Customer Reviews

Johnny Big Ears: The Feel Good Friend

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Johnny Big Ears, The Feel-Good Friend by John Paul Padilla is a well crafted little book with big lessons to teach. I have been working with children for years in our public and private schools, and am well aware that we have a major problem with children being bullied. Kids, when you take them one on one, are pretty nice little critters to be around. Most of them are bright, friendly, funny and a pure joy. But human nature, being what it is, and kids being kids, when they get together in groups all the "niceness" suddenly flies out the window. Children can be and are cruel. They have a sort of pack mentality about them. they have the ability to turn on a given child in a second if the perceive I have seen this manifested over and over again. Now this is nothing new. I suspect it has been going on since the beginning. I know that when I was of Kindergarten age, which was many, many years ago, it existed then.

This little story sheds some light on this problem. It addresses coping skills which children need. The day of "play ground justice" are over (I have mixed feelings about that), and children can no longer fight their way out of bad situations. Johnny Big Ears is one of those children who are just a bit different. In his case he has, you guessed it, big ears. Needless to say, the first day at school, he encounters the typical attitude we so often see. He is different and some of the kids are quick to point this out and are quick to start pecking at him. Johnny handles this situation wonderfully.

I think on of the key messages the author is stressing here, is that a child that has a strong, loving and supportive family is much more likely to handle these situations than those that do not. If the child feels good about them selves, is loved, is respected, and is encouraged at home, then he or she will be much more prepared to face the reality of the sometimes cruel world.

I feel this little book will be very useful in the class room. I feel that it is a book that parents should read with their children as it hints at giving the parents the tools to help their children prepare. The book is well written, well illustrated and well prepared. I do recommend this one for both the class room and the home. My only objections and concern is that I do wish it had been physically larger. This is a very nice book to read to the class, but unless the book is a bit bigger than this one, it is difficult to read to groups. Overall though, I recommend this one highly.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Johnny Big Ears is a book with a message- a message about looking different from others and accepting yourself for what you are. This is not an uncommon theme in children's books and it is an important one to stress because it can have a definite impact on the lives of young people. When a child looks unusual in some way, teasing is likely to result and some kids end up rebellious or in a state of depression that takes many years to overcome.

Johnny Big Ears is certainly a book that many can relate to and the way the book is written is a little different from what I expected. I assumed it would be similar to other books with this theme. I expected the main character to be very sad and rejected; wondering around aimlessly until pulling himself together for a happy ending. But Johnny Big Ears isn't like that. He is optimistic all the way through the book and he is very confident that he is a good person with much to offer. Yes, he is concerned that he will have to tolerate some teasing at school, but he doesn't let this hold him back. He is very excited about his first day at kindergarten and even though he does put up with some teasing, he is still anxious to return to school the next day.

The writing in Johnny Big Ears is also a little different. The book is supposedly aimed at the four to eight age group, but four years old might be pushing it. The dialogue consists of full paragraphs and it will probably be more than younger children will find acceptable because they won't be able to keep their attention on the book. The writing is good and the editing is well done, but the story line, while certainly something that younger children can relate to and can learn from, is perhaps a little too advanced for children at the lower end of the recommended age range.

One thing I wasn't too thrilled about with this book is the illustrations. Not only are they a little too plain and simple, but the appearances of the characters doesn't coincide with their descriptions. The most glaring example is the age of the children in the illustrations. They are supposed to be five year- olds entering kindergarten, but the children look much more mature than that and if I didn't know, I would guess the kids were in fourth or fifth grade. The other thing I didn't like was the placement of the illustrations. The book is twenty- five pages in length and for most of the pages, there is an illustration on the left page and dialogue on the right side page. But this isn't consistent. There are eight pages that don't contain any illustrations at all. I would have looked much better if this alternating pattern was consistent all the way through.

Taken as a whole, however, Johnny Big Ears is a decent enough book and it does have a positive message. It reads like a short story due to its full paragraphs, making it different from the average children's book. The illustrations could have been better also, but I still like the book enough to give it a recommendation. The message of acceptance is strong, and the main character is optimistic and proud no matter what happens, sending a positive message to young readers who have similar personal issues.

I have two boys in elementary school, and one is a little on the heavier side. My 7 year old has been called so many names that he would come home crying and not wanting to go to school and then I heard about this book from a popular magazine, where a child therapist highly recommended this book to motivate kids to feel secure and confident. I read it to my two kids and asked them the questions found at the end of the book and he understood the message and made him feel he was not alone. It helped me realize kids of all ages and sizes can be teased at any given time. If anyone has kids who are shy, are being teased or bullyied.. I would highly recommend this book, it has lots of colorful drawings, great inspirational story and kid can identify and a questionaire for parents to ask the kids what is teasing and bullying. I wished they had this book around when I was a boy myself. I too had weight issues as a kid and kids sure can be mean. Times change but kids do get meaner it seems and having a great book like this sure can help parents to issue this problem at home.

Johnny Big-Ears The Feel-Good Friend by author John Paul Padilla is an educational children's full-colored picture book parents can read with their child. This inspirational story is about a five-year-old boy who is being teased by his classmates at school because his ears are big. The story while fictional, is one in which many children presently face in school. The book helps children with their self-esteem, and there are questions at the end of the book parents can answer with their children. Young readers will also be delighted to know that there is a page which allows children to draw and color themselves. Johnny Big-Ears is not simply a story, but a children's book that educate, and encourage children to value who they are. For this reason, Author & Book Promotions highly recommends this book to children and parents!

What would this world be like if we all looked the same? I don't think any of us would like to find out. Our author, John Paul Padilla takes us on a journey with Johnny who is a five-year-old about to start kindergarten. Johnny is a very blessed child. He has always known the love of parents and those around him. He was given his name, "Johnny Big Ears,' by those who loved him, but after a hair-cut for his special first day at school, Johnny can't help but wonder how others will react to his big ears.

He meets his teacher whose name is, Mrs. Wrinkles, as Johnny looks at her face he can see why. That was a good touch by the author to show another person not being 'perfect.' Johnny, looking at his teacher, realizes that every person has something about them that may not be as others deem, 'perfect,' and he knows that some of the children may tease him about his ears.

As the story moves on Johnny is confronted by several children who mock his ears, but Johnny is firmly grounded in love and acceptance of himself and ignored these children and soon a freckled face friend enters his life, one who does not notice that Johnny has big ears, and his first day at school is filled with excitement and looking forward to a year of adventure.

This is a delightful story with illustrations that bring a smile and add life to the words. It shows the importance of bringing up a child surrounded with love and acceptance and how it will affect how they deal with others in the world. Children will be children, and often they will find anything to mock and tease another, but I believe this book shows if a child understands their own value, physical attributes will be second to what is in the heart with themselves or others.
Very well done and would be a plus for any child, and adult to read and share.

"Johnny Big Ears" is a tale about a five year old boy who is just entering kindergarten. Johnny has been raised by parents that taught him the value of appreciating other people's differences and to have a high self-esteem. Johnny has big ears. He knows this. After his mom gives him a short hair-cut, he feels some trepidation about how other kids will accept him. He knows that his family loves him no matter what. When he gets to school and his teased, he decides that the people who are making fun of him aren't the ones who matter the most. So Johnny looks for other friends. He finds a boy who has a lot of freckles. Johnny thinks this is pretty cool. Most importantly, Johnny values himself no matter what.
I think that this is a great book for both children and their parents. As a parent reads it to their child, and discusses it with them, they will see the importance of building up the self-esteem of the child, even if he isn't perfect. I suspect there are a lot of children that are bullies in school because they are being bullied at home. Perhaps this will open a parent's eyes to the consequences of what can happen if their child is being picked on either by a parent or a sibling.
The story also teaches children that differences can be good things, because they make us unique and special. If people make fun of them for being different, they can find friends who will accept them for who they are. I love this message. This is an excellent book to be read in the classroom because it will foster communication between the student and their teacher. It would definitely open up some interesting dialogue among students and their teachers. "Johnny Big Ears" is written for children in the 6-8 year old range. I also believe that it would be perfect for children who are disabled. They probably have a harder time accepting themselves and being accepted by others than anybody. "Johnny Big Ears" is a very valuable teaching tool.

John Paul Padilla enters the realm of children's books authors with a little book just the right size and length and with just enough illustrations to make the suggested audience of children from ages 4 to 8 years want to 'own' this very positive 'story with a lesson'. His illustrator Mike Andrulonis has provided images that are meant to relate to the children reading this book, instead of 'decorating' the story with wild fantasy paintings. In combination with Padilla's straightforward narrative the result is a book that not only reinforces a child's sense of self worth but also offers a little portable 'feel good' resource.

Johnny Big Ears is a five-year-old lad about ready to start kindergarten and in preparation for that special day, his mother cuts his curls so that his big ears become conspicuous to Johnny. While Johnny has always been affectionately called 'Johnny Big Ears' by his loving family, he wonders how he will be accepted by his new friends at school. At school he meets a wonderfully drawn character in Mrs. Wrinkles, his teacher, who of course by her name suggests that she, too, is special in appearance. Naturally, kids will be kids, and some tease Johnny Big Ears for his signature trait. But Johnny has enough sense of pride that he is able to simply walk away from those who mock him and find a friend who is also 'different' - Charlie Freckles. The two boys bond and share their pride at being different. In the end Johnny Big Ears' acceptance of who he is and why he is unique serves him well - and children reading this warm little story will doubtless imagine a happy future for the hero of the book.

Padilla does not 'dumb down' to his readers. The language is solid (at times there are words and phrases that parents will need to explain to the child, but that is a very good interactive technique) and Padilla has remembered how to capture a child's attention: in his opening 'Synopsis' he poses questions for the reader that make reading the book a series of discoveries. Published as a 'Children's Easy Reader Book for 3rd Grade Level' it seems to this reader that the story should be generously shared with the children preparing for going off to school for the first time as well as for those who will be able to read the book on their own later. This is a fine addition to the library of positive influence children's books and Padilla, hopefully, will provide us more! Grady Harp, September 08

Johnny Big Ears - The Feel Good Friend by John Paul Padilla

Reviewed by Daniel Dietz

Johnny Big Ears always had curly black hair and big ears. His first day of school he was so excited to start, and his mother cut his hair revealing his big ears. Johnny loved his new haircut and couldn't wait to get to school.

He arrives to school, meets his teacher and his day begins. He learns his alphabet, writes his name on the chalkboard, it's so fun to be at school.

Then it's time for recess. He's having fun, kicking a ball around when two kids start picking on him about his ears, "You're funny looking", "You have huge ears, I bet you could fly like a bird." As they continue picking on him, Johnny gets mad, but remembers what his mother told him about bullies and chooses to ignore them. They don't let up, following him around teasing him. Johnny can't take it any longer and finally runs away crying.

Finding a new spot, he starts kicking the ball around again, feeling very sad. A new kid comes up to him and says "Hi." His name is Charlie Freckles, and Charlie knows how Johnny feels because he too gets picked on because of his freckles. They begin playing together, and a new friendship is formed.

Recess is over and Johnny is sad because he doesn't want to stop playing with his new friend. Charlie and Johnny run side by side to go back into school and their friendship continues to grow.

At the end of the day, Johnny's mother comes to pick him up. Johnny tells her about his day, how he was teased and how he made a new friend. He asks his mother, "Am I special?" She answers him with, "Yes you are Johnny Big Ears, my sweet little man." She tells him that we should love people regardless of their actions, and very proud he didn't respond to the bullying, and rewards him with a pizza.

I think Padilla did a great job describing bullying in elementary school. It would be a fantastic book for teachers to share with their students, as well as parents to help kids learn about bullying, and how it can affect children.

Some time ago I had the privilege of reading and reviewing the original edition (2008) of this book. I wrote, "Johnny was born into a loving family. As he began to grow, one thing that stood out was his big ears. When he is five, his mother decides to cut his hair so that it would be nice for his first day of Kindergarten. Some of the kids at school make fun of his big ears, and he almost cries at first, but he has been brought up in such a loving family situation that he is comfortable with himself and determines not to let what the other children are saying bother him. Eventually, he makes friends with Charlie, who is also `different' because his face is covered with freckles, and looks forward to going back to school the next day....It is an unfortunate fact that some children are just plain mean, and others come across as being mean without necessarily intending to be. Parents need to prepare their children for this, and one way to do so is to love them unconditionally and let them know that they are special so that they will be content with what they are. How Johnny reacts can teach an important lesson, and I highly recommend the book."
Author John Paul Padilla, who based the story on his own childhood experiences, has produced a second edition of the book which is different enough that it merits a separate review. The revised book uses third person rather than first person, has forty pages instead of 32, is illustrated with new bright drawings by Victor Ramon Mojica, and measures 8 ½ by 11 ½ compared to the 5 ½ by 8 ½ from before. Also, it has several activities in the back, such a questionnaire that parents and teachers can ask kids about bullying and teasing, a page where kids can come up with their own unique name, and a drawing where any kid can color in what makes him or her special. John Paul wrote, "The bullying and teasing concept was a great idea but I knew I needed more drawings and a better story, so based on others' recommendations and further research I felt the need to revise the book and make it more colorful and suitable for kids and parents." A great teaching tool concerning the need for a positive self-image and how to handle unkindness from others has been made even better.

Children can be cruel. "Johnny Big Ears: The Feel-Good Friend" is the story of young kindergarten student Johnny, who unfortunately has larger than average ears. A target of teasing and bullying, young Johnny must find a way to overcome the harshness of his young classmates. A story about dealing with adversity as a youth and a message to young children that minor differences mean nothing, "Johnny Big Ears" is a solid choice for young children who may face such teasing.