15 Must-Read Books About Bullying for Every Kid

Vanessa M. said:  Sometimes simple acts of kindness are all it takes to make a difference. This wordless book about kindness explores the tension between seeing someone being bullied and becoming courageous enough to do something about it. The last pages offer a helpful guide for handling bullying for both kids and adults.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Llama Llama and the Bully Goat, by the late Anna Dewdney, depicts a classroom where all the animals play and get along together except for Gilroy, the bully goat. He taunts, teases, kicks and says mean things, but the teacher steps in to say it is not okay to bully and he gets a time out. At the end, he learns to stop bullying and be a friend.

This book is important because it shows there are consequences to bad behavior and for being a bully. It teaches children that life is happier and better for everyone to be a good friend and that no one will ever win by being a bully.

Kristy Pepping said:  Kathryn Otoshi uses colors and numbers to convey a story about bullying in a way that is easily grasped by young children. The color red bullies blue and the other colors don't like it, but what will they do? The story has a great message about the importance of standing up for yourself and speaking up for what is right.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  In Lion vs. Rabbit, by Alex Latimer, Lion is a big bully to all the other animals, and everyone is afraid to stand up to him. The animals are fed up and devise a plan to get him to stop bullying. After a small army of rabbits trick him, Lion accepts his defeat, stops bullying and is now the nicest lion in the jungle.

This book teaches children that not only is bullying wrong, it will never help you succeed in life. Bullying will never win you friends or make you feel good about yourself. In the end, all bullies lose.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Jungle Bullies, by Steven Kroll, is a simple picture book with an easy-to-understand anti-bullying message. Each animal bullies one other animal, creating a bullying cycle, until little monkey realizes it is wrong. He and his Mama stop the bullying in its tracks, creating friendship instead. By the end, all of the animals learn that friendship and sharing is much better than bullying.

This book teaches young children that not only is bullying wrong, but to stand up for yourself and do something about it. It shows that anyone can be a victim, but also anyone can stop the cycle.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  This story from Audrey Penn shows how friends must deal with a bully at school. They decide to do something unexpected and turn the bully into their friend.

This book educates children on handling a problem such as a bully in a peaceful way. It also conveys that bullies may want to change but need some help. This book is a great addition to the well-loved Kissing Hand Series.

Kristy Pepping said:  Judy Blume's Blubber has been around for a while, but the book's message still rings true today. The storyline starts with a girl named Linda who does her book report on whales. One classmate gives her the nickname Blubber. After that, several of her classmates tease her daily. This message of one bully and a bunch of followers shows kids first-hand how it feels to be bullied.

Kristy Pepping said:  A lot of times kids notice other kids being bullied and either don't want to get involved or fear they will be bullied themselves so they do nothing. This book by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy teaches a great lesson in standing up if you see someone being bullied. The main character in the book, Pete is a new student and begins bullying because he was bulled at his old school. His classmates remind him there is a no bullying policy and Pete changes his ways.

Kristy Pepping said:  Chrysanthemum loves her unique name until she is teased in school because of it. Over the course of the book, she learns to love her name again and realizes it's okay to be different from others. Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, Chrysanthemum is a great book to build self-confidence and teaches kids that everyone is truly unique and that's okay and good.

Kristy Pepping said:  Bully, by Patricia Polacco, is written for kids who know about bullying, but who could benefit from a relevant example that they can relate to. Bully deals with the topic of cyber bullying, which many students begin to experience in middle school, and being a good friend.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Justin and the Bully, by Tony and Lauren Dungy, demonstrates that not only is bullying wrong, but that teammates shouldn't act that way towards each other. Taylor bullies Justin about his size which leaves Justin hurt. The coach explains that people should treat others as they want to be treated.

The book's valuable lesson shows children that bullying will never enable a person to succeed, especially in a team environment. It also demonstrates that a team is made up of different people and everyone can contribute to the good of a team, regardless of their size or ability.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  In this spin on Little Red Riding Hood by Jeanie Franz Ransom, a girl bullies Little Bitty wolf. Little Bitty asks for help and then does the opposite of what Big Red expects. Big Red finally goes away, leaving Little Bitty relieved that the bullying has stopped.

This story will help children realize bullying is wrong and hurtful and that there is nothing to be gained from it. Notes at the end help parents recognize the signs of bullying and how they can help their child.

Kristy Pepping said:  Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick centers around two friends; one has a learning disability and the other has a genetic condition. The second child needs leg braces to get around school. The children become friends as they both experience bullying from classmates. This book teaches kids that they will encounter classmates who are different, but to treat everyone the same.

Kristy Pepping said:  Fictional stories about bullying are great, but a lot of times older children need something more relatable. In Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope, learn about Olivia Gardner's own story of being bullied. Her story was heard by two teens in a different town and they started a campaign of writing letters of support to this girl. Letters in the book are from all over the country.