I believe almost everyone was bullied as a child, to at least some degree. It is an important life skill to learn to deal with bullying. To that purpose, books about bullying for kids are a great way to introduce the subject. Books open up an idea to children and let them look at a topic in a safe way that is removed from themselves. There are many wonderful children’s books that address the topic of bullying, helping kids understand the impact of bullying and how to deal with it.
Childrens Books About Bullying
Books about bullying offer kids the benefit of being introduced to the idea that bullying can happen. This may save them from being shocked and unprepared. Alternatively, if a child has already been bullied, a book on bullying can let them see they aren’t the only one. That it is not their fault. Such a book can let your child ask questions and about the characters and the actions and open up a dialogue on good ways to handle a bully.
He’s Not Just Teasing! A Book about the Difference Between Teasing and Bullying
He’s Not Just Teasing is a tale about bullying, the fragile friendships of boys, the willingness to stand up for others and the power of kindness. Malcom gropes with the difference between teasing and bullying and when to draw the line and stand up for yourself or get help.
The Juice Box Bully
Have you ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? The kids at Pete’s new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about “The Promise”. Will Pete decide to shed his bullying habits and make “The Promise”? This children’s picture book empowers kids to stand up for others.
My Secret Bully
Here is the all-too-familiar story of Monica. She and Katie have been friends since kindergarten. Monica loves being around her when she’s nice. But there are times when Katie can be just plain mean. And Monica doesn’t understand why. This short chapter book deals with emotional bullying among “friends”. It helps kids learn to seek support and reclaim their power.
Llama Llama And The Bully Goat
Llama Llama is learning lots of new things at school and making many friends. But when Gilroy Goat starts teasing him and some of their classmates, Llama Llama isn’t sure what to do. And then he remembers what his teacher told him—walk away and tell someone. It works! But then Llama Llama feels badly. Can he and Gilroy try to be friends again? My kids love Llama Llama picture books! This kids book about being bullied used the same fun rhyming technique as usual while it shares an important lesson.
Bully
Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they’re out for revenge. This young reader book takes on cliques and online bullying. It is great for elementary school children to help them learn how to navigate those waters and get help.
A Children’s Book About Being Bullied By Gerry Renert: Nathan and The Really Big Bully
Nathan and The Really Big Bully: The story of a hyena who enjoys bullying a penguin by splashing him. The penguin turns to Nathan who advises him the worst thing to do is to strike back. Nathan ends up being harassed by an elephant and becomes very angry. Will Nathan be a good role model for the penguin or will Nathan’s anger get the best of him? Nathan and The Really Big Bully was Winner of the 2012 Mom’ Choice Gold Picture Book Award in the Category of: Developing Social Skills. I think it would be a great addition to any bookshelf!
“The Recess Queen” by Alexis O’Neill
This story tells about a playground bully and how a new kid at school brings change through kindness and inclusion.
“Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson
This story explores themes of friendship and understanding, as a boy learns how to deal with his “enemy” through an unusual recipe.
“Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell
This book encourages children to embrace their unique qualities and stand up to bullies with confidence.
“Blubber” by Judy Blume
This novel explores the dynamics of bullying in a fifth-grade classroom and the consequences it has on everyone involved.
These books are available at your local bookstores or through my affiliate Amazon link.
Children’s Books On Bully Conclusion
These books can be valuable tools for discussing bullying with children and teaching them empathy, kindness, and how to stand up for themselves and others. It seems to me that a kids book on bullying make a conversation starter. In this way children are not caught unaware when it happens to them. Part of the deepest pain of bullying, (in my unprofessional opinion), is thinking that it is personal. And worse yet, that we somehow deserve it. For this reason, I honestly believe that reading books about bullying with your kids can save them a lot of hurt.
Related Posts:
5 Important Anti Bullying Tactics
Melissa Heffelfinger says
I was bullied all throughout elementary school because I didn’t have many friends because I was shy and didn’t talk to really anyone. Even though I was shy this girl named Lisa became my friend and to this day she is still my best friend she is like a sister to me. She would stick up for my all throughout school and I didn’t get bullied when she was around, she was like my protector. Now a days you hear a lot about bulling and I think parent’s should teach their kids not to mean to somebody because they don’t have the “right” clothes or how they “should” look like, we are all different it doesn’t matter what is on the outside it’s what’s on the inside that matters. I’m going to teach my son how to treat everyone equally not to treat one person different because of anything.
ELIZA ELLIOT says
It is sad that bullying has become so frequent. I just think parents aren’t teaching their children to ‘be kind, tenderhearted’ and ‘do unto other’s as you would have them do unto you’. Whatever happened to the golden rule?
Amanda says
My brother was a bully. To me and to other kids. I grew up with it my whole life. I make a point to teach my kids the right way to act.
Margaret Smith says
I was bullied in grammar school because I had a small speech problem. What horrible memories those days were. When my son started getting teased, my husband and I addressed the problem at school right away. It really is hard on kids when they are bullied
Erika says
I wish there was more information and campaigns with anti-bully messages when I was in school because I remember a few kids getting picked on. I’m glad there are so many schools working on this now.
Erin Rok says
I was always teased as a child in school. I would help my kids never have to be bullied in school!
Donna Hart says
This is one of those things that exist that should not exist that we must speak to our children about. Hopefully the more educated we make our children the less the problem will be.
christina says
My daughters have been bullied and it’s very painful and frustrating to not get the support we needed.
William says
I moved around a lot as a kid. Being the new kid in school usually makes you a mark. I always managed to make friends though and after a while the bulling would stop until I moved again and had to do the same process over again. I think adults bully more then children do. Adult’s don’t call it bullying however but that’s exactly what many adults do so I am not surprised that children will bully. I have experienced the same thing in college and even at a new job.
Janet W. says
I was very shy growing up and used to get teased about the size of my ears. I never wanted to go to school because of that.
Jackie says
When my daughter was young, there was a girl in her class that use to pull her hair and hit her. I think the girl wanted to be her friend, but didn’t know how to go about it and was just looking for attention from my daughter.
Kim Pollock says
When I was in elementary school we had a girl that was a big bully. She pushed me at the top of a slide. She was mean to everyone, but I know her family life was tough too.
Amy Green says
A boy used to harass me every morning before homeroom. When he wouldn’t leave me alone, and even kept trying to follow me when I would be leaving on the bus in the afternoon, I got my counselor to intervene because otherwise he wouldn’t have stopped. But that took me a while because I was afraid to speak up.
jennifer says
i was bullied in middle school. i had no friends and was anorexic.
Hollie Jahnke says
Last year when my son was in 8th grade a 12th grader would slam him into the lockers every time he walked past him. (We live in a small town and high school is 7-12 grade).
The principal wouldn’t do anything about it because the kid denied ever touching him. Thankfully the kid graduated and my son doesn’t have to deal with him anymore.
Jennifer Rote says
My son is bullied daily. I resort to keeping him in the house most of the time, just avoid it.
pamela mooty hopper says
I was lucky, I was never bullied at school.
Cynthia C says
Fortunately I have not had experience with bullying. I have a lot of sympathy for those who have to deal with it.
Emani W. says
I got lucky and never got bullied in school. I guess my parents raised me right because I still found myself standing up those being picked on. It was sad to see.
clarissa says
in jr high i was a victim of merciless bullying. Of course, back then it was not called bullying and was really pretty much just ignored and tolerated by teachers etc
Sherri says
My daughter was bullied all through middle school. Someone even slipped an anonymous note into her locker telling her she should kill herself.
amber says
i am grateful not to have been bullied as a child, but was a witness to bullying and never spoke up. I think programs to stand up to bullies both for victims and bystanders would be great for kids.
jorie rogers says
My son has Down syndrome and has been bullied on occasion by other kids who simply do not understand his condition.
Lara says
I wasn’t bullied per se, but there were definitely times in school that I was aware that other people were not being nice to me, ie saying things about me. Bullying is something that is certainly on my radar as my young kids reach the age to start school. It’s really scary to think of how far and how cruel some kids can be. I only hope I can raise my kids with the confidence, good conscience, and kind heartedness to not do that and to know what to do if it happens to them.
Alex says
I work a lot with kids to help them if they are bullied and how to speak up and not use violence.
Carolyn D. says
My daughter was bullied so continuesly in school, she eventually broke down, yelled at all the kids and the teacher called ME, saying she had an anger issue! We homeschooled her for the next grade.
Megan Parsons says
My son was bullied last year and it was a mess! Why are kids so mean these days? : (
tina reynolds says
I was bullied in middle school and it really sticks with you best way to break the cycle is to teach are kids better at home. I have worked hard to teach my kids about treating everyone equal and including everyone.
Lauren O. says
I was bullied starting in first grade about my weight. It continued throughout my life until I got into my last years of high school. I never want my daughter to have to go through that and I hope she never bullies other children.
Pam Allen says
My son was bullied in 4th grade- so I pulled him out and home-schooled him.
Biku Toria says
I used to be bullied in school by the other girls because I preferred to play with boys.
Gloria Walshver says
I wasn’t bullied, but my son was bullied by some of his classmates in elementary school.
Daraya says
My friend’s daughter was made fun of in elementary school.
kelly nicholson says
Share an experience or related incidence about bullying.
shut the ^ *&^ up im not telling..dont ask me again or else….sorry lol
i dont remember that far back..
kelly nicholson says
i was kidding..please dont take me seriously..
Cheryl Chervitz says
I used to be bullied all the time because I had red hair and was really skinny. I think my class only had 2 other redheads and it was hard sometimes.
renee says
My daughter’s school has an anti-bullying program and a zero tolerance policy. At the beginning of school the kids attended anti-bullying seminars, and there are posters about what to do if you are bullied all over the school. I am sure some bullying still goes on but I think the school is really trying and I love that.
becky says
I’ve always been a big girl so the snickering and stares and name calling because of my weight has probably played a huge part in why my self confidence is lacking. Bullying is just plain ridiculous and uncalled for.
Stephanie Bourne says
My 15 year old daughter has been bullied by some girls at her school. It escalated to death threats and we ended up in court. An awful experience that we are still recovering from.
Crystal F says
My daughter told me about a 6th grader pushing a 3rd grader yesterday. I’m just glad the teacher was there so that she didn’t get away with it. thank you!
Selinda says
My son’s school does an awesome job at talking about bullies and identifying behavior that is bullyish. So far so good!
george ashmore says
My wife is a teacher where my daughter attends. It helps.
Julie says
My son has Autism all the time and is bullied all the time! It’s horrible
kim burnett says
My son was bullied being the new kid at school a few years ago, but I was at the school daily making sure something was being done to stop it. When the next year rolled around and he was not the new kid anymore those same boys wanted to be his friend but I would not allow it.
sandra says
i actually would make fun of my friends inessense bullying them
Wendy Kroy says
I am so very lucky that I was never bullied as a child. More so now that I’m an adult.
Denise S says
I was bullied throughout school. Had my shoes tied and knotted to the bus seat pole so that I missed my stop.
Jennifer T. says
I remember being bullied in middle school for not having the latest trends and brands of clothes. It actually made me work harder as an adult, I think, to achieve what I wanted. I certainly couldn’t care less about having a brand just because of its inflated cost or because a celebrity likes it. That was a valuable lesson.
Dawn K says
We deal with this every week at school… Such a shame.
Barbara Montag says
One of my daughter’s friends was bullied a lot.
It was difficult but was resolved over time.
I think bullying is cruel.
Thank you.
Sarah C says
It would take way too long to tell the whole story. But basically the kids are in a new school this year because of it. It was a situation that the teacher and principal made worse last year.
Jenn says
I was teased about my last name, Huff.
Nancy says
A family member was bullied on the bus in middle school, but didn’t tell the rest of the family until long afterward.
Audra Weathers says
I was bullied by a boy in elementary school. He would make fun of my clothes, my hair, everything. Years later in high school he wanted to go out with me. Can we say, no way no how?
Helga says
I was bullied as a kid as have been many others I grew up with, its sad.
mell says
In my classroom we read books about bullying, and it helps young kids process what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior as well as gives an opportunity for discussion of what to do if they or a friend are a victim of bullying.
Nancy says
My brother used to show a naked baby picture of my around the neighborhood. I hated it!
Geoff K says
I was bullied a lot as a kid because I was shy and afraid to fight back, which made me an easy target — eventually I learned how to stick up for myself, but those memories are still painful.
Missy L says
My son was bullied on the schoolbus simply for being younger than the other kid
Allan says
I stopped some kids in my neighborhood from bullying one kid.
bonnie walker says
I am teaching my young boys not to bully. One boy can be annoying in class but I am teaching my son to be tolerant of him – they actually get along now.
KIM H says
My child was bullied by a teacher over and over again. When I tried to get something done about it…it got worse. I had to change schools
Daniel M says
i was bullied in grade school but so were a lot of others, even the teachers were afraid of the maniacs
Mary Cloud says
Growing up there were several kids in my school that bullied me – it was miserable
annabella @ centurytel dot net
Anne W. says
I was bullied occasionally in school, but I’m so glad I graduated high school before all of the social networking sites came out!
Starletta Schipp says
Being so shy and introverted, I was a frequent target…I would never go back and want to re-live my school time daily experiences…uggg
Cassandra McCann says
when my oldest was in 4th grade the kids peed on his jacket and he would come home with bloody nose and busted lips. he rocks back and forth and people would put pens in the back of his head so he could rock into it all happening on the bus ride home which was a total of 10 mins long. i confronted the principal on several occasions. end result I pulled him out with a quickness with a few choice words to the principal and to this day he home schools with me. not one of my kids will every see the public school system ever again.
Elena says
I was bullied in high school
Susan Smith says
I have never been bullied or bully anyone but it wasn’t really talked about when I was going to school and I’m glad it’s being talked about now.
Alex Roach says
Bullying needs to be taken more seriously
trixx says
I have never been bullied but I have seen other kids being bullied :/