By Tanni Haas, Ph.D. | Contributor
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a great opportunity for parents to teach their kids how to stand up to bullies and, more generally, the importance of treating others with kindness and respect. Here are some of the best anti-bullying books for toddlers, young readers, tweens, and teens.
Toddlers (1-3-years-old)
I Say Excuse Me. I Do Not Push! by Suzanne Christian. Publisher: Two Raven Books.
It’s never too early to teach kids to treat others the same way they want to be treated. The question is how to share this important lesson with toddlers. Suzanne Christian, the author of this beautifully illustrated book, uses an example that even the youngest kids can appreciate: say “excuse me” instead of pushing your way to where you want to go. The book is part of the 20-volume My Amazing Toddler Behavioral Series, all written by Suzanne Christian. Other books in the series focused on respectful interactions with others include I Use Kind Words. I Do Not Hit! I Count To Four. I Do Not Bite! and I Share My Toys. I Am Kind.
Young Readers (4-7-years-old)
Link Takes A Stand: A Story about Bullying and Kindness, by Anders Grit and Vivi Grit. Publisher: Fungoose.
Featuring a cute, purple dinosaur named Link who’s bullied by a classmate on the first day in his new school, this book in delightful rhymes teaches young readers practical lessons on standing up to would-be bullies. Those lessons are summarized by the acronym “S.T.A.N.D” (“Stand Tall,” “Tell Them To Stop,” “Ask For Help,” “Never Blame Yourself,” and “Develop Strong Friendships.” Written by the wife-and-husband team Vivi and Anders Grit, this book is part of the three-volume Mindset Magic series. The other two books in the series explain in kid-friendly ways how to deal with anxiety and stress and stay calm and grounded.
Tweens (8-12-years-old)
The No More Bullying Book For Kids, by Vanessa Allen. Publisher: Callisto Kids.
This book is the perfect anti-bullying primer for tweens. Divided into three parts – “Recognize Bullying,” “Stop Bullies,” and “Become Bully-Proof” – readers learn to identify different types of bullying, what to say and do when they or others are targets of bullying, and problem-solving skills that make them less likely to become victims of bullying. The book includes real-life stories and hypothetical examples, and even has a section with the titles of other informative anti-bulling books and websites for kids and caregivers. The author, Vanessa Allen, is a school counselor with many years of practical experience with bullying behavior.
Teens (13 years and older)
The Bullying Workbook For Teens, by Raychelle Lohmann and Julia Taylor. Publisher: Instant Help.
This sophisticated workbook includes practical exercises aimed at enhancing teens’ self-confidence and ability to develop strong, positive relationships with others. It teaches teens how to manage negative emotions like anxiety and fear and develop strategies to avoid becoming the victims of bullying. A unique feature of this book is a section on cyberbullying – a topic that’s extremely relevant given the amount of time that teens spend on social media. The book is part of a 19-volume series of Instant Help Books For Teens. Other books in this series focus on dealing with social anxiety and developing a healthy body image.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at The City University of New York – Brooklyn College.