Posted by Elizabeth Lee on Oct 07, 2014
7 Books About Bullying for National Bullying Prevention Month!
BookPal has compiled a recommended reading list featuring books about bullying for National Bullying Prevention Month.
There is an epidemic running rampant through our nation's schools: bullying. Bullying is a serious problem that many kids face on a daily basis. Recent studies have shown that 70.6 percent of teens have witnessed bullying in schools, and only 20 to 30 percent of students who are bullied report their situation to authority figures. There are many resources available for parents and educators to help address the issue of bullying, but one of the best ways for children to understand the topic is to read about it. By reading books about bullying, kids can learn about the cause and effects of this epidemic without directly experiencing it.
Here are 7 books about bullying for further education:
- Fly Guy's Amazing Tricks by Tedd Arnold
In this installment of Tedd Arnold's NY Times bestselling series, Fly Guy has a bunch of new tricks up his sleeve! Even though he and Buzz get in trouble for showing off at dinner time, his tricks come in handy when a kid starts picking on the two of them.
Recommended for 4 to 8-year-olds, or those reading at a preschool to 3rd grade level.
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August "Auggie" Pullman has not gone to mainstream school for years because of a facial difference that he was born with. Now starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as another ordinary kid. Unfortunately, Auggie's peers can't get past his extraordinary face. In today's world, where bullying has been considered an epidemic, R.J. Palacio's #1 NY Times bestseller is a refreshing new narrative of hope and heart that every reader will appreciate.
Recommended for 8 to 12-year-olds, or those reading at a 3rd to 7th grade level.
- Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
A heartwarming tribute to the teacher who changed her life, Patricia Polacco's Thank You, Mr. Falker has sold over 400,000 copies to date. When Trisha starts school, she hates being different. Then when her classmates begin to call her a dummy, she begins to believe them. In fifth grade, Mr. Falkner changes everything: he sees through her sadness and sees her as a gifted and talented artist. He helps her prove to herself that she can (and will) read!
Recommended for 5 to 8-year-olds, or those reading at a kindergarten to 3rd grade level.
- The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy
Instead of being bystanders, the kids at Pete's new school get involved. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates start teaching him about "The Promise." Will he decide to shed his bullying habits and make "The Promise?"
Recommended for those 4 years old and older, or those reading at least a preschool level.
- Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Paul Fisher sees his world through glasses so thick that he looks like a bug-eyed alien. But he's not so blind that he can't see that his brother, a football star, is a bully who constantly harasses him. Adjusting to life in Tangerine isn't easy for Paul... until he joins the soccer team at his middle school. From that point on, everything changes.
Recommended for 10 to 14-year-olds, or those reading at a 5th to 8th grade level.
- Bully by Patricia Polacco
Lyla and Jamie quickly become friends on the first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad, she joins a clique of popular girls and Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, so when she sees her new friends tease classmates on Facebook, including Jaimie, she is smart enough to leave the group. Unfortunately, the girls don't take it lightly and are out for revenge!
Recommended for those 7 years old and older, or those reading at least a 2nd grade level.
- Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig
Whenever Vince teases D.J., he says "just kidding!" as if it will make everything okay. It doesn't, but D.J. is afraid that if he protests, all his friends will think he can't take a joke. With the help of his brother, father, and an empathetic teacher, D.J. finds a way to take positive actions to undermine the power of those two seemingly harmless words.
Recommended for 6 to 9-year-olds, or those reading at a 1st to 4th grade level.
What bullying awareness or prevention books would you recommend?
Educators, librarians, parents and reading program administrators can purchase these books about bullying awareness in bulk, as well as other classroom book sets, from BookPal, the leading eBook and book wholesale distributor, at a special discounted rate.