Enemy Pie

by Derek Munson 

illustrated by Tara Calahan King

Fiction

This book is a story about a young boy who is beginning to think his should-be "perfect" summer is becoming the worst summer ever, and it's all thanks to Jeremy Ross.  Jeremy Ross just moved in down the street and is at the top of the boy's enemy list.  The boy tells his dad about the situation, about how he now has an enemy and doesn't know what to do.  His dad tells him he has the perfect solution, enemy pie.  The boy's dad tells him that the pie is top secret so he must go and play until it's ready. The boy's dad also says he needs to go spend the day with Jeremy Ross because that is the key ingredient to getting your enemy to eat "enemy pie."  The boy goes and spends the day with Jeremy Ross and ends up actually having fun. Jeremy goes over for dinner and his dad brings out the pie.  The boy shouts to not eat the pie, but his dad goes on eating along with Jeremy.  The pie was harmless! No more enemies for the boy, Jeremy Ross is not so bad after all.  I love this book because I think its a great way to show children how being nice to your "enemies" can really help the situation.  I would read this book during Morning Meeting in order to have a class discussion about how kindness is far more rewarding than acting cruel to those who may not like you.  I think every teacher should have this book in his/her classroom library because this is an issue that every classroom deals with and this is a great way to address the problem.