Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
School bully tale great for showing kids how to respond.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Gilroy Goat spends the morning at school making fun of others, calling names, being mean, and at recess he kicks dirt and sand on Llama and pushes Nelly in the sandbox. Llama tells him, "Gilroy, this is not OK. Stop it, or we'll go away." He and Nelly do walk away and tell the teacher, who gives Gilroy a time-out. The second half of the book shows Gilroy learing from his mistake, learning how to play nicely with others and become their friend.
Is It Any Good?
LLAMA LLAMA AND THE BULLY GOAT offers a realistic preschool or kindergarten scenario and, with a pretty light touch, shows what to do if you get bullied: Walk away and tell someone. It also shows that even bullies can change and learn to get along with others. The popular Llama Llama character, who isn't always perfectly behaved himself, is a perfect choice to deliver this positive message to kids. (Though in real life, kids may not find the turnaround as fast or easy as it is here.)
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to respond to a bully. What steps should you take right away if you get bullied?
The Llama Llama books are very popular. Why do you think that is?
How do the pictures help tell the story? What's different about the animals' faces after the goat stops being a bully?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Anna Dewdney
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Viking Juvenile
- Publication date : August 6, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 5
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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