Lunch Every Day

Kathryn Otoshi, 38 pages 

 

Lunch Every Day is a powerful read that addresses not only the topic of bullying, but also seeing it from both sides of the scale. Each day, Jimmy avoids the school's free lunch line because the line is too long. Instead he chooses to take Skinny Boy's lunch every single day.

One day Skinny Boy hands out birthday invites to his classmates including Jimmy.  Jimmy is shook. At first he decides he is not going. However, the morning of the party, he changes his mind and attends. He is a little timid to enter the party as he notices everyone has a gift and he does not. Once inside, he is truly welcomed by Skinny Boy's mom. She addresses the lunch issue in a kind and compassionate way and assures Jimmy he will never go hungry again by providing an extra lunch in her sons lunch box to share. 

There is an author's note at the end of the story. There, you will begin to see how Skinny Boy mom's compassion made an impression on Jimmy to break his bullying cycle, become an educator, and give back to the community in bully prevention. The author dedicates the book to Jimmy (Jim) and to the Mom who made the extra lunch for Jimmy every day in school.