Parents' Guide to

Myrtle

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Affirming story of a little rat standing up to a bully.

Book Tracey Campbell Pearson Emotions 2004
Myrtle Poster Image

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What's the Story?

A little rat named Myrtle has a happy life -- until a mean rat named Frances moves in next store. When Myrtle and her baby brother go outside to play, Frances sings mean songs about them, ambushes them, and scares them so much they decide to just stay indoors. Their parents bring in the kids' spunky Aunt Tizzy, just back from a safari in Africa, who, with her stories of bravery and some African masks, helps Myrtle fell strong enough to stand up to Frances. Myrtle asks Aunt Tizzy if she was scared of the lions in Africa, and Tizzy says when they roared, \"I told them to stop being rude, and if they continued, I'd simply roar back. ... Or sometimes,\" she adds, \"I would just sing and dance until they were gone.\" Myrtle tries both strategies and finds they work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

MYRTLE does an excellent job of tackling the bullying issue at a little kid's level. The art is irresistible, from the soft pastel tones of Myrtle's world to the bright African dress and masks of Aunt Tizzy. It' not always easy for kids to articulate their emotions, especially fear, but this story helps draw them out in Myrtle, and should do the same for readers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their own experiences of bullying, and what they think would be the most effective strategies to deal with it. Would you let a grown-up know if it was happening to you?

  • Eight-year-olds (on the high end of the age range for this book) may have some experience online and may have heard about cyberbullying. Could the kind of bullying that Myrtle experiences -- like when Frances sings mean songs about her -- happen to a person on the computer? Do you think that would hurt just as much?

  • Aunt Tizzy has Myrtle and her little brother put on African masks to help them deal with their fearful feelings and start to feel brave again. How does putting on a mask or a costume help you express emotions? Is it easier to feel brave when you are in a scary costume?

Book Details

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