I Didn’t Stand Up by Lucy Falcone - ESSENTIAL

I Didn’t Stand Up by Lucy Falcone, illustrated by Jacqueline Hudon. PICTURE BOOK. Clockwise Press, 2019. $20. 9781988347066

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A young kid retells the story of all the times he or she did not stand up for other people. “Then they went after Jason. But I’m not gay - so I didn’t stand up for him.” This pattern goes on until the bullies come after the narrator and there is a group of people there ready to stand up with her.

Based on the well-known poem “First They Came,” this is an excellent lesson for young kids to start speaking out. During the book we see that the group of kids that do stand up for the person being teased grows as they each experience it. After the story, there is some great information included about bullying in schools.    

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher