuff.
A female classmate who is chatting with friends nearby, overhears the bullying and observes Vanessa walking home, crying. She tells her friends about it and they each walk away crestfallen.
Shaken by what she saw, the classmate spends the afternoon and evening brooding over the incident and, the next morning, she has an idea.
She races over to the house she saw Vanessa entering the previous afternoon, knocks on the door, and talks with Vanessa. The two girls depart for school holding hands. Then, beginning with the friends of the observer, scores and scores of children gradually join in, walking to school with Vanessa. The bully is ignored as a sea of smiling children pass by him.
The story is followed by two brief-but-valuable sections of advice: “For Children: How you can help someone who is being bullied,” and “For Adults: Some useful words to use when talking about this book with children.” These sections were drawn up with the assistance of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the ADL website has extensive lesson plans for using the book.
I don’t harbor illusions that I WALK WITH VANESSA will change the world. After all, back in the Sixties, those bullies I encountered all went to church on Sunday and heard about the Golden Rule. But, then again, there were plenty of impressionable young people who heard a good sermon about treating others in the manner one would like to be treated and embraced the concept.
I WALK WITH VANESSA will strike a chord with a certain number of children who may later make a difference in someone’s life as a result of having experienced this book.
These days, with so many of our neighbors being vilified because of their color, race, ancestry, or religion, it’s essential that we and our children actively participate in trying to stop the hate and bullying. It devastates me to think of my little grandkids encountering the sorts of bullying that scarred me.
I WALK WITH VANESSA is an engaging and thought-provoking wordless tale that will serve as a resource in teaching our children well. I encourage you to read it, share it, gift it, and make sure it’s in your kid’s school library.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
October 14, 2018
A beautiful little wordless book that is the simple story of how one person's decision to help another person can lead to an entire community of help.
June 14, 2018
The new girl Vanessa is bullied on her way home from her first day at school and one of her classmates can't stop thinking about her for the rest of the night. While the story is wordless, the images are powerful and can help spark conversations about what empathy means and how we can find the courage to follow the voice in your head that tells you to do the right thing.
September 28, 2018
This is an entirely wordless, children’s picture book. It depicts a girl who is excluded from a group of friends walking home together. Another child notices this and convinces the group of friends to walk home with Vanessa.
November 17, 2019
When a young girl sees the new child at school being bullied, she is disturbed, and not sure what to do. Thinking it over at home, she is struck with an idea, and the next morning she shows up at Vanessa's door, determined to give her some company on her walk to school. The other children in her social group join in, and soon their number is swelled by other pupils as well, until almost everyone but the bully is walking with Vanessa...
A wordless picture-book that works beautifully as an exploration of bullying and how to respond to it, I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness is the first title I have read from author/illustrator Kerascoët, a pseudonym for husband and wife team Sébastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy. The story itself is sweet, and the artwork appealing. There were scenes that reminded me very strongly of the work of Australian picture-book creator Bob Graham, which is high praise in my book. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories addressing the themes of bullying, kindness and inclusion, as well as to anyone who enjoys wordless picture-books.
A wordless picture-book that works beautifully as an exploration of bullying and how to respond to it, I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness is the first title I have read from author/illustrator Kerascoët, a pseudonym for husband and wife team Sébastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy. The story itself is sweet, and the artwork appealing. There were scenes that reminded me very strongly of the work of Australian picture-book creator Bob Graham, which is high praise in my book. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories addressing the themes of bullying, kindness and inclusion, as well as to anyone who enjoys wordless picture-books.
March 5, 2018
I had a phenomenal conversation with my four-year-old while reading this book. It's geared more toward elementary schoolers, but this book will be well-loved by children and adults of all ages. It's stunning.
September 6, 2018
A delight! This is a wonderful book that celebrates how a simple act of kindness can start a chain reaction that shuts down a bully. A gentle, wordless story with characters reminiscent of the "Peanuts" children that kids everywhere will be able to relate to.
March 6, 2021
A very sweet picture book on the importance of putting yourself in other peoples shoes and a reminder to always be kind to one another <3
December 10, 2021
„Ще ида с Ванеса. Разказ за една малка добрина“ е безценна книга. Дело на съпрузите Себастиан Косе и Мари Помпюи (известни повече като Кераскоет), илюстратори на така любимата ни „Момиче Буболече“, и отново реализирана безупречно на български от изд. „Дакелче“, „Ще ида с Ванеса“ е едно от онези редки издания, за които няма нито долна, нито горна възраст. Не можете да споделите тази история прекалено рано с децата си. Поредицата илюстрации, изграждащи този нежен, невербален наратив казват всичко. Те предават една истинска история, вдъхновила създателите на книгата. Те предават емоции. Предават идеи. Предават послания и ценности, които всеки родител би искал да предаде на децата си. Не можете да споделите тази история прекалено късно. Защото никога не е късно да потърсиш помощ, подкрепа, приятелство… Или да ги получиш. И преди всичко – никога не е късно да ги предложиш на този, който се нуждае от нея. „Ще ида с Ванеса. Разказ за една малка добрина“ е прекрасна книга, която не разчита на думите, но ще ви остави без думи. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
September 29, 2024
Very fine wordless children's picture book that addresses bullying.
It is Vanessa's first day in a new school. None of the children will talk to or play with her. On the way home - everyone here seems to walk - Vanessa is targeted by a bully. Several of her new classmates are bystanders and the book follows one of them for the remainder of the story. This Girl In The Yellow Dress goes home to her happy family but is disturbed by what she has seen and resolves to be friendly to Vanessa who lives nearby. Her actions guide her schoolmates to friendliness and kindness towards Vanessa, leaving the bully out in the cold.
Color is used throughout reflecting the changes in mood from gloom to joy. There is a glossary for adult readers at the end of the book with terminology relating to bullying: bystander, aggression, ally, teasing, brave, etc.
I sought out this book because I enjoyed Malala's Magic Pencil also illustrated by Kerascoët. "Husband and wife team of Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset.
The story is that they were faced with signing both their names and possibly taking up too much of the cover, so they decided to name themselves after Marie's parent's village in Brittany."
Wonderful illustrators and wonderful storytellers.
It is Vanessa's first day in a new school. None of the children will talk to or play with her. On the way home - everyone here seems to walk - Vanessa is targeted by a bully. Several of her new classmates are bystanders and the book follows one of them for the remainder of the story. This Girl In The Yellow Dress goes home to her happy family but is disturbed by what she has seen and resolves to be friendly to Vanessa who lives nearby. Her actions guide her schoolmates to friendliness and kindness towards Vanessa, leaving the bully out in the cold.
Color is used throughout reflecting the changes in mood from gloom to joy. There is a glossary for adult readers at the end of the book with terminology relating to bullying: bystander, aggression, ally, teasing, brave, etc.
I sought out this book because I enjoyed Malala's Magic Pencil also illustrated by Kerascoët. "Husband and wife team of Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset.
The story is that they were faced with signing both their names and possibly taking up too much of the cover, so they decided to name themselves after Marie's parent's village in Brittany."
Wonderful illustrators and wonderful storytellers.
March 13, 2018
Kerascoeet presents a simple tale - wordless - about how a gesture, pure of heart, can change someone's outlook. This book teaches the young how bullying affects other children by using pictures highlighting the brief story.
Perfect for the very young - 3 to 5 - I Walk with Vanessa serves to demonstrate empathy and kindness in a world showing so little of these traits.
4/5
Perfect for the very young - 3 to 5 - I Walk with Vanessa serves to demonstrate empathy and kindness in a world showing so little of these traits.
4/5
June 25, 2018
Beautifully illustrated book about kindness, compassion, and bullying. Unfortunately, while my 3-year old loved the illustrations and mommy’s made up story, she only wanted to read it twice (she usually reads library books as many times as the days they are checked out) because “This book has no letters. I want to read this with letters.”
July 3, 2018
I loved that the girl who helps Vanessa is deeply troubled when she sees Vanessa being bullied. It bothers her almost as much as the bullying bothers Vanessa. Her solution is brilliant, and she leads by example. There will be so much to talk about when I share this book in my classroom!
April 25, 2018
Inspiring wordless book to prompt conversations about bullying with children. Illustrations are smart and sweet. Last page includes tips on talking about empathy.
May 22, 2018
This wordless story takes us on a journey of true kindness and inspiration, one person at a time.
July 21, 2018
Wordless picture book. Every elementary classroom will want to share this anti-bullying story!
October 31, 2018
Wordless book expresses such a wonderful sentiment. Gorgeous illustrations.
December 5, 2018
A wordless picture book that needs to be shared widely to encourage more simple acts of kindness like the one in this book.
December 12, 2020
Wordless story of being the new kid in school, being ignored, then bullied . . . then someone notices. The girl who notices tells her friends and clearly worries about what to do, and then takes action. She knocks on her door and they walk to school together.
In the back, there are notes for children -- on how to help someone who is being bullied, and for adults, for how to talk with children about this topic. An important topic and done in a very appealing and accessible.
Illustrations remind me very much of Bob Graham's work -- they are so appealing. (I know charming is overused, but they really are!).
Kerascoet is the huband and wife team Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy.
In the back, there are notes for children -- on how to help someone who is being bullied, and for adults, for how to talk with children about this topic. An important topic and done in a very appealing and accessible.
Illustrations remind me very much of Bob Graham's work -- they are so appealing. (I know charming is overused, but they really are!).
Kerascoet is the huband and wife team Sebastien Cosset and Marie Pommepuy.
February 2, 2019
4,5
Beaucoup aimé ce petit album sans parole!
Beaucoup aimé ce petit album sans parole!
November 21, 2018
Interest Level: K-3
What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? Would you jump in and help or would you walk away? In this wordless story a new girl at school gets bullied and no one comes to her aid. However, one little girl sees everything that happens and it really bothers her all through the night. Will she do what is right or will she stand back and let the bully win? Read this incredible wordless book about trying to fit in, being new to a school, hurtful words, and finding friendship!
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What would you do if you saw someone being bullied? Would you jump in and help or would you walk away? In this wordless story a new girl at school gets bullied and no one comes to her aid. However, one little girl sees everything that happens and it really bothers her all through the night. Will she do what is right or will she stand back and let the bully win? Read this incredible wordless book about trying to fit in, being new to a school, hurtful words, and finding friendship!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
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Twitter - @laurieevans27 https://twitter.com/laurieevans27?lan...
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
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November 24, 2018
A wordless picture book for children, with a message about kindness and empathy. My almost two year old daughter likes the pictures, finding Vanessa on the pages and the way I tell her the story to go along with the drawings. And I believe the message about friendship and kindness already makes an impression on her, despite how little she is.
June 27, 2019
This is a picture story without words. You have to look at each page closely to understand what is happening. I assume a parent would be explaining the story to a child. It's a sweet message by the end but I suspect that a child who is too young to read is too young to have the experiences that the children in the story are having. So it's likely to be ahead of their development and the message will go over their heads to some degree. It's also possible that the beginning parts of the story will be confusing and scary to a child who is too young to understand the social relationships of elementary school. It might even make a sensitive child become afraid of the possibility of being bullied or ostracized at school. So be cautious in using this book with very young children.
An elementary school age child who can read but just prefers to have a book without words might find the story comforting if they have been ostracized and need to see they are not the only one in the world with that experience.
An elementary school age child who can read but just prefers to have a book without words might find the story comforting if they have been ostracized and need to see they are not the only one in the world with that experience.
September 11, 2023
When a new girl arrives at a school, she feels alone and is bullied. Another girl observes how sad the new student is and has an idea of how to help her. One seemingly small act of kindness can have a profound impact. Includes back matter regarding bullying.
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