Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Picture Book
Copyright date: August 27, 2001
Estimate of age level of interest: 4-8
Estimate of reading level: PreK-3rd
Brief Description: Molly Lou is bullied at school but doesn't let take it to heart.
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: The size of the book is appropriate for the length and content.The language of the text is appropriate for emerging to beginning readers.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience? The message about standing tall despite being bullied will resonate with all young readers. The humorous descriptions and vivid illustrations will delight young readers.
Reviews: Kirkus 2010

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon is a wonderful children's picture book about believing in yourself and not letting others bring you down. The message is great as it walks the reader through the flaws of Molly Lou Melon, but not letting the flaws bring her down. Growing up Molly's grandmother always told her not to let anything bother her or hold her back, so that's exactly what she did. When she moved to her new school she didn't let the bully bring her down. When he made fun of her, she showed him and her other classmates that these "flaws" were actually the best part of her. This is such a wonderful message for young students. I encourage students to do what they want and not worry about what others think of them. This book pairs perfectly with this.

This book is one of my favorites! The color of the illustrations is so bright and vivid. The illustrations also go right along with the story. This story is about a little girl named Molly Lou Melon. Molly Lou Melon is not considered the “normal” kid of her school. She’s the shortest girl in first grade, she has buck teeth, her voice is deep like a frog, and she has fumbling fingers. She suffers from time to time not feeling like everyone else. However, with the encouraging words from her grandma, her spirit is lifted, and she learns it is okay to not be like everyone else. The most important thing you can do is to be yourself. I chose this book as a read aloud because it has a great message to children that they should be themselves even if a school bully is being mean to them- like Ronald Durkin discovered, if you’re mean to others you soon begin to look foolish. I also chose this book because as I already described the illustrations are bright and shows exactly what the story is about. It is sure to keep any child’s attention especially in K-3rd grade.

What a delight! I just adore Molly Lou for her sweet self-confidence and the joy she finds in (and brings to) life. Little Molly Lou is smaller than all the other kids in her class, she has buck teeth, and can't sing a good note. But, her grandmother taught her that, if she carries herself with confidence, the world will look up to her... and if she smiles, the whole world smiles, too... And all is well and good--until the Melon family moves to a new house, and Molly Lou begins a new school. Since the students don't know her bright spirit, the bully is only too keen to tear her down based on appearances. Can Molly Lou maintain her self-confidence and maybe even win some new friends?

Since this is a children's book, it should come as no surprise that she DOES. But I absolutely love the way it plays out and the last page held a fun surprise, after all. This is a wonderful story with a clear message that is told with such charm and humor (through both the words and the delightful illustrations) that it never seems heavy-handed. I also love the celebration of nature and that Molly Lou seems such a kindred spirit with the animals. And it's nice to see a grandmother celebrated for her wonderful wisdom. Highly recommended!

People think I'm not very strong, so I prove them wrong. People think I can not do things because I'm small, I prove them wrong. People always say I can't do this or that, so I prove them wrong.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon is a good story for every child. Molly Lou Melon is told she can't do so may things and she proves every person wrong. Every child needs to understand they can do whatever they want. I really loved the pictures and the colors of them as well. Molly Lou Melon is so small and the exaggeration of her size is really funny. She has to have a ladder to get to her bed and all the animals are bigger than her, even a parrot. I love that the grandma is so encouraging all the way through the story. At the end you find out she is so encouraging because she is just as small as Molly Lou Melon and knows how she's feeling.

This story can teach kids to never listen to others when they are told they can't do something. It can show kids that they can do whatever they put their minds to. It can also be used to show kids to turn negative situations into positive ones.

Molly Lou Melon is the most extraordinary little girl who knows exactly who she is and likes herself with all of her quirkyness. Introduce this boldly courageous character to students in 2nd 3rd grade. Molly lou will show them to be proud of themselves and to be happy about the things that make each of us unique.

This book is realistic fiction because the main character deals with a relatable and realistic problem in a realistic/modern setting. The book teaches students to be proud of who they are and to never stop believing in themselves. The character is a silly, clumsy, and different looking girl who moves to a new school. There is a bully at this school who continues to try to put her down. however she does not let the bully get to her. In the end, the bully sees her for who she really is. You could teach students so many things with this book. Not only is this a great social emotional book about acceptance, self esteem, encouraging yourself and others, but you could use this book to teach a lot of skills too. For example, you could teach character analysis, story structure, theme, and drawing conclusions. I use this book in my classroom to teach theme and drawing evidence to support the theme.

Extension Activity - make a encouragement posters - use the phrase that is repeated in the book, (Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you) to give students an idea of what their encouragement posters could say. Hang the posters in the hallways to share with the rest of the school.

Molly Lou Melon is my favorite little, clumsy, new girl in town. This courageous girl shows how nothing can get her down. Even though she is bullied and mistreated by Ronald Derkin, she is able to win him over with her can-do attitude. Her grandmother’s sound advice to believe in herself caused others to believe in her as well. I believe this message is essential for our children. They will certainly come across difficult people and situations, what matters is how they are prepared react. Strong characters that are proud of their “flaws” were certainly my favorite as a child.

It turned out this was one of two books I read in one day that had the same illustrator: David Catrow, and I love his work.

This is a wonderful book for any child who’s teased or who feels different from other kids, and great for kids who need to learn to stand up for themselves.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon is a picture book for Kindergarten to Second-grade students. The story confronts a serious topic in a humorous manner. Molly Lou Melon is a short, clumsy girl with buckteeth and a high-pitched voice who is starting at a new school. When teased by the class bully, Molly remembers the wise words of her grandmother. She confronts the bully and if you read the story you will find out how Molly overcame the challenges and made new friendships along the way.

The storyline is about how friendship is fostered through kindness and acceptance. Students should not be afraid to be who they are and this is displayed when Molly Lou stands up to adversity.

The illustrations in the book are vivid, colorful, and humorous enough to make anyone laugh. The illustrations are realistic and resemble scenes at and near a school which students could easily recognize and relate to. The message within the text truly brings out the emotions of the characters. It shows Molly smiling, making a mistake, leaving one home for another, playing sports, making snowflakes, and the illustrations truly bring out the emotions she felt doing each event.

Overall, I think this story serves as a great read for students. Its portrayal of emotions is easily relatable to its readers and its overall meaning is evident in the story texts and illustrations.

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon is a story that can show anyone that no matter who you are, being yourself is the best thing you can be. Molly Lou Melon is small short girl who does not look like others. She leaves her home, her grandmother, her school, and her best friend too. When she gets to her new school, she finds new friends, but also a bully too. The bully is mean and cruel to Molly Lou Melon, but she is a strong girl who stands up to him in the kindest way she can. Molly Lou Melon is not brought down by the bully, she shows who she is and is proud of who she is. This story is full of greens and blues and detail that shows how different Molly Lou Melon is compared to the other kids she is at school with. This story can show other kids to be proud of who they are, and to not let bullies bring them down. It can show students that no matter who you are, or what you look like, you are special. Just like Molly Lou Melon.

This book is a great book to read to young children. It helps children realize that no matter their differences, they are all important. Mary Lou Melon took all of her differences, that some people would have seen as negatives, and turned them into something positive. It’s a light hearted and fun to read book that would be a great addition to the classroom. I will definitely read it to my students one day!