Timothy Tolliver and the Bully Basher

By Aaron Shepard

Timothy Tolliver and his friend Arnie Rosenberg have a problem -- a gang of older bullies called the Stinks. But besides being a fourth-grader, Timothy is also a world-class inventor. He and Arnie get the bright idea of defending themselves with Timothy's science-project robot. 
 
When their first try fails, Timothy finds a way to update the mystical formulas that gave life to the Jewish clay monster, the Golem. The robot comes alive, and it looks like their worries are over -- till the robot stops following orders and takes matters into its own hands. 
 
Can Timothy bring his creation back under control? Find out, as the Golem legend replays in a modern American elementary school.
 
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Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Monkey King," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.
 
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"Many children will be intrigued by a mechanical figure that comes to life." -- School Library Journal, June 2005
 
"Rated S for Snapped Up." -- S. C. Poe, Route 19 Writers (blog), Apr. 4, 2012
 
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SAMPLE
 
Arnie walked all around the robot, admiring it. "You know what this reminds me of? The Golem."
 
"The Golem?" said Timothy. "What's that?"
 
"It's from an old legend we heard in Hebrew school. A few hundred years ago, a lot of Jews in Europe were getting killed by mobs, all because of some stupid rumors started by their enemies. This one rabbi wanted to protect the Jews of his city, so he made a man of clay and brought it to life. It was so strong, nothing could stand against it. They called it the Golem."
 
"Kind of like Frankenstein?" said Timothy.
 
"Yeah, but the Golem came first, and that was probably where the idea for Frankenstein came from." Arnie grinned. "Wouldn't it be cool if this robot could protect us from the Stinks, like the Golem protected the Jews?"
 
Timothy grinned too. Then they both stopped grinning and looked at each other.
 
"You don't think . . . ." started Arnie.
 
"I don't know," said Timothy. "I don't see why not."
 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Skyhook Press
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781620352274

Aaron Shepard

Aaron Shepard has written award-winning short fiction and has been published in a number of Canadian literary journals, including the Fiddlehead and PRISM International. His personal essay “Edge of the Herd” appears in the anthology Nobody’s Father: Life Without Kids. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria’s MFA in Creative Writing program, and has served on the fiction board of the Malahat Review. An avid outdoorsman, Aaron enjoys hiking, camping, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing in his spare time. When is a Man is his debut novel. Follow Aaron on Twitter at @AaronWhen.

Book preview

TIMOTHY TOLLIVER AND THE BULLY BASHER

Aaron Shepard

Skyhook Press

Bellingham, Washington

Copyright © 2005, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018 by Aaron Shepard

Cover art copyright © 2005 by Suzanne Hankins

Ebook Version 2.3

Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of The Legend of Lightning Larry, The Baker’s Dozen, and many more books for young people. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader’s theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society.

The World Classics Series

The Mountain of Marvels ~ The Songs of Power ~ The Magic Flyswatter ~ The Monkey King ~ The Swan Knight

Other Chapter Books by Aaron

The Man Who Sang to Ghosts ~ Timothy Tolliver and the Bully Basher

For more on Aaron and

his books, please visit

www.aaronshep.com

1

Uh-oh, said Timothy Tolliver as he rounded the corner onto his street. Looks like trouble.

You call that trouble? said his best friend, Arnie Rosenberg. I call it fatal disaster!

It was after school, and they were on their way to Timothy’s house to look at his project for the science fair. But standing between them and the house were Buzz, Grub, and Spud, the gang of sixth-grade bullies called the Stinks.

Just play it cool, OK, Arnie? Maybe they won’t bother us.

Yeah, right, said Arnie. Maybe they’re tired from beating up the last few kids.

As the two got closer, the Stinks turned to face them, making a row across the sidewalk.

Hi, guys, said Timothy nervously.

Gee, guys, said Arnie, it’s great to see ya. Sure is a nice day for blocking sidewalks.

Well, look who’s here, said Buzz, the gang’s leader. If it isn’t our two favorite fourth-grade nerds.

Nerds? said Arnie, his face turning red. Nerds? Gee, Buzz, that’s an awfully big word for you. Did you just learn that one?

Arnie, whispered Timothy in alarm, cool it!

Oooh, said Spud. "Buzz, I think