Children’s author Samantha Childs writes book aimed at preventing bullying
(Update: Adding video, comments by author)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - October marks National Bullying Prevention Month. Author Samantha Childs has focused her efforts on writing Henri and the Magnificent Snort, inspired by her own experience of being bullied when she started a new middle school. The tale is told through the eyes of Henri, her french bulldog.
Samantha believes today’s bullying looks different, especially with social media: “I think it's also shifted, in that when it happened to me when I was bullied, it wasn't called bullying, unless it was physical. If you were beat up physically, it was bullying. But if it was name-calling, if it was no one talking to you, if you weren't getting beaten up, it was called teasing. So that's shifted.”
In Samantha's book, Henri’s ‘snort’ is what gets him bullied by one dog, then more join in. The story conveys different roles people play in bullying – the aggressor and the supporter.
Henri eventually finds his support among other dogs. Henri’s story is one Samantha wishes she could have shared with her younger self. She hopes young readers will find comfort in the pages.
Samantha highly recommends Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center for more advice and help on what to do if your child is being bullied or bullying.
Samantha has received several accolades for Henri and the Magnificent Snort, including: the Literary Titan Book Award, the Readers Favorite Five Star Award and 1st place in the Firebird Book Awards.
