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Teddy Spaghetti
**A New Atlantic INDIE BESTSELLER!**
The beloved bestselling author of The Hurricane Sisters and Porch Lights, Dorothea Benton Frank, and her daughter, Victoria Benton Frank, join forces to bring young readers a powerful (and scrumptious) story about a standout kid who learns to stick up for himself and the things he loves.
Teddy really, really, REALLY loves spaghetti. What he doesn’t love is getting teased at school. When Teddy takes his favorite food to lunch, a bully calls him a not-so-nice
TED-DY SPA-GHET-TI!
Will Teddy let his new nickname prevent him from enjoying what he loves most?
Find out in Dorothea Benton Frank’s first-ever children's book. It's certain to encourage kids to be themselves and to take a bite (or slurp) out of life!
Perfect for anti-bullying and self-confidence discussions with children.
The beloved bestselling author of The Hurricane Sisters and Porch Lights, Dorothea Benton Frank, and her daughter, Victoria Benton Frank, join forces to bring young readers a powerful (and scrumptious) story about a standout kid who learns to stick up for himself and the things he loves.
Teddy really, really, REALLY loves spaghetti. What he doesn’t love is getting teased at school. When Teddy takes his favorite food to lunch, a bully calls him a not-so-nice
TED-DY SPA-GHET-TI!
Will Teddy let his new nickname prevent him from enjoying what he loves most?
Find out in Dorothea Benton Frank’s first-ever children's book. It's certain to encourage kids to be themselves and to take a bite (or slurp) out of life!
Perfect for anti-bullying and self-confidence discussions with children.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2020
23 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Dorothea Benton Frank
64 books5,209 followersDorothea Benton Frank was a New York Times best-selling American novelist of Southern fiction. She worked in the apparel industry from 1972 until 1985 and then organized fundraisers as a volunteer, before becoming a novelist.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 20, 2021
Such a sweet book! Kids from 4-8 will enjoy this book, whether they love spaghetti or not!
May 6, 2020
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...
TEDDY SPAGHETTI is the story of Teddy as he starts at a new school and meets a bully. Teddy has always loved spaghetti for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and he brings some with him for lunch on his first day. He makes some new friends, and as they are all sitting down for lunch, a bully comes over, yelling "TEDDY SPAGHETTI!" His friends stand up for him, and Teddy graciously shares his spaghetti with everyone, making friends with the bully also. When his mother asks what he would like for lunch the next day, Teddy requests spaghetti- with extra forks.
What I loved: The illustrations are very cute and really add to the story. The premise is interesting- with a topic that many children will encounter. It is really great to see Teddy's new friends sticking up for him, which gives children an example of what they can do when they witness bullying. Teddy also handles it graciously, finding common ground with his bully (though this may not always be possible).
This book is really ideal for the elementary school-aged crowd who can discuss how to handle similar situations. The book is word-heavy, which also conveys a more complex story for older picture book readers.
Final verdict: TEDDY SPAGHETTI is a cute book that tackles the heavy topic of bullying with light-hearted humor- and spaghetti.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
TEDDY SPAGHETTI is the story of Teddy as he starts at a new school and meets a bully. Teddy has always loved spaghetti for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and he brings some with him for lunch on his first day. He makes some new friends, and as they are all sitting down for lunch, a bully comes over, yelling "TEDDY SPAGHETTI!" His friends stand up for him, and Teddy graciously shares his spaghetti with everyone, making friends with the bully also. When his mother asks what he would like for lunch the next day, Teddy requests spaghetti- with extra forks.
What I loved: The illustrations are very cute and really add to the story. The premise is interesting- with a topic that many children will encounter. It is really great to see Teddy's new friends sticking up for him, which gives children an example of what they can do when they witness bullying. Teddy also handles it graciously, finding common ground with his bully (though this may not always be possible).
This book is really ideal for the elementary school-aged crowd who can discuss how to handle similar situations. The book is word-heavy, which also conveys a more complex story for older picture book readers.
Final verdict: TEDDY SPAGHETTI is a cute book that tackles the heavy topic of bullying with light-hearted humor- and spaghetti.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 15, 2021
I enjoyed this book! I thought the author did an exceptional job at portraying Teddy's emotions, and did a great job with characterization. This book is a very easy to read picture book, and can really hit home to some students who are struggling with their individuality at school. This picture book encompassed positive AND negative outcomes of being individualistic, and overall encompassed Teddy's emotions as he was being mistreated at school. Over all, this book was a fantastic, quick, and easy read with a great theme for elementary-aged students.
June 23, 2021
i love spaghetti, don't u??! so cute, great illustrations!! i mean what a great idea!! so cute. great and would be awesome for a gift. i would recommend a real hand held book over KU reading. i read it through KU ...so it makes the book in the middle of the screen and the words are super tiny. being hand held i would think that would make the written easier to read?? i love the illustrations. well done. just amazing. would give another star if it would have been bigger and easier to read through KU.
May 14, 2020
I loved Teddy Spaghetti! After hearing Dorothea Benton Frank discuss writing this book and her plans to do a book tour with Teddy and his mother I was so delighted to read the final product. Although this is the last book from Mrs. Frank it was great to hold and read her dream product. The illustrations are spot on. I know children and adults will love Teddy Spaghetti.
October 7, 2025
We read this for our National Noodle day story time. Teddy's favorite meal is spaghetti, but when he brings it for lunch at his new school, he encounters a bully who gives him a nickname that he isn't sure about. Teddy is a cute character with the typical worries about starting a new school. This is a good story about how friendship can help a kid deal with bullying.
July 2, 2021
I like the confidence with which Teddy deals with the bully, but then I wonder if he even realized he was being bullied. I guess that's fine either way, but the communal sharing of one single plate of spaghetti grossed me out.
October 7, 2024
Teddy really loves spaghetti, but while at lunch, Bryan the Bully teases and calls him "Teddy Spaghetti." How will Teddy deal with this new moniker? A tale about being true to one's self and staying the course.
May 15, 2020
I really loved this book. So cute, and the illustrations were fabulous. The theme of the story was perfect for kids and who doesnt love spaghetti?
May 17, 2020
Really loved this one. Nice illustrations and a wonderful story about being brave and kind. Made me want to eat spaghetti. I am sure I will be reading it multiple times with Camila.
June 18, 2020
Loved it!
July 4, 2020
Fun book about starting school and being true to what you love.
September 16, 2020
Favorite foods, sharing, and starting school.
June 8, 2021
Great
We really loved the story. Positive message with a great lesson about confronting fears like a bully. More of this!
We really loved the story. Positive message with a great lesson about confronting fears like a bully. More of this!
November 6, 2021
Cute story with adorable illustrations! I don't usually read children's books but this was the only DBF story left on my to-read list. I sure miss you, Dottie!
June 23, 2022
A sweet take on “kill them with kindness.”
August 18, 2022
Famous southern author introduces children's book that is fun. But I can't imagine spaghetti for lunch at school in my lunchbox. Always good to conquer bullies with food though.
September 22, 2024
3.75 Excellent bedtime story. I only wish they gave the cat a name and some lines. And that the boy was called Theo and not Teddy..but that I understand because Theo does not rhyme with spaghetti.
June 16, 2023
Good 1st day of school book
A cute way to get a nervous little one ready for that scary first day of school. Spaghetti always saves the day for me!
A cute way to get a nervous little one ready for that scary first day of school. Spaghetti always saves the day for me!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews