BAXTER MEETS A BULLY AT THE DOG PARK

Baxter loves the dog park. But one day a bigger dog crowds him, barks in his face, and wont let him play — and the park stops feeling fun. In Baxter Meets a Bully at the Dog Park, Baxter feels small and unsure, the way any child does the first time someone bigger is unkind to them. With help, he learns the steps that work: step away, find a trusted grown-up, use his words, and tell what happened — and he finds his way back to feeling safe at the park again.

This read-aloud gives families a low-pressure way to talk about teasing and bullying before it happens, or to make sense of a hard day after it does. Because the story happens to a friendly dog first, children can think about what Baxter should do — and what they could do — without the conversation feeling heavy. It ends with "Baxter Wants to Know" discussion questions that help children name what happened, who their helpers are, and how to ask for help.