NATHAN AND THE REALLY BIG BULLY tells the story of a hyena who enjoys splashing all the smaller animals in the lagoon. The hyena especially enjoys picking on a penguin, in a classic example of bullying. The penguin turns to Nathan for advice and bounces several options off him. First, the penguin envisions himself not swimming when the hyena’s in the lagoon, but doesn’t like that idea. Next, the penguin imagines trying to be a better friend to the hyena, but also doesn’t like that. He even envisions hitting the hyena and actually likes that, but Nathan advises the penguin that the worst thing he can do is to strike back saying, “two wrongs never make a right.” The next day, an elephant wanders into the lagoon, fills up his trunk with water and playfully sprays a huge stream at Nathan. Nathan’s first reaction is to get angry, but with the penguin watching, Nathan decides to follow his own advice and exercise restraint. Later that day, Nathan is giving swimming lessons to a group of chimpanzees when’s he’s sprayed again by the elephant. Nathan is fuming and confronts the elephant. The hyena is certain Nathan is going to hit the elephant now, but instead Nathan looks the elephant right in the eye and tells him what he’s doing is wrong. And if the elephant sprays again, he’ll be forced to leave the lagoon. The elephant is apologetic, and all the animals end up playing water volleyball. During the game, the hyena, is about to splash the penguin who spots him – just in time. Replicating Nathan’s response to the elephant, the penguin tells the hyena not to splash him again. Nathan’s behavioral model demonstrates it’s better to speak up to bullies, than to strike back.
