“This book will help show your child the importance of choosing good-hearted friends and not paying any mind to bullies.”
--Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Being the new bird in town is tough, and when the Bad Bird Bunch give Bill the brush-off, Bill learns that the best of friends don’t have to look or act just like him. Bill discovers that real friends are those who stick by your side--even when you have to face up to mean bullies or a big, hungry alligator. Through colorful friends such as DJ Dog, Brendon Mouse, Bartholomew Worm, and Bob Cat, Bill learns that having different friends doesn’t make you bad, it makes you an individual. Through engaging text, Watkins drives home the messages of diversity, individuality, acceptance, and friendship. His characters are captivating and the problems they confront, such as low self-esteem and bullying, are typical of all children. The lively, colorful illustrations are as much fun as the dialog, as all the ingredients of this book make the perfect combination for inspiring kids to read and learn about interacting with friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Greg Watkins has given numerous presentations and has written articles in various publications to teach children about bullying, forgiveness, and friendship. The father of four and the youngest of eight children, he draws on his personal experiences to write his Big Bill and Buddies series. Watkins loves entertaining and teaching children as a part of the Authors in Schools program and is involved in fundraising projects such as the “Mustard Seed Communities,” a charity for abused and abandoned children. A former Marine, Watkins served during the Vietnam era and then earned his bachelor’s degree from Kendal College of Art and Design. He lives in Roswell, Georgia.

A BIG BEAKED, BIG BELLIED BIRD NAMED BILL
Written and illustrated by Greg Watkins
32 pp. 8 x 10
32 color illus. Ages 5-8
ISBN: 1-58980-441-4
EAN: 978-1-58980-441-8