The Boy they Called DeBulle

“The Boy They Called DeBulle” is a short story for younger people (about 9-13) – set out in rhyming verses and designed to appear with vivid illustrated pages alternating with the text. The pictures can be drawn by publishers’ in-house illustrators – which, I believe, is preferred.
The main character of the story is loutish school-boy Brian DeBulle (rhymes with fool). He is depicted as a boy with the head of a bulldog and his surname intentionally looks rather like bully. Brian is an unpleasant boy – indulged by his mother and beaten by his, often absent, father. Students at his school (depicted as sheep headed children) are terrified of him and his behaviour is beyond the control of his teachers.
Having established his brutal home life juxtaposed with his reign of terror at school the story turns when a new boy, Bernard (depicted with a bear’s head) joins the school. Much bigger and powerful than Brian Bernard quickly sees the bully off and becomes the hero of the school. Unfortunately Bernard soon proves to be an even greater bully than Brian ever was and the school finds itself in more need of help than ever before.
The hero – surprisingly – turns out to be Brian (whose father has been sent to prison – giving him time to think about his earlier failings). Brian returns to school and suggests collective action in a bid to undermine and defeat the nasty Bernard. The initially reluctant and untrusting sheep choose to follow Brian’s plan and successfully oust Bernard.
Having learnt to establish friendships and thoroughly learned his lesson Brian becomes an accepted member of a much happier school community.
“The Boy They Call DeBulle” is an entertainingly told anti-bullying tale with a firm moral which will delight children and be enjoyed by young adults.