DANI and The Day the Bully Changed Everything (Mom's Choice Awards Gold Winner!)

"Rooney's tender book on bullying explores the meaning of friendship while empowering the reader to stand up for what they believe. The message is powerful. My hope is that parents will read the book as well, because the opportunity for discussion is laid out perfectly for them. We could all use a refresher course in understanding, second chances and forgiveness."
- Karen Lawrence, Mother of actress Jennifer Lawrence and Founder of Camp Hi-Ho




"DANI is a well-written book that is fun, imaginative and insightful into the psychological struggles that children and young adolescents have with bullies. Set in a bucolic farm environment, school age kids who read this book will gain an understanding into how to deal with bullying. Highly recommended!"
- Daniel Kelleher, M.D., Board Certified in Adolescent & Child Psychiatry, Asst. Prof. Clinical Psychiatry, Rutgers University




About the Book
When Dani witnesses a brutal bullying of a popular boy on the school playground, her world is knocked upside down.

Through a dream, Dani's beloved farm animals become lifelike and are presented with a similar problem - a new bull (bully) on their farm. For the first time the animals find themselves bystanders to a vicious attack, which drastically changes the farm's loving climate as well as each of their personalities.

They wrestle with how they can end the bullying and take back their farm, without becoming the next victim. A creative approach to stop bullying is implemented, and no one knows who will need it next.

It is through understanding, compassion and kindness the farm takes on a transition like never before and every life of the triad (victim, bully and bystanders) is changed forever.

There are many layers in the unpredictable story that recognize, teach and celebrate what makes each of us unique, plus delves deeply into the emotions of the triad. The main characters and surprise ending will stay in the heart and mind of the reader long after the story is told.

About the Author
Out of great concern for our youth and the bullying epidemic, Donna DiMaio Rooney wrote her first children's book.
If all children learn to celebrate their uniqueness, while being empathic toward others, imagine how the world could be transformed. Originally from New York, Donna lives in Connecticut with her husband and son.