This picture book about bullying from the bystander’s perspective is narrated by a young girl who inadvertently starts a spiral of hurtful words and actions until she chooses to speak out. The girl thinks it’s funny that Tommy, a boy in her class, is blushing, but things quickly get out of control when she points it out to other kids. The girl’s simple observation quickly turns to teasing from everyone in the class. “We whisper color into Tommy’s cheeks.” Soon, she becomes uncomfortable with the teasing and taunting especially as she gradually becomes aware of Tommy’s discomfort. But she doesn’t know how to stop the taunting from her classmates, especially after a boy named Paul turns the taunting physical. Finally, she gets up the courage to respond to the teacher’s question about what happened, and other kids speak up as well. Descriptive language and understated art convincingly and evocatively capture the emotions of the children as well as the tension of the situation. (Ages 4–8)

Red is about a young girl who witnesses her classmate being bullied by a fellow classmate. The young girl narrates the events of how her classmate, Tommy, is bullied because he blushes red when put in the spotlight. The young girl is conflicted about whether to step in and speak on the behalf of the classmate, especially when an incident occurs in front of the teacher. The girl decides to raise her hand when the teacher inquires to the class about what happened, which leads to others in the class to speak up. The story ends with the girl blushing because she made a friend by speaking up on their behalf.

ALA Notable Children's Books - Younger Readers Category: 2016, IRA Notable Books for a Global Society: 2016, USBBY Outstanding International Books - Grades K-2: 2016, CCBC Choices 2016, NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2016.

Author lives in Belgium.

Dutch. Originally published in Belgium as Rood, of, waarom pesten niet grappig is by De Eenhoorn in 2013. English translation by Laura Watkinson published in the United States by Eerdmans Books in 2015.