When Tad Kicked Vlad

About this book

It is Tad's birthday and everything is going well, until his friend Vlad eats the last piece of birthday cake. Tad is so furious that he kicks Vlad. Then Vlad kicks Bill, who kicks Jill, who kicks Tad's mum, who kicks the postman .... and so it continues until everyone in the WORLD has been kicked and kicked out themselves. And a year later, the kick comes back to Vlad at his next birthday party. So what will he do now? Can Tad break the cycle of anger and send something better off round the world?

Well, spoiler, Tad does do this, but not before sending out a fart round the world as well - so there's lots to laugh about for child readers. At first glance to an adult, all the kicking and farting could be seen as glorifying violence - and there are some genuinely funny chaotic scenes depicted by the brilliant Ross Collins. But ultimately, this is a book about rejecting violence, about letting out your anger in a safer way, taking a few deep breaths and hugging your friends. There are many books about being kind, but this one feels very different because it acknowledges how difficult it is sometimes not to lash out. Everyone does it. But, equally, everyone can learn not to. 

Perfect for engaging children in a discussion about 'kind hands and feet' - while making them laugh.