In Gus Gets Badgered, children will learn how to recognize and navigate when someone is mistreating others, and with God’s help, speak up for what is right and good.
Gus, Jax, and Manny have become friends with Wesley, the new cub in town, but Wesley doesn’t always treat Gus kindly. Wesley likes to tease and pick on Gus. This makes Gus uncomfortable, and he asks his dad what he should do. With his dad’s advice, and the help of his friends, Gus is able to speak up the next time Wesley is mean to him.
Edited by counselor Julie Lowe, Gus Gets Badgered offers concrete, grace-based help for recognizing and responding to bullying and is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series that brings gospel wisdom and biblical counsel to families. Based on CCEF’s model of hope and help, each story focuses on an animal family’s real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus during challenging circumstances.
“Children inevitably encounter meanness and exclusion. Gus Gets Badgered meets them in these moments. Julie Lowe wisely helps kids put words to the hurt of being teased or left out, while gently pointing them to the God who is their refuge and strength. This book doesn’t just tell children what to do; it invites them to see God’s heart, to lean on his help, and to treat others with courage and kindness. Parents and children alike will find both comfort and hope in these pages.”
Darby Strickland, CCEF Faculty; author of Something Scary Happened
“Little hearts who've endured any kind of bullying will find a tender friend in this book. They meet Gus and learn with him just how much God cares for them when they hurt—and how he helps them love and forgive, even when it's hard. Parents will also appreciate the helpful language to guide difficult conversations. Lowe’s book is a heartfelt and timely addition to the series.”
Lauren Whitman, CCEF Faculty; author of When Parents Feel Like Failures
“Gus Gets Badgered is a wise and tender resource for families navigating the hard topic of bullying. In this book, children will find both a friend and a model in Gus as he learns how to face unkindness. Author Julie Lowe offers courage and gospel hope to children, showing them that with God’s help, they can speak truth with kindness. This story plants seeds of resilience, empathy, and Christ-centered confidence in young hearts.”
Lynne Little, Education Specialist, Compass Education, LLC; coauthor of Safeguards School Curriuclum
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The latest in the Good News for Little Hearts series, Gus Gets Badgered explores the topic of bullying—making it a timely read for back-to-school season. In the story, Wesley the badger teases Gus the raccoon about his “growing” belly—a term Gus’s mom uses affectionately, but one Wesley twists out of jealousy. The story gives insight into how hurtful behavior often comes from insecurity, helping kids understand that those who bully may be struggling themselves. It also shows a tender relationship between Gus and his dad, who shares about his own experiences with hurt and helps Gus navigate the right way to respond—not with retaliation, but with courage, prayer, and trust that God provides help. A special section at the end equips parents to guide kids in expressing when they feel uncomfortable and how to respond to mistreatment. I especially appreciated the clear explanation of what bullying is (and is not), reminding us that labeling every unkind action as “bullying” can be unhelpful. We love this series so much! These animal stories are relatable, full of grace, and consistently point children back to Scripture for real-life guidance. *I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
