Talk about having bossy friends. Monty had what he thought were his friends who did nothing but boss him around and tell him what he was doing wrong. They used Monty everyday to cross the river to get to school and instead of saying thank you they constantly criticized his every move. The friends eventually realize that they were taking Monty for granted when he tells them he is not going to bring them across the river anymore.

How about bossiness?! No one likes being bossed around, but kindergartners in particular have experience with this! In the classic picture book Monty, by James Stevenson, three friends take advantage of the kindness of a fourth friend, an alligator. These three expect a daily ride to school on alligator's back but complain and shout commands to him along the way. Finally, alligator takes a vacation from his committments and in his absence the three friends realize how terribly they've treated him. Of course, there's comedy along the way as they try to figure out how to cross the river to get to school on their own. This wonderful comic-style story is even better heard twice: once read aloud and second viewed as an animated film.