Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are

By Maria Dismondy, Kim Shaw and Kathy Hiatt

Lucy has big hair, eats fun foods and is teased by a boy named Ralph at school because she is different. She tries to be brave but she wishes the teasing would stop. What should I do? she asks herself over and over.

Lucy's Papa Gino reminds her to do the right thing and treat people with kindness. So when Ralph gets stuck on the playground and needs help, will Lucy use this chance to teach Ralph a lesson? Or will she have the courage to be true to herself and make the right choice with an act of kindness?

Readers of all ages can empathize with Lucy's brave journey as she sets out to rise above Ralph's mean words, stay true to herself and build her self-esteem every step of the way.

This book comes with a free Reader's Companion, complete with discussion questions, lesson plans and activities for children to go beyond the book. Download your copy direct from the publisher website.

The best book for teaching kindness and confronting bullying.

Spaghetti in a Hotdog Bun is perhaps the most beloved book by award-winning author Maria Dismondy. It carries the key message of love, courage and positivity supported by the many advocates of positive parenting solutions. It will sit comfortably on your shelf alongside other books that focus on emotions, confidence and bullying. Like the work of Adir Levy (What Would Danny Do?) and Jacquelyn Stagg (Kindness Starts with You).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cardinal Rule Press
• Release date: Feb 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781617926518

Book preview

Reviews for Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun

[ghelmus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story touches on the harms of bullying in school and how difficult it can be to stay true to yourself. Papa Gino is the voice of truth from the beginning, telling Lucy to always be herself and that he will always be there for her if she's having a hard time. Even with these words of encouragement, Lucy goes through daily struggles of bullying, leading her to tears. The story accurately demonstrates how hard it can be to stand up to bullies, ask them to stop, and believe in yourself despite what people say. This topic, which will be relatable to many children, pointing out that everybody has feelings and the solution is never to be mean to others in return. Children can learn from Papa Gino's wise words and Lucy's choice to help her bully instead of hurt him. This story with relatable characters and an important life lesson would be a great classroom read.

[dalial. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Genre: Contemporary realistic fictionI would use this book to:-teach students about character development-teach students about bullyingSummary: This book is about a girl named Lucy who is a bit different from her classmates in the sense that she has big, curly hair and likes to eat spaghetti in a hot dog bun. Thank to her Papa Gino's wise words, Lucy is able to understand that her differences make her special. At school Lucy gets teased by one of her classmates, Ralph. One day, Ralph gets stuck on the monkey bars and Lucy helps him out because she finds the courage do the right thing.Media: watercolorCritique:Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun is an excellent example of contemporary realistic fiction because it is relatable. For example, many students will be able to relate to Lucy's character who gets teased by one of her classmates. Also, students may also relate to the relationship between Lucy and her Papa Gino.

[kkerns3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think that this book conveys an important message about mutual understanding and confidence. Many children experience teasing because they look or act differently than their peers. The relationship between Lucy and Papa is similar to what many children probably experience at home. This story can be easily related to many situations that a child may be experiencing in school.

[ivettja · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story about a little girl Lucy who likes to mix things to eat. She likes things that that others would think it's not a good mix. Kids make fun of her lunch at school but her dad shows her that it doesn't matter what you like, we are all the same inside.Ages 4-6Pierce College Library

[hhuget_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun is a lower-elementary read that deals with issues of bullying and acceptance in the classroom. This story is about a young girl who gets made fun of for the food she eats. The moral of the story teaches children that everyone is different and deserved to be appreciated because of their unique attributes. Would be ideal for a read-aloud in a lower elementary classroom because of its simple language and colorful illustrations.

[Gareth Nickson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

very nice, but could do with being longer for me.

[robinsonstef · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good story about being different and standing up to people who are being mean.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lucy is being teased at school by Ralph, especially because of her unusual eating habits, like putting spaghetti in a hot dog bun for lunch. But when the tables are turned and Ralph is in a jam, what will Lucy do?This is a nice story in terms of showing off positive behaviors and good character choices. However, it does seem a little heavy-handed at times, leaning into the 'telling' instead of the 'showing.' Then again, given that the target audience is young elementary school-age children, this may not be a bad idea.The illustrations aren't really my style, but they are fine.

[mcs018 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book can be used to talk about how being different is okay, you shouldn't be ashamed of it. The students will love the crazy things the character does and how she helps others.

[shakelawilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy for a couple of reasons. First, I thought the main character Lucy was extremely relatable and well developed. Lucy is known for her big curly hair and strange taste in food of which includes spaghetti in a hot dog bun, or ketchup on toast. These strange habits alienate her from her peers, and she becomes a victim of bullying. As a result of the teasing, Lucy becomes more introverted and unwilling to go to school. However, in the end Lucy decides to stand up for herself after being so frustrated with the bully Ralph. I think that the character growth Lucy displayed shows children that sometimes it’s necessary to defend yourself if you are being bullied. I also liked the illustrations because it enhanced the overall message of the story. For example, when Lucy was irritated with the bullying, the reader can clearly see her emotions; Lucy’s demeanor in the drawing was reserved, sad, and defeated. On the other hand, the other students were happy and chatty. This allows the reader to fully understand the negative affect bullying had on Lucy. Because this book is catered to children, I think that the underlying message of being accepting of differences is a very important concept to grasp. I liked this book because I believe that it accurately described bullying and the effects it has on people. It also pushes the reader to analyze their own behavior towards their peers, and how their own words can affect someone else.