Smitty Tackles Bullying

Smitty is one year older and a year wiser since readers last saw him. He has truly discovered his love of reading and is doing great in class and on the field, but when Smitty begins to notice his best friend, Luke, is skipping out of Reading Lab, he decides to investigate. What Smitty finds is that somone is bullying Luke because he isn't a strong reader! Smitty knows he needs to take action. He confronts the bully and tries to apply his dad's saying of, "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar." Smitty uses kindness and understanding to conquer the bully, and in the end makes a new friend and finds a way to help Luke with his reading. This charming picture book is the perfect story for kids who may be dealing with bullying themselves, and proves that it isn't ok to just stand by the sidelines. Sometimes, kindness, understanding, and true friendship are the keys to tackling bullying.

Wade Smith, NFL veteran and Pro Bowl player from Dallas, Texas, received his B.A. in finance at The University of Memphis before being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. In 2010, he joined the Houston Texans where he started 64 games. In 2011, he became the only offensive lineman in team history to score a touchdown after receiving a fumble in the end zone. Smith was voted to the NFL Pro Bowl AFC Team in 2012, and that year he established The Wade Smith Foundation. The foundation supports community youth programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Greater Houston Areas and focuses on literacy and education. Smith feels strongly about giving back to the communities that helped him succeed. He believes that the best way to do this is by encouraging kids to expand their minds by becoming avid readers and to also make obtaining a college defree a realistic goal in life. In addition to his philanthropic work, Smith is a business owner and also the author of Smitty Hits the (Play) Books. He and his wife, Rita, have three daughters and live in Houston.

James Little grew up in Lumberton and Beaumont, Texas, where he attended Lamar University. After receiving a B.F.A in graphic design, Little went to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to study sequential art. Today, he storyboards for animation. He has also illustrated Smitty Hits the (Play) Books and H is for Howdy: And Other Lone Star Letters.