Fighting Exclusion and Building Community in “The Rounders and the Tallers”

The Rounders and the Tallers by Matt Bell

The Rounders became mean and the Tallers became sad when the beach started getting overcrowded with so many Rounders and Tallers. On one of the hottest summer days, it was so crowded that the tallest Taller slipped and stepped on the roundest Rounder.

And we’re off! It’s The Rounders and the Tallers by Matt Bell (Covenant Books), the second book in his series of fun tales and teaching moments for elementary and reluctant middle-school readers — this one focusing on the concept of exclusion. It follows his first book, The Jellies and the Crunchers (read our review of the book here).

After the unfortunate beach incident, the Rounders hatch a plan forbidding the wearing of jackets on the beach. Jackets have always been part of the Tallers’ dress — because they are thin, they are always cold, and, without exception, they always wear jackets, even to sleep. In time, this ordinance is extended — to the park, to the town square, to school, to the ice cream parlor — you get the idea. This new rule (you guessed it) makes the Tallers sad and the Rounders mean.

Similar to the theme in Bell’s first book, it is a little Taller boy who, on his birthday, does something never imagined by the Tallers — in effect breaking barriers and allowing the Tallers to actually smile.

Because of the little boy’s efforts, in the end “The town erupted in applause and cheers, and the Rounders became not so mean on that day. For to be truthful, it is very exhausting to be mean all the time and the Rounders were ready to be happy and nice.”

Bell is the father of nine diverse children, so he likely has had his fair share of trying to resolve conflict. Once again, he shows how imagination and dialogue are at the root of building positive relationships.

At the end of the book, he poses discussion topics for readers:

1. Has there ever been a time that you were excluded from doing something unfairly?
2. How did it make you feel?
3. What are some ways that we can work together to include people into our community?

If you are looking for a book with a charming, easily understandable story, impressive supportive illustrations and valuable lessons to impart on children, pick up The Rounders and the Tallers. To say it will appeal to children of all shapes and sizes, well — just do yourselves a favor.