Books by Ralph Burgess
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Our books are steeped in Character Education and Social Emotional lessons.
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Mo, The Pallbearer
An Anti-Gang Book by Ralph Burgess
Maurice (Mo) Baker is a high school junior and honor student from Marcus Garvey High School in Newark New Jersey with two long-time friends turned gang members. He cherishes the so-called "cool points," he receives for being associated with them, but eventually sees the danger in his affiliation after being a pallbearer at four of his friends funerals in the span of a year.
He decides to disassociate himself from them, but not before he gets the scare of a lifetime. His courage is displayed when he stands up for what he believes in, which are all the right things. He proudly shares his dreams of becoming an architect and serv-ing his community, not destroying it. This book has an accompanying teacher's guide to help maximize the educational advan-tages of the book.
She Thinks She’s Soo Cute!
The story is set in a small urban town called Clemont. The narrator is a 12-year-old girl named Jayla Brown, somewhat popular, whose social standing is threatened by the arrival of a new girl, Kia Michaels. Kia's secret becomes revealed and she becomes the victim of bullying. Jayla then needs to find the courage to stand up to bullying-even when some of the bullies are her own friends.
In Solutions for the Many Faces of Bullying, Calvin gives specific solutions to an array of bullying issues. This book empowers children and gives them a plan of attack when it comes to addressing bullying.
The book Cool Calvin's No Bandanas for Me Staying Gang Free is about a young boy named Calvin who tries to convince his friend Rodney to stay out of a gang after Rodney's parents divorce. Calvin uses his knowledge of others who have joined gangs and failed, encouraging Rodney instead to rely on positive "human resources" in his life, such as his teacher, guidance counselor, and principal.
The Whatever Tree tells the story of a tree that was bullied just because it was different. Then, a drought hits the land and The Whatever Tree is the only tree able to grow fruit. As a result, it saves the lives of everyone that bullied it. It is a story of love, empathy and forgiveness.
No Bandanas for Me — Staying Gang Free
The book "Cool Calvin's No Bandanas for Me Staying Gang Free" is about a young boy named Calvin who tries to convince his friend Rodney to stay out of a gang after Rodney's parents divorce. Calvin uses his knowledge of others who have joined gangs and failed, encouraging Rodney instead to rely on positive "human resources" in his life, such as his teacher, guidance counselor, and principal.
The Whatever Tree
The Whatever Tree tells the story of a tree that was bullied just because it was different. Then, a drought hits the land and The Whatever Tree is the only tree able to grow fruit. As a result, it saves the lives of everyone that bullied it. It is a story of love, empathy and forgiveness.
Solutions for the Many Faces of Bullying
This empowering book provides children and educators with practical strategies for standing up against bullying. It addresses both the bullied and the bystanders, helping students understand how kindness, empathy, and courage can change toxic environments. Ralph’s storytelling combines real-life lessons with relatable characters, giving readers a sense of responsibility and hope.
Why These Books Matter
Building character, one story at a time.
Ralph Burgess’s books are more than children’s stories — they’re character education tools used by schools across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Each title helps young readers learn important life lessons about kindness, self-respect, and making positive choices.
Teachers love how easily these books fit into social-emotional learning programs and classroom discussions.