Pinky and Rex and the Bully

Pinky and Rex #8

by James Howe, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

Pinky's favorite color is pink, and his best friend, Rex, is a girl. Kevin, the third-grade bully, says that makes Pinky a sissy. Deep down, Pinky thinks Kevin is wrong, but he's still worried. Does Pinky have to give up his favorite things, and worse, does he have to give up his best friend?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Chapter Books, Novels, Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

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

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

James got real with this little story about bullying. Pinky is teased for liking pink and being called Pinky. He struggles with who he is. The bully language is pretty harsh and there is a lot of pressure. The book deals with who are you as a person? Will you change to fit in, or will you honor who you are and be a bit different. The truth is there is usually something that we are all different about. We are all given our own path and our own Dao to follow. Learning this lesson is not easy.

The last Pinky and Rex I read was a little boring, but this is so relevant now as we have a bully in the white house and he is spreading so much chaos. Who are we is an important question to ask as we go through life.

I thought this was a great book and one of the best Pinky and Rex's.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should someone have to give up things they enjoy or love because of fear? Can boys like the color pink? Can boys and girls be friends with each other? This would be a great book on a discussion of stereotypes of boys and girls.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book either two and a half or three stars.

James Howe's short but potent story is about being who you are in the face of external pressure to change qualities about yourself that don't conform to those around you. The story is heartfelt and warm but also sad at times, in just the right degree to bring depth to the narrative without depressing young readers.

Ultimately, James Howe affirms that being translucent is a positive thing regardless what those around us say, giving his readers a leg to stand on should they find themselves in a situation similar to Pinky's.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read a couple of books in the Pinky and Rex series by James Howe and Melissa Sweet and we like the unusual characters and the purposeful challenge to stereotypes.

This story tackles the important subject of bullying and I thought it would be appropriate to read this book at the beginning of the school year. It would be a good book to serve as a discussion starter (at school or at home) about bullying and countering bullying behavior.

We enjoyed reading this book together and will see if we can borrow more of the books in this series from our local library.

[Jasmine Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe are wonderful books for young readers. I read this series to my first graders in a character series unit and they were enthralled. Pinky and Rex and the Bully allow children to explore to character traits, actions, feelings, and thoughts. In the story students must grapple with Pinky being a boy and liking the color pink and having a female best friend and Rex being a girl and liking dinosaurs. These traits do not follow the gender normative patterns that seem already deeply ingrained in children by 6 years old. This story in particular focuses on dealing with bullying. Teachers can support students in discussions about how bullying affects individuals, why might people become bullies, what should we do when we are being bullied, and how can we as a witness prevent bullying.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read a Pinky and Rex book please do! Great realistic stories about 2 friends who don't fit the typical mold. A boy called Pinky because his favorite color is pink. In this installment Pinky runs into a bully who makes him question his nickname, favorite color and choice of best friend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great to read aloud to a class and use certain sections for discussion: How do the boys at recess choose to behave when the bully pulls them into picking on Pinky? Why do they laugh instead of helping Pinky? Why doesn't Pinky tell his dad what is going on at school? etc.

[Terry]

It isn't often that you find easy readers reviewed in the blogosphere, so when I found Lee Wind's review of Pinky and Rex and the Bully I was thrilled!

[Jessie Horcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great first chapter book that can be used in a bulling text set. Pinky second guesses himself and his personality because of a bully until he discovers a little wise advice that helps him be true to himself and defeat the bully.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short chapter book, Pinky questions his personality after being ridiculed by a bully until he gets some advice from an unlikely source. This is a great book for students to discuss the issue of bullying in the classroom.

[Prw41894 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how this book is appropriate for students beginning to read novels and it teaches a lesson about bullying in a simple way. It enhances children to seek advice if they experience struggles like this as well.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about being true to yourself, despite what other kids think.

[Elizabeth Smitheram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little novel about bullying for kids in middle-school or higher grades of elementary school. I would keep this book in my future classroom as a resource for kids.

[Marah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good way for children to learn more about who is a bully and a more in depth story along with it.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to get more Pinky and Rex books for the library.

[Azkamalazka · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was like pinkalicous

[Kelsey Black]

This book is for grades 1-4 grades. It talks and discusses bullying and friendship.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story about friendship, liking different things, standing up for yourself and receiving advice. A classic series for transitional readers.

[Kieran]

Pinky and rex and the Bully by James Howe is a realistic fiction book, that tells the story of a boy whose favorite color is pink and whose best friend Rex is a girl. Pinky is bullied at school for liking pink and for being friends with girls. His friend Anthony sticks up for him, but Pinky still wonders internally if he is actually a girl. He asks his dad if it’s bad to like pink and his dad tells him of course not and that pink has always been his favorite color. Pinky thinks that maybe because he’s older he is not supposed to like pink, so he gives away all of his pink stuffed animals to his sister. He also asked to be called Billy instead of his nickname Pinky. He later runs into Ms. Morgan who has stuck up for him earlier when he was bullied and they talk about these “rules” Pinky thinks he has to follow. Ms. Morgan tells her own story of when she gave up something she loved and regretted it. She also asks Pinky that if there was a rule he couldn’t be friends with Rex if he’d follow it. This shows Pinky how silly he was being and he gets his pink stuff back and stands up for himself and tells the bully that it’s none of his business what he likes or who he plays with.
This story shows how it’s okay to like whatever you want regardless of what other people might say, or if it’s not “normal.” This book encourages children to be their own person and be true to themselves. The protagonist is helped by his female best friend and it shows how there should be no gender divides in friendships. I think this book highlights a lot of the common reasons/societal pressures for why some kids aren’t true to their interests. For example Pinky thinks that he was too old to like pink is something I have heard young boys say to each other. This book shows that you can be a boy and like whatever you want and there is no set idea of “masculinity” or “what it is to be male”. I like how this story also has an ally at home for Pinky, as well as Ms. Morgan. However even with this support, it is Pinky who has the realization and makes the change, which I think is important to show students that they control their life. This books breaks down gender norms and encourages children to be their authentic selves.
This book is a ready to read book and it’s appropriate for the age levels that would be reading it. This book does a good job representing people from different ethnic backgrounds and one of the heroes in the story to the protagonist is depicted as having dark skin. The illustrations in this book are beautiful water color and they add information to the story as well as engage students. This book is interesting and has a lot of levels to it, there are multiple points of conflict and many character relationships. The story addresses issues of gender roles in an appropriate way and depicts both males and females in a positive way. The only stereotypes in this story are broken down through the narrative in an appropriate manner. The characters in this story are realistic and convincing and the resolutions to their conflicts are authentic and leave the reader with clear lessons. This book is very detailed and has a lot to unpack with students during a reflection.

[Jacklyn (ReadingBliss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this when I was a kid, so I picked it up to read to my oldest (kindergarten at the time, 6y.o.). He seemed to get the gist and it prompted some conversation, so I was happy about that. Chapters were short and length of reading was manageable for us for each sitting. Book touched on bullying and used the fact that the boy’s favorite color is pink as the thing the other kids bullied him for. Overall, I rated it 4 stars and might use again for my other child as an example of bullying, but otherwise, it’s not my favorite or anything.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme should not need to be stated so obviously, as the very names of the children have made it clear from book one. But this does get bonus points for a friendly older neighbor with a life and identity of her own, and for subtly showing that bullies have their own problems (like insecurity).

[Goose · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's hard to be different, isn't it, Billy? And have other children make fun of you. But, believe me, it's worse not to be yourself. Don't change for other people, Billy. Other people will come and go in your life. Do what's right for the one person who will always be with you -- yourself."

[Savannah Stapley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bullying based on gender stereotypes is never okay!! As is all bullying!!!!

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book and the theme is amazing

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was on a banned book list because young Pinky likes the color pink. How stupid is that?

[Rajab]

I THINK THIS BOOK IS REALY GOOD BOOK FOR ME OK.