Blog Archives
Wariness and Safety Tools
In Where is Robbie? Part 2, the grumpy, bumpy rooster who disappeared after terrifying the younger chickens has returned, leading his own rowdy rock band. What is the most rewarding aspect of writing a children’s series?
Children waiting to get the next story. Children laughing at the antics and talking chooks.
Many children’s stories encourage immediate forgiveness. Your book takes a more gradual approach. What influenced that decision?
Forgiveness when you are being hurt and confused by behaviour so deeply is not simple to forgive. In fact, a child does not need to forgive but develop wariness and safety tools to navigate such behaviour in life.
Do you have a favorite scene in this story? One that was especially fun to write?
Bringing back the rooster with his band of recalcitrants to atone. Not with a symphony or quartet but with a rock band. They can give children a sense of letting go and surprise at the development.
How do you hope children who may recognize some of Robbie’s behaviors in themselves respond to the story?
Hopefully, they might be allowed to share the naughty behaviours that have upset others or hurt them, and talk about why they behaved in this way.
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Robbie rooster was taken away because he was a bully… a BIG, BAD bully! He needed to change. A story about this rooster’s journey from being bad to learning to be better. Will Robbie’s past behaviour be forgotten by those he mistreated? One day he might be forgiven. It would just take time, hard work and trust.
Foreword
Bullying is never okay.
Never.
It hurts, it excludes, and it leaves a lasting impact. But it’s also true that those who bully have the potential to change. Often, they are the loudest voices in the room – full of energy, drive, and presence. With the right support, that same energy can be transformed into something powerful.
Lesa Melnyczuk beautifully shows us that even the most troublesome characters can turn things around. This story is a gentle reminder to children that behavioural change is possible, and that growth and leadership can emerge from the most unexpected places.
A heartfelt tale of growth, redemption, and the power of transformation.
Katie Govic National Manager, Schools & Communities
Where is Robbie?: That Grumpy Bumpy Rooster (Part 2)
Where Is Robbie? Part 2, by Lesa Melnyczuk, follows the mystery of Robbie, the grumpy, bumpy rooster who has disappeared after terrifying the younger chickens with his bullying. When he returns, he’s nearly unrecognizable: glittery, musical, and leading a rowdy rooster rock band called The Bubbie Rooster Rockers. The story reveals that Robbie was taken to a patient farmer who helped him redirect his anger into music, but it’s careful not to pretend that a costume change and a guitar can erase the hurt he caused. Lucy and Tekla are still afraid, and Robbie has to begin the slower work of earning trust back.
The book’s emotional center is surprisingly thoughtful. I appreciated that the book doesn’t flatten bullying into a neat “bad rooster becomes good rooster” lesson. Robbie changes, yes, but the book lets the frightened little ones keep their fear. That mattered to me. Children are often asked to forgive too quickly, especially in stories that want a tidy ending, and this one has a gentler, wiser instinct. It says change is possible, but safety still comes first. I liked that balance.
The writing is energetic and playful, which suits a story full of crowing, guitars, dancing chooks, and big feelings. Some of the language has a funny, breathless rhythm, and the repeated sounds give it a lively read-aloud quality. The artwork has the same bold personality. Veronica Rooke’s illustrations are bright, quirky, and full of motion, from the Ukrainian village setting to Robbie’s outrageous rock-star transformation. I especially enjoyed the contrast between the worried, watchful chickens and Robbie’s flamboyant return. The pages feel busy at times, but that busyness also mirrors the chaos of the story, so it mostly works in the book’s favor.
I thought Where Is Robbie? Part 2 was a warm, offbeat, and emotionally grounded picture book about anger, accountability, and the long road back after hurting others. It has humor and flash, but underneath the feathers and guitars, it’s really about learning self-control and respecting someone else’s need to feel safe. I’d recommend it for families and classrooms talking about bullying, forgiveness, fear, and second chances, especially with children who are ready for a story that admits trust takes time, hard work, and care.
Pages: 18 | ASIN : B0GHZM32BK
