Shelby the Cat
Shelby the Cat by Don M. Winn can be used to help children understand that you can be true to yourself and everything you believe in, that you can decide ahead of time how you will respond to pressure from bullies, and that true friends won’t pressure you into doing something negative that you don’t want to do.
Back of book description:
Shelby the cat is kind and caring. He loves to read and tell stories. He's friends with mice and birds and bugs. This makes the alley cats angry and jealous because Shelby makes them look bad. When they try to force Shelby to be like them, he refuses. Shelby knows who he is and what he wants to be and doesn't let anyone pressure him to be different. This story is about resisting negative peer pressure and can help to start discussions about how to handle the problem of bullying.
A Mom’s Choice Award Recipient
“A story of courage and strength. Shelby doesn't give in to peer pressure. Best of all, his good deeds come back to him in the form of friends' support, a wonderful reward for living a life that is generous.”
—Nancy O. Nelson, PhD.