Books That Heal Kids: bullying

Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bullying. Show all posts

Book Review: Rain Boy

Author/Illustrator: Dylan Glynn

From the Book Jacket: Rain Boy is not very popular. Wherever he goes he brings wet. But everyone loves Sun Kidd, who brings sunshine. Only Sun Kidd sees what's special about Rain Boy. But when she invites him to her birthday party, disaster strikes, and Rain Boy storms. Will the other kids ever appreciate Rain Boy for being himself? Can Rain boy learn to love his rain? This is a story with all the emotions of the rainbow and about isolation, individuality, and self-love. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This one is full of messages about including others, standing up for someone being bullied, and self-love. I think it would be a great community builder to help start relationships out with kindness. Everyone brings something a little different to the group. Lets teach kids to appreciate those qualities that are unique and special. Love this one!

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: The Proudest Blue - A Story of Hijab and Family

Author: Ibtijah Muhammad and S.K. Ali
Illustrator: Hatem Aly

From the Book Jacket: The first day of wearing hijab is important. It means being strong. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand-new school year and best of all, it's her older sister Asiya's first day of hijab - made of a fabric of beautiful blue, like the ocean waving to the sky. 

But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful, and in the face of hurtful, confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong. 

Olympic medalist Ibtijah Muhammad brings readers an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Of all the books I read this past year to the students, THIS WAS THE ONE. This was the one that helped kids have even a bigger mind and heart shift when it came to looking outside of themselves and what others are going through. How others are being treated because of their religion, culture, and what they wear. Really love this story and how it came into our lives this year. Forever changed. 

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: I Love My Colorful Nails

Author: Alicia Acosta and Luis Amavisca
Illustrator: Gusti

From the Book Jacket: Ben liked painting his nails, until some of the kids at school started teasing him. When Dad realized why Ben was sad, he decided to paint his nails too.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Ben likes to paint his nails but is teased at school by boys telling him that painting your nails is only for girls. They start calling him a "girl" as a putdown. Ben feels horrible and can't understand why they would tease him. It makes him incredibly sad. He shares what happened with his family and his dad paints his own nails to support him. But the teasing continues at school. A girl tries to get people to stop teasing him by telling them to leave him alone. Ben decides he will now only paint his nails on the weekend because he doesn't want the kids at school to laugh at him. But on Ben's birthday he goes to school and is met with the kids shouting "Happy Birthday!" And everyone, even the teacher, has their nails panted in support of Ben. 

I really loved this book and although it's hard to see Ben be treated this way - sadly it happens everyday to kids. I love how the class decides to support him. This is an important one to share!

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: Red

Author/Illustrator: Jan De Kinder

From the Book Jacket: In this poignant story, a girl finds it funny when her classmate starts blushing on the school playground. Her friends laugh along with her, but one student takes the teasing too far. Torn between her sympathy for her classmate and her fear of the bully, the girl must make a difficult choice. This heartfelt book will inspire readers to find the courage to take a stance against bullying and show compassion towards others. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This has become a new favorite book of mine when talking to kids about how harmful teasing and bullying can become. The child who starts the problem ends up being the one to make the whole thing stop. This is a great story of how it is so important to not stay silent and also to take responsibility and make a wrong a right - especially if you created the problem. Love this one!

A Link to This Book: 

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Book Review: STAND Series on Bullying

About This Book: Even a good kid can struggle with being a bully. Find out what Ezekiel, Blake and Sarah do when they realize their actions are hurting others. 
About This Book: Together we can take a STAND against bullying by speaking up and being kind. Lucas, Faith and Leo become heroes when they gather their friends to Stand Together Against Bullying.




About This Book: Standing up to bullies is not an easy thing to do. Miriam, Liam and Yong learn from their parents' advice how to peacefully resolve their bullying problems. 








Why They Are On My Bookshelf: This is a great three-part series that addresses bullying form multiple points of view. I do a lot of bully prevention in my school and am happy to have these books as part of my toolbox to help kids overcome bullying. Each book contains three stories with an awesome Think Talk About guide that opens the door to more critical thinking and discussion. HIghly recommend this resource!

A Link to These Books:

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Book Review: Be Kind

Author: Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrator: Jen Hill

From the Book Jacket: When a young girl named Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better and remember that Mom always says, "Be kind." But what does it mean to be kind?

As the child ponders everything from asking a new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what kinds is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference - or at least help a friend. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a lovely story on the incredible power of kindness. The story centers around another child witnessing unkindness. From that moment, she starts to think of how important daily kindness is when it comes to all of our interactions with one another. Through empathy she does something to bring joy to the child who was originally hurt. 

I love this book so much. One of our school rules/standards is "BE KIND" so this fits right in with what we are trying to teach children. It was refreshing to see this book and I will be using it TONS in the beginning of the school year. 

A Link to This Book: 

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Book Review: I Walk With Vanessa - A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness

Author/Illustrator: Kerascoet

From the Book Jacket: Vanessa is the new girl in school. A boy is not very nice to her. But a girl helps Vanessa - and stands up for what's right. This is a simple but powerful picture book about how the actions of a single person can inspire an entire community. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: It only takes one person to change things. In this wordless picture book a child named Vanessa is on the receiving end of mean behavior. What she doesn't know is someone witnesses the unkindness and comes to her rescue later. By being an upstander she brings all the children together in a positive movement. I loved this uplifting book and it is at the top of my list to share with students as a reminder that we all have personal power to better each others lives.  

A Link to This Book:



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Book Review: Be a King - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Dream and You

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: You can be a King. Stamp out hatred. Put your foot down and walk tall. You can be a King. Beat the drum for justice. March to your own conscience. It's not always easy to stand up for what's right, but everyone has the power to make the world a better place. Inspired by the most important moments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's life this book shows a new generation of children how to follow in Dr. King's footsteps. You can take charge. You can change the world. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love this book so much. It's so perfect for kids. It's about standing up for everything that is right, doing your best, and lifting up others. The illustrations are very powerful and go so perfectly with the words on each page. I've been recommending this one to all of our teachers. 




A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: We're All Wonders

Author/Illustrator: RJ Palacio
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Auggie knows he's not an ordinary kid. He does plenty of ordinary things. He feels ordinary. He just doesn't look ordinary. Growing up as an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face isn't easy, but Auggie is a wonder. He and his trusty sidekick, Daisy, play ball, eat ice cream, and use their imaginations to soar through their days together. They know it's not just Auggie who's different. Everyone is different, and everyone is a wonder - if only they could see it. 

Featuring the beloved hero from the worldwide bestselling sensation Wonder, this original adventure written and illustrated by RJ Palacio taps into every child's longing to be seen for who they truly are. 






Why It's On My Bookshelf: I am a huge fan of the book Wonder so I was of course beyond excited to see the picture book version of it. You are going to love it! This will be a great addition to my bullying curriculum. I can easily use this across all grades. I like the message that there is room on Earth for all of us - even with our differences. Kindness and acceptance is what helps us move past exclusion and judgment. So happy about this AMAZING find. Choose Kind. 

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: My Friend Maggie


Author/Illustrator: Hannah E Harrison
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

About This Book: A sweet and heart-tugging story about bullying, friendship, and fitting in. Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula starts to notice that Maggie is big and clumsy, and her clothes are sort of snuggish. Rather than sticking up for Maggie, Paula ignores her old friend and plays with Veronica instead. Luckily, when Veronica turns on Paula, Maggie’s true colors shine through. 



Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a powerful story about exclusion and how harmful it can feel. As a school counselor I have witnessed these types of power plays among students. It is very hurtful when a student tells another student not to play with a certain person. Veronica puts down Maggie by body shaming and saying that she is too big. It's a putdown I have heard other students use. I have not used a story like this before so it was a good discussion when we read it. This book fits perfectly into my curriculum around including others and accepting differences. I also like how the victim in the story ends up being the upstander. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: A Bug and a Wish



















Author: Karen Scheuer
Illustrator: Kalpart
Interest Level: Ages 4-7

From the Book Jacket: When Tyler is teased by the other boys, his good friend, Danae, encourages him to give the boys A Bug and a Wish. When Tyler finds a ladybug and a dandelion seed, he is convinced that this is what Danae means. As his friend helps him learn the true meaning of her advice, Tyler soon discovers the solution to his problem. 






Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a creative way to teach younger kids how to use an 'I Message' towards an unwanted behavior. I can't wait to put this into practice with our students as we begin to work on conflict resolution strategies. 

An example of how to use the phrase:
It bugs me when you make fun of my name and I wish you would stop.

You can always change the word wish to something a little more assertive to need or want. But I think the book does a good job of helping build language for kids to access when they need a strategy to stop a mean behavior.  

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: Red

Author/Illustrator: Jan De Kinder
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

About This Book: In this poignant story, a girl finds it funny when her classmate starts blushing on the school playground. Her friends laugh along with her, but one student takes the teasing too far. Torn between her sympathy for her classmate and her fear of the bully, the girl must make a difficult choice. This heartfelt book will inspire readers to find the courage to take a stance against bullying and show compassion towards others. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm starting to focus even more on the bystanders as part of our bully prevention at my school. They are a group that needs empowerment and given the permission to do something when they witness the mistreatment of others. It's a story with really impactful illustrations and words. I was so excited to see this new title. Definitely a difference maker!





A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:  
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Book Review: The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade

Author: Justin Roberts
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe. She was the smallest girl in the smallest grade. But Sally notices everything - from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor's ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've been waiting for a book like this. It only takes one person, doesn't matter who they are, to make a really big difference. An awesome difference. When we talk to kids about being bystanders it's so important to share it's really about leadership. Sally is a great example of bravery, courage, and leadership. A bystander who refuses to keep quiet. I notice bystanders are often silent about bullying not because of fear of retaliation but they've become desensitized to what they are seeing. So when unkind acts happen - it becomes normalized. Lets help stop that cycle. 

This book is going to be in HEAVY rotation in my bully prevention lessons. GET A COPY!

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:



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Book Review: Peanut Butter and Jellyfish

Author/Illustrator: Jarrett Krosoczka
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Peanut Butter and Jellyfish are best of friends and swim up, down, around, and through their ocean home. Crabby is not their best friend. But when Crabby gets in trouble, will Peanut Butter and Jellyfish come to the rescue? You bet they will! This is a funny and touching story of friendships old and new, and about being brave enough to apologize. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This story started out like a lot of other books I have read. There is some teasing going on and the one doing the mean behavior finds himself in some danger. The two friends who were experiencing the put downs do the right thing and save him. 

But I really love what the author does to help Crabby (the bully in the story) turn his behavior around. He has him take responsibility. First there is an apology.....which I don't always see in books. 



Then Crabby admits why he was doing all the teasing.....



What makes this book so special and AWESOME is the story goes a step further and makes everything come full circle for ALL the characters. When the teasing is happening, Peanut Butter and Jellyfish do some ignoring and are very assertive. And amends are made. That's real life and these are the skills we should be teaching kids. 

A Link to This Book: 


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Llama Llama Takes On Bullying

My fall book order list is growing. I saw this one today and am adding it to my kindergarten bully prevention curriculum. Now I just need some llama puppets and I'm set.


Author/Illustrator: Anna Dewdney
Interest Level: Ages 3 and Up

About This Book:
Llama Llama likes to sing.
Gilroy laughs at everything.
Llama sings out just the same.
Gilroy says a not-nice name.
 
Teacher has some things to say:
calling names is not OK.
 
Llama Llama is learning lots of new things at school and making many friends. But when Gilroy Goat starts teasing him and some of their classmates, Llama Llama isn't sure what to do. And then he remembers what his teacher told him—walk away and tell someone. It works! But then Llama Llama feels badly. Can he and Gilroy try to be friends again?
 
Taking on a difficult but important part of children's lives, Anna Dewdney gives readers a way to experience and discuss bullying in a safe and comforting way.
 
A Link to This Book:

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Book Review: Amazing Faces

From the Book Jacket: Whatever we feel - whether happy or sad, excited or wishful, proud or lonely - our faces mirror our emotions. In this contemporary yet timeless collection, sixteen evocative poems are brought to life in diverse and detailed faces that reveal the universal feelings we all share. Girls and boys, women and men invite us to experience their world, understand their lives, and find the connections that bring us together.

Poet Lee Bennett Hopkins gathers these insightful works from an impressive array of authors. Glowing illustrations by Chris Soentpiet infuse the verses with atmosphere and exquisite settings. Readers of all ages will want to feast their eyes on these captivating poems and pictures again and again.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Originally I saw this beautiful book on my friend Barbara's blog The Corner on Character. I was immediately drawn to a poem in the book called I'm The One.....



I'm the one
You turn your
Back on,
Never asking me
To play.

I'm the one
You heard Crying,
Walking home
From School
Today.

You're the one
Who could erase
Sadness
Traced Upon my face.

If only one day
You could see,
What fun
You'd have

Being
Friends
With
Me.

Jude Mandell

A Link to This Book:

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New Book on Bullying


Bully
Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up
Available: July 16, 2013

From Publisher's Weekly:
Seeger (Green) uses boldly inked barnyard animals to tell her story about bullying, casting a bull in the title role. The trouble starts when the young bull is rejected by an older one: “Go away!” it shouts. The young bull is shaken, but he’s learned something—how to hurt others. When a rabbit, chicken, and turtle in the barnyard ask him to play, he grumps “No,” then hurls insults at them, names that are no more than the literal truth. “Chicken!” he yells at the chicken, who jumps in the air. “Slowpoke!” he shouts at the turtle. “You stink!” he screams at a skunk. The more he abuses the others, the larger he grows, his angry bluster feeding his self-importance. At last a goat speaks truth to power: “Bully!” the goat cries. “Bully?” the bull repeats to himself. All the inflated air blows out of him, and he tosses and tumbles across a spread like a balloon let loose. Tearfully, he makes peace. Seeger’s pages pop with action, and the lesson couldn’t be clearer.

It is so important to me as a school counselor that students do not become bored and desensitized with my books - because then my message is lost. So when a new book like Bully comes along I get so excited knowing I can continue to deliver bully prevention with STELLAR stories. This is a no brainer for me - Pre-Ordered! Can't wait to get it. Looks like a super creative way to teach kids how bullying starts and love that it ends with peace.

Pre-Order Your Book Here:

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Book Review: Desmond and The Very Mean Word

Authors: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and 
Douglas Carlton Abrams
illustrated by A.G. Ford

From the Book Jacket: Desmond was very proud of his new bicycle. He was the only child in the whole township who had one, and he couldn't wait to show it to Father Trevor. 

When Desmond takes his new bicycle out for a ride, his pride and joy turn to hurt and anger when some boys shout a very mean word at him. No matter what he tries, Desmond can't stop thinking about what the boys said. With the wise advice of kindly Father Trevor, Desmond learns an important lesson about understanding his conflicted feelings and how to forgive.  

Based on a real-life experience from Archbishop Desmond Tutu's own childhood in South Africa, Desmond and the Very Mean Word eloquently shows a child's realization that true forgiveness comes from within and that all people deserve compassion, whether or not they say they are sorry.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This has been an important picture book I've been using with our fourth and fifth graders. Sometimes I'm so saddened to see how horribly mean some of them can be to each other. So when this book arrived I knew it had a message that would touch their hearts and hopefully stop the mean words. Reminding kids they can make a decision to stop a hurtful conversation and take responsibility is what this book is all about.

There is a conversation in the book between Father Trevor and Desmond that we focused on:

Father Trevor sighed. "That is the problem, Desmond. You will get them back, and they they will get you back, and soon our whole world will be filled with nothing but 'getting back.'"

And there it is! Stopping the cycle of hurt is what my students need to hear. Especially because some of them come from homes where that cycle is happening. Forgiveness is an absent thing in many of their lives. When I asked if they could define forgiveness - not many hands went up. We teach a lot about apologies but it became clear the other part of the equation needs to be put out there too.

It is never revealed what the mean word is used against Desmond. I was concerned some kids would get hung up on that. We did have a small discussion on what the mean words might have been. But what we kept coming back to was how those words can have such a damaging impact. And that's why we need forgiveness............yep!

A Link to This Book:  
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Book Review: Leave Me Alone

Author: Kes Gray
Illustrator: Lee Wildish
Interest Level: K -3

A Note From the Publisher: A little boy is feeling sad because every day he has to face a bully. But this story’s little boy also has friends. A frog, a cat, a rabbit, a cow, and other animal friends insist on helping him, even after he tells them: “There’s nothing you can do for me/ There’s nothing you can say.” Fortunately, he is mistaken, because the next time the bully approaches, they all join with him and shout, “LEAVE HIM ALONE!” And it works! The bully turns around and goes away. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Originally I saw this book posted on Pinterest and thought how did I miss this book? This might seem like a really quick read but there is a lot of power behind the story. It empowers the victim and the bystanders when a mean situation is going down. I think a lot of kids will relate to the feeling of being powerless. Hate having to write that but it's true. There are some kids in my school who just "put up with it." But I have a whole lot of kids who are witnessing it and can PROTECT that child. In the story, there are animals who represent the bystanders. I'm thinking I'll have fun with this book and bring in LOTS of stuffed animals for kids to use in role plays.


A Link to This Book:


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