Judgy Wudgy was a Bear

Judgy Wudgy has opinions, and he loves every one, Foxy Roxy's bow? Too big. No fun!
Kitty Cat's riding? Too wobbly, he'd say.
The Bouncy Birds' singing? Too loud for the day!
Judgy Wudgy had something to say about all, So sharp, so stinging, and not kind at all.

Judgy Wudgy, a bear, never noticed the distancing.
Until the day everyone stopped listening.

When the sky turned gray and the thunder roared BOOM,
The friends snuggled close, making plenty of room,
Judgy Wudgy, outside in the cold and the rain, had nothing left to judge and no one to explain.
Not pushed away. Just quietly left out.

Sharp words have a way of adding up fast,
One bow, one song, one comment, and at last,
You look up and the space between you and your friends
Is wider than you thought, and you wonder how it ends.

He stood in the rain when Foxy Roxy came,
And what she did next meant things were never the same.
It changed Judgy Wudgy, deep down to his core.
He'd never, not ever, be that same bear before.

Written and illustrated by E.D. Harris. For children ages 3 to 6. Includes a discussion guide for parents and teachers. Supports Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). First book in the Judgy Wudgy series.

Judgy Wudgy was a grouchy bear. Now he spreads kindness everywhere!