#BOOKREVIEW #18
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK REVIEW AS A WRITER AND A READER

Title: Leave Me Alone
Author: Kes Gray
Illustrator: Lee Wildish
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Target Reader:  4-8 years

I am sure we all have said or heard this at least once in our life, leave me alone. The feelings behind it are fear, embarrassment, or even humiliation. Kes Gray has quite well captured those feelings in his book, Leave Me Alone. Through this story, Kes highlights the most pressing problem of many children and schools, and this is of bullying.

Bullying affects students of all ages and gender. Kes has managed to explicitly present the emotions of a child who fears a bully. The problem with bullying is that children get scared and avoid asking for help.  The sufferer feels that there is no end to the pain and if they will open to anyone then either they will call for more trouble or embarrassment. They are made to think that keeping quite is the best solution and no one has the strength to stand against the bully.

‘Leave me alone,’ I said.
‘They’re far too big for you.
They’re far too big for anyone,
There’s nothing you can do.

In the story, Gray uses a clever device: different animals approach the boy, who is sitting alone and sad, trying to comfort him. Through their conversations, we see how hard it can be for others to know how to help, and how difficult it is for the victim to open. This allows readers to explore the many emotions surrounding bullying.

‘Leave me alone,’ I said.
‘Sorry’ said the cow.
‘I’d like to cheer you up as well,
But need to find out how.’

Through this book, Gray has provided multiple ways to express the feelings of a child who is suffering in silence. By writing this book, Gray offers loads of vocabulary and multiple scenarios to help readers understand how to talk about this sensitive issue and not let become a trauma in the life of a child. Parents and teachers can use this book to open conversation and dig deeper into this issue.

The best part of this book is when all the animals come together and stand with the boy to tell the bully to LEAVE HIM ALONE. It showed that a bully can become powerless when everyone stands together.

The illustrator, Lee Wildish, has done a fabulous job in handling the difficult emotions and expressing the true feeling of someone who is caught in this difficult situation. The colour tones are easy for eyes and text is well highlighted. I found some pages a bit disturbing and loud in colours. Some illustrations may feel intense for very young readers, though older children may better grasp the abstract emotions they portray. In picture books, it is good to keep visuals simple and child- friendly, so that the focus remains on the story and emotions.

Despite a few concerns with the illustration style, Leave Me Alone is a powerful picture book that tackles bullying with sensitivity and courage. Together, Kes Gray and Lee Wildish have created a book that not only tells a moving story but also opens the door for important conversations.

While the book simplifies a complex issue—real-life bullying may not always be solved so quickly—it remains a powerful tool for opening conversations and encouraging empathy, making it highly effective for both classrooms and families.

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