Children’s books
related to bullying are listed below by ascending
age-group.
The Sneetches
~ Dr. Seuss ~
All ages
This Dr. Seuss tale deals with the
common peer problems of exclusion and prejudice. The Star Belly
Sneetches have a star on their bellies to symbolize superiority and
prestige, and they reject the Plain Belly sort. All of the Sneetches
fall prey to a money-hungry stranger, and as a result join together and
learn a lesson about inclusion and tolerance in the end.
Move Over Twerp
~ Martha Alexander ~
Ages 4–7
The first day that Jeffrey rides
the bus to school, older boys shout at the youngster and remove him from
his seat in the back of the bus. Jeffrey makes a daring plan to deal
with the boys, and he gets just what he wants.
The Big Bad Bully Bear
~ Ginnie Hofmann ~
Ages 4–7
Arthur and his friend Emmy Bear teach Bully Bear an important lesson
when they recruit all of their friends to join together. Bully Bear
learns what he needs to do to make friends and keep them.
The Berenstain Bears, No Girls
Allowed
~ Stan and Jan Berenstain ~
Ages 4–8
In this classic tale of sibling rivalry, Brother Bear and the other male
cubs try to exclude Sister from their new club after she beats them at
baseball and other “boy” activities. Sister then plans a way to win the
guys over.
The Berenstain Bears and the Bully
~ Stan and Jan Berenstain ~
Ages 4–8
Sister Bear learns self-defense after she is beaten up by a class bully,
and together they learn about forgiveness and getting along. Brother
teaches Sister Bear the basics of self-defense while reminding her to
avoid the Bully, but Sister and the Bully do fight. Children can discuss
other non-aggressive ways to deal with bullies and get along with peers.
Mean Maxine
~ Barbara Bottner ~
Age 5–7
Ralph works up enough courage to confront Mean Maxine who has called him
names and picked on him repeatedly. The ending of the story takes an
interesting and friendly turn.
Tyrone the Horrible
~ Hans Wilhelm ~
Age 5–8
The earth’s first bully, Tyrone the Horrible, bullies little Boland
dinosaur. Tyrone teases, punches, and steals from Boland who seeks the
advice of his dinosaur friends. He solves the problem in a way that
provides an opportunity for discussion.
Maxine in the Middle
~ Holly Keller ~
Ages 5–8
In this easy-to-read story, Maxine, the middle child, often feels left
out and rejected. She believes that her older sister and younger brother
are the only children who get new clothes and toys. Maxine runs away to
the family tree house, where she later becomes cold and hungry. Maxine
returns home and realizes how much she enjoys spending time with her
brother and sister and that “sometimes middle things are best.”
Chrysanthemum
~ Kevin Henkes ~
Ages 5–8
Chrysanthemum is a brightly illustrated book that addresses the troubles
a young girl faces after being picked on because of her unique name.
Before going to school, she is proud of her name and loves the way it
sounds. After being taunted by her peers, Chrysanthemum wants to change
her name. Not until a teacher that the children admire compliments
Chrysanthemum on her name do the other children accept her.
Loudmouth George and the Sixth
Grade Bully
~ Nancy Carlson ~
Age 5–8
On the first day of school, a huge sixth grader startles George on his
way to school and steals his lunch. From then on, every day starts the
same way. By the end of the week, George is a nervous wreck and hungry
all of the time. George turns the tables with a little help from his
friend Harriet. Discussion could include other ways for George to deal
with Big Mike, the bully.
Camp Big Paw
~ Doug Cushman ~
Ages 5–8
Cyril and his friends run into trouble with the bully of Camp Big Paw,
Nigel Snootbutter. During field day competitions, Nigel sets out to make
sure Cyril and his cabin mates lose every field day event, but Cyril
saves the day with some smart thinking.
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Bully
~ Teddy Slater ~
Ages 6–8
In this easy-to-read chapter book, big, mean Bertha threatens everyone,
especially Max. Max learns self-defense, but he is reluctant to stand up
to the bully until she tries to take his dog, Fang. Max is assertive
and, along with his friends, refuses to hand over his puppy. At the end
of the book, the children are getting along with the reformed bully.
The Berenstain Bears & the In
Crowd
~ Stan and Jan Berenstain ~
Ages 6–10
In this Berenstain Bears tale, Sister Bear is teased by the new cub in
town, Queenie McBear. Queenie steals Sister’s Double Dutch partners
before the big jump rope tournament and excludes Sister from their fun.
The tournament proves to be a success for Sister as she learns how to
deal with being left out.
What a Wimp!
~ Carol Carrick ~
Age 7–10
Barney and his family move from the city to the country where his Mom
said that people were so friendly. But, he soon becomes the target of
Lenny Coots who targets Barney as his easy, smaller, and younger victim.
Lenny waits for Barney daily after school. Although his teacher, mother,
and brother are sympathetic and intervene, Barney learns he must face up
to Lenny and do something on his own.
Joshua T. Bates Takes Charge
~ Susan Shreve ~
Age 7–10
Joshua T. Bates struggles with the biggest decision of his life as he
decides whether to disclose who is victimizing the new kid in fifth
grade, Sean O’Malley. No stranger to bullies, Joshua flunked third grade
and knows what it is like to be the target of Tommy Wilhelm and his
gang, the Nerds Out.
An excellent book that tells what it is like to be an outcast and what
it takes to be a hero.
Bully on the Bus
~ Carl W. Bosch ~
Ages 7–11
Written in a “choose your own ending” format, the reader decides what
action to take while dealing with a bully. The reader can choose from
many alternatives that include ignoring, talking to an adult,
confronting the bully, fighting, and reconciling. There are many options
and opportunities for excellent discussions with this book.
Finding the Green Stone
~
Alice Walker
~
Ages 7–11
In this tale set in a friendly rural neighborhood, Katie and her brother
Johnny each possess an iridescent green stone with special powers. When
Johnny loses his stone, he accuses Katie of stealing it. Later, he tries
to steal her stone, and the stone immediately loses its luster. When he
finds the stone, Johnny learns that it embodies his character and
integrity. The stone loses its power and radiance as a result of its
owner’s failings and mean-spirited actions.
Mitch and Amy
~ Beverly Cleary ~
Ages 8–12
In this amusing book, twins Mitch and Amy put aside their squabbles and
rivalry and join together to deal with a neighborhood bully, Alan
Hibbler. Mitch and Amy try various ways of dealing with Alan, even
choosing fist fighting. There are numerous opportunities to discuss the
benefits and consequences of all of the possible ways to handle Alan.
Bullies are a Pain in the Brain
~ Trevor Romain ~
Ages 8–13
Funny and easy to read, this book describes truths about bullies and
offers advice on how to effectively cope with them. For bullies, this
book also helps explain how to get along with other kids and feel good
about yourself. The book is loaded with practical suggestions for kids
to help them gain the confidence to handle themselves and become more
“bully proof.”
Fourth Grade Rats
~ Jerry Spinelli ~
Ages 9–12
A lighthearted Spinelli story about some boys recently promoted to
fourth grade. The narrator, Suds, who acquired his name because he
enjoys taking warm baths to relax, is having a difficult time complying
with his friend Joey’s demand that he grow up and follow the familiar
chant, “First grade babies. Second grade cats. Third grade angels.
Fourth grade rats!” Suds learns that he doesn’t have to be a tough guy
in order to grow up.
Crash
~ Jerry Spinelli ~
Ages 9–12
Crash is a seventh grader who loves football and tormenting his geeky
neighbor. The story follows Crash as he grows from an obnoxious teenaged
jock into a more mature and accepting young man. Spinelli deals with
real issues like bullying and illness in a lighthearted but realistic
manner.
