Kindness, Belonging, and Being Weird Is Okay in New Book From Matthew Gray Gubler

Not many people would think of using a banana to make yourself stand out and make friends. How about a candy corn? Matthew Gray Gubler, star of the tv show Criminal Minds, writes with creativity in his new book Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself to teach a life lesson that being weird can be okay.

Rumple Buttercup is a green monster with a lot of weird features. Crooked teeth and one foot that is slightly larger than the other are just a few of his weird traits. Rumple is always afraid that he would be bullied if anyone ever saw him. He spent his life hiding in a drain right in the middle of his town. The great thing about this hiding place was that he could still see everyone around him. Everyone that he could see was always having a great time with lots of activities. No one seemed weird. Rumple spent a lot of time decorating his underground home. but he was lonely. One day he found some pieces of candy in the garbage and he created a friend. Rumple could now talk to this friend, but Candy Corn Carl could not talk back. One day Rumple finds the perfect solution for coming out of hiding. Who knew that a banana peel could be used as a disguise? Now he could come out and mingle. Wearing the banana peel opened up a new world of friends for Rumple.

Matthew Gray Guber contributes his unique talent as an illustrator with comical and sweet cartoon-like illustrations. Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself is recommended for all ages because everyone can learn this important lesson of acceptance in today's society. It was published by Random House Children's Books and has an ISBN of 978-0-525-64844-451499.

Engaging books in a classroom can be great tools for teaching life lessons. Teachers who teach social skills in elementary and junior high classrooms will want to add Rumple Buttercup to their classroom library. Our society is increasingly diverse and all schools are increasingly diverse. The topic of bullying is always present. This engaging story with Rumple's creative idea and decision to come out of hiding will inspire children to become active in learning to accept others.

*Chapter books are always popular in elementary and junior high classrooms. Students always like to read aloud to each other in groups or with a partner. Read Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself as a group reading project with a few chapters each day.

*Take a class poll of students who feel "weird". Students can always find something about themselves that they think others might perceive as "weird".

*Engage students in a discussion of how to accept others that they think are "weird" when they first meet a new person.

*Assign a creative writing activity in which students have the opportunity to write about a time when they felt "weird". You might assign this writing activity as an ongoing activity such as a journal in which students can keep track of their feelings. Offer the opportunity share their stories if they are comfortable with sharing.

*Assign a creative writing activity to give students the opportunity to describe how they could help themselves in opening up to new people and activities. Rumple used a banana peel. What would they use?

*How did Rumple's new friends show kindness to him at the end of the story? Brainstorm with students ways to show kindness to someone who is new to their school?