Lea Schizas talks about "Bubba and Giganto"

Thanks for coming by Lea.

So, let’s talk about your book “Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us.” Bullying is a tough subject. I think most of us have experienced, or witnessed this while in school. What are some of the forms of bullying kids use these days?

(L) Thank you for hosting me today, Joy. Kids use the same things today that they always have. Things like: name calling, shunning of students because of how they look, need to prove they (the bullies) are better than anyone else and of course anger when someone comes to the defense of the victim.

(J) How did you handle these things in the book?

(L) Throughout, I show the need for friendships, how friends make a big difference in their lives, that even tough kids have areas about them they hate, the consequences that come with bullying; but most of all, I show the dangerous side of bullying, the area where the victim is concerned and choices they make without fully thinking it through.

(J) What grades is “Bubba and Giganto: Odds Against Us” geared towards?

(L) The book is aimed at grades 4 – 8, these are the best years to tackle bullying.

(J) Are you going to have a teacher’s guide to go along with the book? I bet this is something every teacher in middle school would love to have.

(L) Yes, I’m in the final stages now of finishing my Teacher’s Guide.

(J) What types of things will be in it?

(L) Topics like:

* What is Bullying? – offering tips to students
* Ideas for class discussions
* Reading Between the Lines: a chapter by chapter quiz for teacher’s to use as the class reads the book together
* Class Participation – this is similar to class discussions but offers a few projects they can do as a whole, like setting up groups and each group writes a short ‘bullying’ scene and how to combat it

There’s also another area that I can’t mention otherwise it gives a major point in the book away.

(J) Okay, I guess we’ll all have to wait until it’s available to find out. When will it be ready to go?

(L) I’m hoping it will be ready by February at the latest, then set up a package to approach schools to buy an x amount of books, offer the guide, and 2 free workshops with me in a month.

(J) That’s a great idea Lea. Offering your time as part of the package deal. I bet there will be schools that will jump at the chance.

(L) Teachers don’t have the time to read and come up with ideas for their classrooms so preparing a Teacher’s Guide I find is an important step for children writers.

(J) Where can someone pick up a copy of your book today?

Either at 4RV Publishing or right here

Thanks Lea for stopping by.

Now, for those of you who want to read a review and hear from Bubba and Giganto and some of the other children in the book, hop over to http://zooprisepartyfiestazoorpresa.blogspot.com/
They are all there visiting with Zebee.