They bully. We have collected new and old books, in an attempt to prepare children for the ever-challenging person who, adults know, manifests itself outside of childhood as well.
Bullies, the bane of children everywhere. We’ve collected new and old books, up to middle grade and including a number of beautiful illustrations, in an effort to prepare children for the kind of constant challenge that adults know extends beyond childhood.
Picture Books
Lana Llama and Lori Doody, illus. by the author. Running the Goat. 2022. ISBN 9781927917817.PreS-Gr 2–A charming but conflicted intelligent creature who hates the ways in which she is not different from her “herd”—the sheep. This may interest you : Augustana School of Music with Promise of Future for Creating a Media Creation Camp. Lana knows their similarities, but is ashamed of her differences, belittling herself and making mistakes. Immersed in this effort, he misses the anxiety of his friends: they are being harassed by bullies.
Giant Giant by Dylan Hewitt, illus. by Dylan Hewitt. Milky Way. 2022. ISBN 9781990252082.K-Gr 2–This fun but straightforward story offers a funny, realistic representation of what it means when a bully “steps over” others, and the positive change an extended hand in friendship can inspire.
What if Bunny is NOT a Bully? by Lana Button, illus. by Christine Battuz. Children Can. 2022. ISBN 9781525300554.PreS-K–Gerti Nzou and a group of her school friends gather in the school yard and watch Bunny come. Elephant tells the others not to go to Bunny as he is a bully. Kitty begins to wonder how someone gets to be called a bully. His series of questions gives the group the opportunity to think that everyone makes mistakes.
The Boy with Flowers in His Hair by Jarvis, illus. by the author. Candlewick. 2022. ISBN 9781536225228.PreS-Gr 2–As described by his best friend, he has green hair and brown skin, the name of the boy with flowers in his hair is David, a white boy with long branches growing out of his head. instead of hair. The students, of many different races, don’t think David is amazing until the flowers start to fall. David is left with bare branches and the other students start avoiding him until his best friend comes up with the idea of making colorful paper flowers to hang on the bare branches.
Boris the School Bully by Diana Love. (I can read 1). HarperCollins. 2022. ISBN 9780063204423.Gr 1-3–Boris and his bully friends come to ruin a good day at school for Diana, Roma, Koko, and Dawn, but these best friends turn into heroes to save the day from school bullies. In the end, Diana is the real hero of the story because she comes to the rescue by inviting the bullies to join in the fun with her and her friends.
Lunch Every Day by Kathryn Otoshi, illus. by the author. HOW Kids. 2021. ISBN 9781734348200.Gr 1-3–Otoshi uses his powerful palette and research to tell a story with great depth as the story of a bully becomes clear to another victim—the bully himself. Readers will be immediately drawn to the tragedy of the target during the heartbreaking opening scene in a restaurant where a young man is robbed and his lunch stolen. But the story quickly descends, and the bully’s abuse at the hands of his brothers is revealed.
Middle Grade
Chester Keene Cracks the Code with Kekla Magoon. Random/Wendy Lamb. 2022. ISBN 9781524715991.Gr 3-7–Chester Keene doesn’t bother; he can check what’s going on around him faster than you can say “boo. To see also : New and noteworthy children ‘s and youth books: June 2022.” A spy, because he believes his father is one—and starts a job that he hopes will bring him closer to his father and help him fight a middle school bully, only to find his world changing faster than he can handle. .
Twisting Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton. Peachtree/Freestone. 2022. ISBN 9781682633663Gr 3-7–Friday Claire is a successful gymnast, but she can’t find the same success in school. She compensates for her illiteracy by making her best friend Emma Lea do her homework and listening to audiobooks to complete book reports. Her shyness in class puts her at odds with her teacher, and her classmates begin to bully Claire.
Witches by Claribel A. Ortega. For school. 2022. ISBN 9781338745528.Gr 3-7–Twelve-year-old Seven Salazar is excitedly awaiting the Black Moon festival where he and his best friend Poppy hope to be drawn into a powerful, magical quest for friendship and truth. to please the lovers of the nation. To his dismay, Seven realizes that he is Spare, looked down upon and has little energy. To make things more difficult, also in his contract there is a seven bully, Valley Pepperhorn.
Out of Blood by Steven Banks, photo. and Mark Kutya. Holiday House. 2021. ISBN 9780823446162.Gr 3-6–Tom Marks is not your average middle schooler; the werewolf, vampire, and zombie! Having been bitten by all three, he is learning to live with his new body and its abilities, such as changing into a bat and flying around the room, making smoke, and, of course, full body hair every time there is a full moon. . He also has a fantastic appetite!
In a Beautiful World by Jane Kuo. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. 2022. ISBN 9780063118980.Gr 5 Up–A beautifully written novel in verse about finding your way in the world. Set in 1980, Ai Shi/Anna, a girl from Taiwan, moves with her parents to California—or as they call it, the beautiful country. Anna is happy to travel, until she arrives and realizes that life in California is not what she expected. He is the only Asian student at school, and the kids bully him because of his difference.
Middle Grade Graphic Novels
A-Good by Jarad Greene, illus. by the author. HarperAlley. 2021. ISBN 9780063032859.Gr 5 Up-Greene describes the often turbulent process of self-discovery that comes with puberty. See the article : Politics should not take precedence over priorities. As Jay, a kind but troubled eighth grader, grows more aware of his appearance, especially his acne, he decides to try Accutane, a highly effective, oral treatment that requires him to take responsibility for his health. At school, he watches friendships fade and form new ones, meets obnoxious bullies, and explores his artistic interests.
Written by Kwame Alexander, illus. and Dawud Anyabwile. HarperCollins/Etch. 2022. ISBN 9780358161820.Gr 5-8–After the surprising turn and research of 2016’s The Crossover, Alexander and Anyabwile have teamed up again, this time to adapt Alexander’s 2016 book in verse. Eighth grader Nick Hall lives and breathes football, but he has many other things on his mind. His best friend is on a competitive team; his father’s expectations of him are very high; and two cruel bullies keep intruding on his business.
