10 Books That Will Help You Discuss Bullying With Your Kids

Children often do not know what bullying is when they see or experience it for the first time. It is important to make them aware of the different forms that it takes and to let them know that they can talk to you about it.

Picture books about bullying can help children identify it when they see it or when it happens to them. Giving them the words will help them approach you and tell you about it.

When talking to your children about bullying with the help of books, you are giving them concrete ideas on what they can do – to ask for help, to empathize with others, and to stand up to the bully.

More importantly, reading books about bullies and bullying situations can help you teach your child about acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Here are 10 books about bullying that can help you start a discussion about this issue with your child. All are available at local bookstores.


1. Crickwing by Janell Cannon
Available at TheLearningBasket.com, P100
For ages 6 to 9

Crickwing, so named because of his twisted wing, is often a target of bigger and stronger creatures. He plans to extract revenge on the world by bullying the industrious ants he sees around him. But the colony drags him into their anthill and prepares to hand him over to the army ants as a peace offering. What happens next is a story of kindness being repaid with kindness.

This amusing story of a sassy cockroach and a colony of ants matched with fabulous illustrations will surely delight young children. Like in the Janell Shannon’s previous works Stellaluna and Verdi, this book also has accompanying factual notes on cockroaches and ants. A masterpiece!


2. Stop Picking On Me: A First Look at Bullying by Pat Thomas
Available at TheLearningBasket.com, P 85
For ages 4 and up

In this book, children can see from the safety of their living room what a bully is and what makes one tick. For those who have already experienced being bullied, they will be able to relate with the emotions depicted by the illustrations.

Pat Thomas’ “A First Look At” book series is exceptional at helping parents talk to their children about difficult issues such as death, respecting others, racism, disability, sibling rivalry, anger, and many more.


3. Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie de Paola
Available at TheLearningBasket.com, P85
For ages 4 to 8

The other boys pick on Oliver Button because he doesn’t like sports and prefers to read, paint, jump rope, and dance! Even his dad thinks that he should pursue more “boy activities” and leave the dancing to the girls. But still, he persists and joins a talent competition.

With Tomie de Paola’s signature relatable writing and illustrations, this book shines in showing young readers that it is okay to be different and to pursue your own interests.


4. Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl by Jane O’Connor
Available at Fully Booked Online, P144.40
For ages 4 to 8

“Fancy Nancy” is a children’s books series featuring Nancy, an elegant girl with a fancy vocabulary. In this book for beginning readers, it is revealed that running is not one of Nancy’s many talents. Being a very slow runner, she becomes the target of a mean athletic girl during her school’s Field Day.

“Fancy Nancy” shows readers how words can be hurtful and how we can be gentle and kind even to those who are mean to us.


5. Do You Have a Secret? by Jennifer Mallinos
Available at Fully Booked Online,P336
For ages 4 to 7

There are two kinds of secrets, one is fun and good, and the other makes you feel bad inside. Do You Have A Secret? explores these two kinds of secrets in a way young children can understand.

As some children tend to keep things to themselves, it is important to help them differentiate a good secret, like a surprise gift, and a bad secret, like bullying.

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6. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Available at Fully Booked Online,P280
For ages 6 to 10

Her classmates tease Wanda Petronski, a girl from a poor family, because she has audaciously claimed that she has one hundred dresses at home.  When her family leaves town, her classmates feel bad about how they have treated her.

A classic published in 1944 and a Newbery Honor winner, The Hundred Dresses shows a character’s unease about participating in bullying and not doing anything to stop it despite her discomfort.


7. Just Kidding by Annie Bryant
Available at Fully Booked Online, P245
For ages 6 to 9

D.J.’s friend Vince always has a ready put-down for him followed by a “Just kidding!” to soften the blow. At first, D.J. doesn’t know what to do. Should he protest and risk being teased even more? Or should he just let it go?

His dad, brother, and teacher eventually help him sort it out. From a boy’s point of view, Just Kidding gives practical and doable strategies for facing bullying and aggression.


8. Leave Me Alone by Kes Gray
Available at Fully Booked Online, P199
For ages 4 to 7

A little boy is sad and scared about having to face a big bad bully everyday. All his animal friends help him find the words to make the bully go away: “Leave me alone!”

Written in rhyme, Leave Me Alone touches on the issue of bullying in a light but effective manner.


9. Maya-Maya Jumbolaya The Big Bad Bully by Gidget R. Jimenez
Available at TheLearningBasket.com,P120
For ages 3 to 6

Maya Maya is a big bully bird that steals the smaller birds’ food. When she gets trapped inside a box and is almost eaten by a cat, all the other birds help her escape. This makes her realize that she needs friends to be happy and safe.

Maya-Maya Jumbolaya is part of the I-Like-Myself series published by Tahanan Books. It gives a simple but powerful lesson to very young children about treating others with kindness.


10. The Chair King by Karen Flores
Available at TheLearningBasket.com, P295

Published by Tahanan Books, The Chair King is the story of the good-for-nothing giant Esteban Dospordos who bullies everyone because he can’t find any chair that fits him. His rampage causes the townspeople of Purok Palukit to work together to get rid of him with a giant chair made out of cardboard.

The Chair King cleverly shows that bullies might be big and scary, but they are not to be tolerated.


Bullying happens everywhere, and children need to know about it. Help your child recognize and stand up to bullying by reading any of the books listed above.