Why Does a Dog Chase a Cat?
By P. Richard Brackett
Book Review
What, a children’s book? This is not the kind of book I normally review. So why am I reviewing it? Because, the subject matter is timely, relevant and important. I’m writing this review because of people like Rachel Ehmke and Phoebe Prince, and maybe TJ Lane.
Who are these people? Rachel was a 13 year-old Minnesota middle school student who took her life after being subjected to extensive bullying by classmates. Phoebe Prince moved from Ireland to Boston where the 15 year-old was bullied for several months. Welcome to America. The bullying ended only when she hung herself in the stairwell of the family’s apartment. And TJ Lane, well, he’s possibly the other end of the spectrum. In February 2012, he took a gun to school and killed three of his classmates. As of this writing Mr. Lane has not yet been tried and his motivation for the killings remains unknown, but early reports suggest he had been a victim of bullying. Maybe, maybe not.
There is a new term in our lexicon, “Bullycide.” The term is used to describe suicide as the result of bullying. And I’m not making that up.
So how does Mr. Brackett’s pleasant, colorful, little children’s book fit into this doom and gloom that I’ve portrayed? I like to think it’s an early solution to the problem. Lance Finley’s illustrations and Mr. Brackett’s narrative teach empowerment to our children by using an analogy that they can understand – the relationship between dogs and cats. Dogs by nature like to chase things; cats, rabbits, bicycles, and cars, anything that runs away from them. Sometimes a cat can’t run or won’t run, and when that happens, as Mr. Brackett points out, the dynamic changes.
If you have children, grandchildren, nephews or nieces aged 10 or under buy this book and read it to them.
Interview with P. Richard Brackett,
Author, Why Does a Dog Chase a Cat?
MJT: Dick, what motivated you to write this children’s story?
PRB:I saw too many kids being bullied by others, and my own experience told me that this does not have to happen. It can be stopped early by the potential victim.
MJT: What is the target age audience for this book?
PRB:First of all, the kids who can read. Then, their parents and grandparents who can read to their kids.
MJT: As a parent did you ever have to deal with a bullying incident?
PRB: Yes. I taught my son and daughter that it is okay to resist bullying and to hit back, if necessary to protect yourself. I also taught them that fighting is repulsive and ugly, but there times when you have to fight back. They have had no problems to my knowledge.
MJT: Have you read your book to your grandchildren? How did they respond?
PRB:Each of them recalled the name of a friend who had been bullied, and said that they would tell them what to do. They all loved the illustrations!
MJT: Your personal story of how you stopped the bully in your life involves a physical retaliation but you don’t come right out and tell your young reader to physically fight back. When you have the child on your knee and you close the book, what do you say to the child?
PRB:I use the word “resist” to explain the process of stopping a bully. It may not involve fighting, but they need to understand that it could include hitting back, then stopping when the bully stops.
MJT: Is your advice different with older children, say teenagers? And what about cyber bullying?
PRB:Slightly different, but basically the same. I like to point out that, if you keep hitting the bully after the threat is gone, you become the bully and are liable for legal action against you. The law requires that you stop. To me, cyber-bullying has the same solution as watching bad TV. There is an “OFF” button.
MJT: Any final words of advice for parents?
PRB:Teach and empower your kids to be self-sufficient and independent enough to take care of themselves. They will have to, soon enough.
