Preventing bullying comes from having discussions about bullying, so kids learn how to have healthy relationships with their peers. A book on the topic of bullying can be a great way to elicit a heartfelt discussion about bullying and the ways to prevent it.
1. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Molly Lou Melon
Stand Tall, Molly Lou is a wonderful book that can start an important conversation about bullying. Molly Lou is different, but she doesn't mind. When she starts a new school, her differences become a bit more of a challenge for her.
2. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig
This is a wonderful read for young children to hear about bully confrontation is a very powerful way to face fear. When Monica's friend isn't very nice at times and starts to target Monica through name-calling and humiliation she needs to learn about to cope and thrive in spite of her bully.
3. The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy
This is great guidance for teachers to talk to and learn to empower kids who aren't sure what to do when they see someone being bullied. When Pete arrives at a new school, he had to learn from his classmates that behaving badly towards others won't be tolerated.
4. Stick And Stone by Beth Ferry
The message in Stick and Stone is that friends who stick up for each other really rock. This story of friendship is perfect for elementary school children who are just creating friendships.
5. Willow Finds a Way by Lana Button
When Willow and her friends have faced Kristabelle's ongoing bullying, Willow takes control of the situation. This helpful book will show young children how to find their own way and deal with a bossy or bullying classmate.
6. Bully by Patricia Polacco
Patricia Polacco takes on cliques and online bullying before which a major conflicts at school. When new girl Lyla makes the cheerleading team, she soon realizes that the girls on the squad are not very nice and she won't tolerate it. This is a powerful story about standing up for yourself and your friends.
7. A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
Mo Willems has created a wonderfully written picture book that teaches children about bullying and misunderstandings. Gerald and Piggie will help young readers see that sometimes we can view certain actions as bullying behaviors when really they were just a misunderstanding.
8. The Recess Queen by Alexia O'Neill8. The Recess Queen by Alexia O'Neill
9. I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet
I Walk with Vanessa reminds us that kids who witness their friends being bullied, don't always know how to react or how to help. This wordless, beautiful picture book reminds us that there is power in numbers when a community the child being bullied by walking her to school. This is a wonderful book to use in the classroom, that provides tips on how to deal with bullies.
10. You, Me and Empathy: Teaching children about empathy, feelings, kindness, compassion, tolerance and recognizing bullying behaviors by Jayneen Sanders
This charming picture book deals with an important life skill that every child should learn, which is empathy. Jayneed Sanders had created an emotional book that allows the reader to see beyond and problem and to create understanding, compassion, and kindness towards others.
11. Enemy Pie : (Reading Rainbow Book, Children’s Book about Kindness, Kids Books about Learning) by Derek Munson
Enemy Pie is a fantastic book that provides a thoughtful lesson in the difficulties and rewards of making friends. A wonderful read aloud where a dad helps his son turn a best enemy into a best friend.
12. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
When a young, poor polish girl named Wanda is ridiculed for wearing the same dress every day, she claims that she had a hundred dresses at home. When Wanda is pulled out of school, her classmates feel terrible that they didn't speak up for her especially after a letter from her father to the class. This book is the perfect time to bring up discussions about having the courage to speak against something you know is wrong.
13. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Brian is a quiet kid that no one seems to notice and is never included in activities like games or birthday parties. When Justin, the new boy in class, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. This act of kindness turns into a new friendship and allows Brian to shine.
14. Anger Tree by John H. Cary
Trevor Baker is a horrible bully who gets in trouble with his mother, which leads him to storm out of his house. When Trevor meets the anger tree, he fights the tree at first, but then calms down. The friendship that ensues between the boy and the tree leads to Trevor learning to deal with his anger.
15. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Each Kindness is a wonderful story of a harsh lesson to learn in life. When Maya, the new girl, tries to make friends, she is met with rejection. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson on how even the smallest act of kindness can change the world, she realizes that she should have shown a little more kindness to Maya.
16. The Bully Book: A Novel by Eric Kahn Gale
The Bully Book is about a sixth-grader who learns to stand up against bullies. The book is a bit of a mystery as Eric discovers an instruction manual for how to become a bully, however in his pursuit to find out who wrote it, he discovers a lot about himself.
17. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Wonder is about a boy named August who has facial deformities. He really just wants to be treated like everyone else as he is entering fifth grade, but his classmates struggle with his looks. However, Auggie overcomes all of it to shine and find friendship.
18. Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham
Read Friends is about the ever-changing dynamic of friendship as kids begin growing up and meeting new people. Shannon and Adrienne have been friends since they were little, but when Adrienne begins hanging out with the most popular girl at school, Shannon wonders if their friendship will last.
19. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
This instant classic story is about a girl named Annabelle who finds the courage to stand up for others in her community. Annabelle lives in a quiet town, until Betty, a new student, walks into school. Betty is a bully and when she begins to bully WWI veteran, Annabelle refuses to stand by and let it happen.
20. Tease by Amanda Maciel
Tease is a powerful read for anyone who has encountered a bully or has done the bullying, especially for older kids. The story is a hard lesson of how teasing and bullying can go too far and in this class, a teenage girl takes her life over it.
21. Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama is a wonderful book for young readers. When Llama Llama is teased by Gilroy Goat, he doesn't know what to do. When he remembered what his teacher told him, he does what they told him to do and it works.
22. The Bully Blockers Club by Teresa Bateman
Lotty Raccoon tries different ways to get her bully to stop but nothing seems to work until she notices that others are getting bullied too. Lotty and the others form The Bully Blockers Club and take a stand against Grants bullying.
23. Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch
Marlene Marlene is a wonderful conversation starter for how to deal with bullying. Marlene, the self-appointed queen of just about everything and always very intimidating, meets Freddy who stands up to her and refuses to allow her to be a bully.
24. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy
When Ralph won't stop teasing Lucy, she is at a loss for what to do to get him to stop. Lucy's Papa Gino reminds her to always do what she knows is right and treat people with kindness. The question for Lucy is when Ralph needs help will she help him or give him a taste of his own medicine.
25. Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy by Bob Sornson
Stand in My Shoes is a wonderful story about empathy, which is sometimes hard for young readers to understand. This book teaches about how noticing the feelings of others can help us to live better and happier.
26. Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig
Just Kidding is about bullying behavior that many will find very familiar. Sometimes those closest to us can hurt us the most. When DJ's friend Vince teases him in front of others and then uses the phrase just kidding to make everything okay, Vince doesn't know how to react. This is a very insightful look at relational aggression and how to deal with it.
53 Beautiful Social-Emotional Books for Children