مرا مسخره نکن

by Steve Seskin, فراز پندار (translator)

آيا عينک می‌زنی؟ آيا هميشه آخرين نفری هستی كه برای بازی كردن انتخاب مي‌شوی؟ آيا كارهايت را آهسته‌تر از ديگران انجام می‌دهی؟ آيا تا به حال به همين دلايل بچه‌های ديگر را مسخره كرده‌ای ـ بچه‌‌هایی كه با تو تفاوت دارند؟ اگر به بچه‌‌های ديگر زور گفته‌ای يا بچه‌های ديگر به تو زور گفته‌اند وقت آن رسيده است كه تغيير كنی. اين كتاب به تو ياد می‌دهد ديگران را مسخره نكنی و اجازه ندهی ديگران تو را مسخره كنند.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Teaching, Cultural, Self Esteem, Parenting

Unknown Binding

First published August 31, 2006

Reviews

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب یه شاهکار ادبیه. و اصلنم شوخی نمی کنم
اگه بچه دارین و اینو براش نخوندین، جرم بزرگی درحق انسانیت مرتکب شدین
از متن کتاب

من پسر کوچولویی هستم که عینک می زنم، همین پسری که عینکی صدایش می زنند
من دختر کوچولویی هستم که هیچوقت نمی خندم، زیرا دندان هایم را با سیم بسته اند. و من خوب میدانم از زور گریه خوابیدن یعنی چه
من همان کوچولویی هستم که در زمین بازی، موقع یارگیری آخرین نفری است که انتخاب می شود
من همان دانش آموزی هستم که درکلاس از همه دیرتر کارهایم را انجام می دهم. تو مجبور نیستی با من دوست باشی، اما آیا توقع بیجایی دارم که میخواهم بامن دوست باشی؟
ها ها ها!
ها ها ها!
به من نخند!

من گدای گوشه ی خیابانم. در خیابان بارها از کنارم گذشته ای
اگر کار داشتم تا شکمم را سیر کنم اینجا به گدایی نمی نشستم
فکر نکن حواسم نیست که هرگز چشم در چشم من نمی دوزی

من بادیگران کمی فرق دارم. من رویاهایم را روی این صندلی می بینم
وقتی دیگران مرا نشان می دهند و یا به من خیره می شوند، وانمود می کنم که دلخور نمی شوم
اگر میخواهی دلم را به دست آوری، با من مثل دیگران رفتار کن

به من نخند
به من توهین نکن
رنج مرا مایه ی لذت خود نکن
روزی فراخواهد رسید که همه ی ما کاملا سالم شویم
به من نخند!

[Sara]

I'm fat, I'm thin, I'm short, I'm tall
I'm deaf, I'm blind, hey aren't we all?

https://youtu.be/f7Dej4Gfkmc

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely artwork and a good lesson on ethical behavior. Comes with music and recording.

This is the third book in the Project Cornerstone series. I like the concept and I think it provides a great opening for a discussion with children on being different or how to treat those who appear different.

My only criticism is the religious element. In the classroom that I am reading, there is a child from a Hindu background and at least two children from Agnostic/Atheist households. In the past the class has also consisted of Muslim, Jehovah's Witness and other non-mainstream Christian parenting. The line "Someday we'll all have perfect wings," for them, is nonsensical. If the goal of the book is to be inclusive and caring to everyone, choosing to put in this Christian slant is unfortunate.

For parents or teachers looking to have a project tie in with the book, I highly recommend looking through Project Cornerstone's suggestions.

[Vittoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book because it was about kids who got bullied and they tried to stand up to themselves and told us how they felt.

[Olivia Rowley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, but not my favorite. It gives examples of reasons children might be made fun of. It also explains how it hurts their feelings and that it is not nice to make fun of people. It has a lot of religion mixed in the book. It says that we are all the same in God’s eye and should not make fun of others. I could use this in my classroom when discussing bullying and how it is wrong.

[Andrea]

The book Don't laugh at me, is about realizing that everyone is different but we dont always have to point out those differences. We learn to celebrate and include everyone. I would use this in the classroom to help acknowledge and point out that everyone is different, but that doesnt mean they need to be pointed out or even bullied because of it.

[Jennifer Borduin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book cannot be used in the classroom. There are references as to how it is okay to be "different" because we're all awesome in Gods eyes, but not everyone believes in a God. Besides the religion reference, the book was horrifyingly depressing.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent discussion starter about bullying. It shows how people in all walks of life have differences but that doesn't mean we should tease. I LOVE this book as I feel bully discussions are vital.

[Edie K Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use at the beginning of the year to discuss what respect looks like and what it does not look like. It will be a great addition to my class constitution lesson.

[Ashley Valenzuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches students about what it feels like to be picked on or made fun of. It would be great to use for promoting an anti-bullying community.

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for an anti-bullying storytime. It has a religious bent which I'd prefer to do without, but since a good many of my daycares are within churches, it works.
My book didn't come with a CD, but I played the song for the kids using Amazon music.
All the teachers really enjoyed the book and wanted to check it out after I read it.

[Hailey Condos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to keep in your classroom to raise awareness for bullying. Sometimes kids don't think of the way their words will effect their peers. This is a great book to shed some light on that and open their eyes on the importance of being kind.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book of awareness for bullying

[Hanady]

wow tb

[Colleen Overlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text, "Don't Laugh At Me", is an excellent choice, as it's been acknowledged by Reading Rainbow. It tells the story of children who stand out from the rest of the student body and who would be identified as "different" and/or unique, such as the child who has braces when no one else does, or the child who is in a wheelchair, or the child who has no one to play with at recess, or the child who has glasses, etc. It portrays the story of those being bullied as well as those who bully. Through illustrations, that vividly express the emotions that each child is experiencing, and the repetition of the author's words, "Don't Laugh at Me" readers can come to see the effect of how being rude, mean, or excluding someone from an activity negatively affects a person's character, emotions, and sense of being.

I find that this text would be an excellent choice for my text set as it addresses the differences that can exist among people. I can have my students make a list of what possible differences can exist in the classroom or the school among people and how it would feel if someone teased you, or I could pull out examples from the text to show the students how people felt when they were teased, made fun of, or excluded from an activity. I could then initiate an empathy-directed lesson where I could have the children write down or share with the class incidences where they felt upset, similarly to the characters in this book. Then as a class, the students and I would explore ways of how we could make that person feel better and be happier, what small acts of kindness could make someone feel special. I could also emphasize the importance of embracing people for their differences rather than discriminating them for their differences. I could also teach the children the power of words and how words can really have an impact as well as teach the students how to express their emotions without being physical and using their words in an appropriate manner too. There are several ways that I could introduce this text, and these are a few of them. I would also want to introduce my Kindergarteners to the song that accompanies this text, as they love sing-alongs and would really become engaged in the activity and it would also enable the students to remember the meaning behind the lesson in a fun and creative way.

[Kiya]

The plot summary is people being treated differently due to their differences within themselves and feeling bad about themselves, crying themselves to sleep, not wanting to work or talk to anyone. My opinion of this book is it's a very great book! I would rate it a 5! It is very touching but simple. It's simple but it has a lot of meaning behind it. It's appropriate for this age level because it's in simple words and it's not very long and it's not to short, it's just right. Also it's appropriate because it happens a lot in elementary school and some of the students in that class may have experienced it and can relate to it! In the book it says don't laugh at me because everyone is the same in God's eyes, those words could have related to it. It could have gave the ones that are being laughed at because of their differences it could have gave them self esteem. My opinion of this book is it was very touching to me, because I've experienced it before in my life.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know this was a song until I started reading the book. It came with a CD, but I didn't listen to it, so I can't say anything about the music. The lyrics, accompanied by illustrations, were excellent, however. The song features various people--fat, thin, of different skin colors, races, a girl with braces, a kid with glasses, all kinds of people who might be made fun of for being "different," with a plea not to laugh at them for their differences. I really like that! An afterword by singer Peter Yarrow explains how the song came to be written. I must have this one for my library's collection! Highly recommended!

[Hannah Melberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Laugh at Me was about a variety of different kids that have something different about them. Like having braces or being fat or having a mouthful of braces. They just don’t want to be laughed at or be called names. They know that in Gods eyed they are all the same. This book had awesome illustrations that children would love. They were colorful with very modern illustrations. This would be a great book to share to kids about bullying. That everyone is different and that it isn’t right to call people names because it hurts people’s feelings. This book even came with a song at the end of the book that you could teach your students.

[Amanda Buss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad that I chose this book from the EMC. I was there getting other books and when I walked past the put back cart...something drew me in. So I didn't read it until today when I needed a break from homework. I am so glad I found this book, I have loved the song for many years. I'm glad to see that the song, has touched me in many different personal ways, has been made into a book. I'm not sure if I would be able to teach with it in a public school. But I believe it is a good message to help stop bullying!!

[Christina Velasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great starting point for a discussion on respect, differences and bullying. It has a large variety of characters who all have a characteristic that others might make fun of or not understand, and they are each asking for respect. I think it would be a great discussion-starter. My one hesitation would be the religious aspect, as there is one line that says "In God's eyes, we are all the same." I don't know if I would read this line, and I don't think it's necessary to have a respectful discussion during or after the reading.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children can be mean. This book talks about the various topics children get picked-on for thoughout their school years. The geek with glasses, the girl with braces, etc. It is a didactic book in how to treat each other with respect and love, no matter who they are or what they look like. The simple, short text on each page and modern illustrations help this book to relate to many children today.

[Brittney Finck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book about bullying also comes with a CD with the same title. I was unaware that this book was written and illustrated based on a country song that I really enjoy. The pictures are kid friendly and I believe this story could be a great tool to use when the issue of bullying arises. For those who didn't know this book was a song I agree that it is too brief, however, for a younger set of kids the bullying issue shouldn't have to go much deeper.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the pictures, loved the array of (dis)abilities covered, and loved the simple, kid-friendly message to look past difference and learn to accept one another for what is on the inside. Did not love the religious mentions of "angel wings," and "all being the same in God's eyes." Please do read this book to students who you are teaching about differences, but be forewarned of the religious piece.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I interviewed Allen Shamblin after he received recognition for co-writing the CMA 2010 Song of The Year, The House That Built Me. Allen is a humble, creative man with a true heart for humanity. Don't Laugh At Me will bless a child, parent or grandparent that is facing a bully. I think this book should be in every classroom, and read often. Thanks Allen & Steve!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very real expression of cruelty of verbal abuse and its effect on young children. Children in this book are laughed at and called names just for wearing braces or glasses or for being in a wheel chair. "Don't laugh at me" they say, such a simple statement that says so much. Listing to the musical version really enhances the story. English Title: Don't Laugh at Me.

[Michaela Baillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about little children who have differences from the "normal" student. They talk about what they don't do because of this, and the recurring sentence is, "Don't laugh at me..." This book was also made into a song. I would probably use this book in the beginning of the year when we are setting up rules in grades k-3.

[Inggita · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite touching if you know of a kid who's being bullied - Steve Seskin is a damn funny country singer - he's like Margaret Cho with a guitar - but he has his sober sides, i mean, he's a country singer - and therefore this book. Great paintings.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a children's book about how everyone is differnt, and how children feel hurt when you make fun of them. I used this book along with the CD of the same story to teach about why being a bully isn't nice in elementry school settings.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

my friend just showed this book to me tonight. The pictures were beautiful, the subject was heartbreaking, and is age appropriate for young children. I love this book! It even comes with a CD in the back to sing the song.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good book for younger students. It does say God so some people are not comfortable with it. I use it to enforce my no bullying policy in my classroom. It also come with the CD, my students favorite part!