Bullying can happen anywhere children gather––on the playground, in the lunchroom, on sports teams, or even online. For young kids still learning how to navigate friendships, the experience can be confusing and hurtful. Whether read at home or in the classroom, books related to bullying and empathy can spark conversations and remind children of the importance of kindness. Here are 10 children’s books that offer young readers and their caregivers a safe way to discuss bullying.
Llama Llama and the Bully Goat
By Anna Dewdney
At school, Gilroy Goat starts teasing Llama Llama and his classmates. Following his teacher’s advice, Llama Llama walks away and tells an adult. But when he feels bad for Gilroy Goat, Llama Llama befriends him. The story offers children a strategy for combating bullying and an opportunity to empathize with the bully. “Dewdney’s lovable Llama Llama offers children one strategy to combat bullying, all couched in her trademark rhyming verse and presented through situations that are sure to resonate with those new-to-school.” —Kirkus
The Recess Queen
By Alexis O’Neill
Mean Jean is the Recess Queen who bullies everyone on the playground. Everyone is afraid of her until a new student, Katie Sue, comes to school. She resists Mean Jean’s attempts to bully her and invites Jean to play. This story shows kids that when you’re a bully, you isolate yourself from everyone. However, it also reveals that bullies often simply want to be included.
Weird!
By Erin Frankel
Three stories are told from three perspectives: the child being bullied (Weird!), a bystander (Dare!), and the bully herself (Tough!). The books are separate titles, but they’re much more effective when read together. For instance, in Tough!, readers learn that Sam, the bully, is being bullied at home. The books include helpful talking points at the end, allowing readers to revisit the story and discuss what is happening as if it were a real-world scenario.
My Secret Bully
By Trudy Ludwig
This is a story that shows what happens when a friend is also a bully. Monica and Katie have been friends since kindergarten, but Katie sometimes behaves in a mean way, such as calling Monica names, manipulating her, embarrassing her, and excluding her. It is Monica’s mom who helps her learn ways to cope as she addresses her bully. This is a powerful story because it teaches children about emotional bullying. “A must-read for any child who has ever been teased, ignored, or excluded by his/her peers.” – Dr. Kathy Masarie, founder and director of Full Esteem Ahead.
Lunch from Home
By Joshua David Stein
In a classroom of sandwiches, four students stand out with their homemade lunches. But before they can enjoy their favorite foods, their classmates’ disgusted reactions spoil the meal. It is a heartwarming story that shows students how to cope with being unique and encourages empathy towards differences. These chapter books show upper elementary students examples of kids their age who deal with and stand up to bullying.
Wonder
By R.J. Palacio
Auggie is treated poorly because of facial differences, such as having only one eye. His mom tells him that he is a “wonder,” so Auggie helps other children recognize that they all have their own “wonder” too. The examples of bullying in the book are direct and help young people process the topic with ease. School Library Journal Best of Children’s Books, Publishers Weekly Best of Children’s Books, Kirkus Reviews Best of Children’s Books, Booklist Best of Children’s Books. “Rich and memorable…It’s Auggie and the rest of the children who are the real heart of ‘Wonder,’ and Palacio captures the voices of girls and boys, fifth graders and teenagers, with equal skill.” – The New York Times
Confessions of a Former Bully
By Trudy Ludwig
After visiting the counselor about bullying, Katie starts keeping a notebook about being a bully. As she explores why she acted as she did, she begins to consider how to make amends. The story also has nonfiction sidebars with information on different kinds of bullying. This book helps young people understand that even if they have engaged in teasing or bullying in the past, it’s still possible to learn from their mistakes and make amends.
Say It Out Loud
By Allison Varnes
When 6th grader Charlotte is afraid to speak up for a friend because she’s embarrassed by her stutter, she ends up losing the friendship. There’s one place Charlotte doesn’t stutter, and that’s on stage in musical theater when she sings. Confident that she has found her voice, Charlotte uses it to speak up against bullying, advocate for her school, and save her friendship. This is a story about the price of silence and the power of speaking up against bullying. “Varner’s got a knack for capturing the middle school experience and readers in this age group will see themselves reflected in the cast of characters and situations that make up the story. The book could also serve as a springboard for topics such as bullying (cyber and physical) and even plagiarism.” –School Library Journal
Blubber
By Judy Blume
This story by popular children’s author Judy Blume explores the power of peer pressure. When an influential classmate begins teasing a girl in class about her weight, she pressures other students, including the main character, to join in. Eventually, the victim herself turns into a bully and begins tormenting the main character, who has to learn some hard truths about being a bully and then being bullied herself. A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year. “Judy Blume’s book Blubber is a poignant and powerful literary work that serves as a warning against the devastating effects of bullying, particularly on young children. This book draws inspiration from a real-life incident in her daughter’s fifth-grade classroom and addresses the serious issue of bullying head-on.” – The Children’s Book Review
Bully
By Patricia Pollaco
Lyla and Jamie became friends on the first day of sixth grade. When Lyla makes the cheerleading team, she notices Jamie is being left out. The popular friend group teases Jamie and other students online, and Lyla decides they’re not the right friends for her. Not only does this book show a girl standing up for her friend, but it also addresses the very real issue of cyberbullying faced by young people today.
