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Cool Kids
Michael is excited to start the year at his new school. He is going into 4th grade with two of his best friends. Together they all dream of playing football at this new school like they did last year. Michael makes several new friends in the first few weeks of school, and they all get along great. One day, Michael sees some boys playing football, and they will not let him join in. He is not one of the ‘cool kids.’ Disappointed, Michael decides to find a way to get into the cool kid’s group. Unfortunately, he learns that he must be mean and become a bully to be part of this group. Michael starts seeing himself as a monster and questions if being cool is worth it.
Cool Kids by Arlene Freeman takes a serious topic of bullying and presents it in a way that older elementary grade kids can understand and relate to. As a parent, I have witnessed bullying from this age group multiple times, and I think addressing it at this age level is vital for teaching just how harmful it can be to others. Kids will be able to relate to Michael and his desire to fit in and join others that are doing the activities he wants to do. I am impressed with how the author shows readers the ugly side of bullying. Being a bully makes you feel ugly inside, even when you look like the cool kid on the outside.
The artwork by Amelina Jones brings the story to life with detailed emotions for the characters and a style that fits between whimsy watercolors and graphic novel imagery. Children will enjoy the bright colors and realistic representations of a day in school. For younger kids who can’t read all the words yet, the images do a fantastic job of telling the story independently.
The theme of friendship and acceptance is just as strong as bullying in this children’s book. Michael is not the only kid to learn the real meaning of ‘cool kids,’ and seeing that people can change is helpful for this age group. It is a good reminder that sometimes we all make bad choices and that we can fix things by apologizing and making good choices after.
Cool Kids is a feel-good children’s book for elementary-level kids. Dealing with topics that kids struggle with at this age and presented in an approachable and relevant manner, this makes an excellent book for classrooms and caregivers to discuss the issues of bullying, kindness, and friendship.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09L5LKSST
Lilbeebye Stings Bully
Lilbeebye is a young girl with a secret. She appears normal on the outside, but in reality, she has secret powers. She can change into a superhero bee that stings honey love into the hearts of those who are bullies. Lilbeebye believes that everyone can be good and kind they just sometimes need some encouragement. When her friend Sally becomes the victim of a bully Lilbeebye rushes into action to sting the bullies and restore peace to the school playground. Later that day her older sister gets into a fight with her friends and Lilbeebye must spring into action again and sting them all to restore the love and goodness inside them.
Lilbeebye Stings Bully by author Theresa Shields is written on a level for older elementary-level students. The first half of the book is a fun story about Lilbeebye’s superpowers and how she helps people learn to be kind and good. There are colorful and engaging illustrations that introduce the topic of bullying to children. This half of this imaginative story would be great for early elementary students to help open discussions of bullying as well.
The second half of this book is much more serious and better suited for older children, eight to twelve-year-olds. The second half of the informative book is not illustrated and brings up topics such as cyberbullying, emotional abuse, and even suicide. There is good information on social media bullying, posting pictures and texts that are embarrassing or hurtful. Shields explains how these things are not harmless teasing and how hurtful they can be to people.
While this complex children’s book uses the church as a way to present ideas of community and sharing of information it is not overly religious and could be used by secular groups to start conversations on bullying.
Lilbeebye Stings Bully is a thought-provoking children’s book. Educators and parents will find this to be a useful book for opening up discussions on bullying to children in elementary school and provide a chance to discuss deeper topics of bullying with older elementary students especially those getting ready to enter middle school.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B085PW2YX5
My Black Life Matters
Malik is smart. He loves school, and he runs–he has to. He is teased by kids just like him for loving learning. Malik knows this is unfair, and he is tired of living this way. He isn’t alone. His friend, Keisha, knows how he feels. She and Malik have been there for each other through many difficult days. Matt is their friend, too. Not unlike Malik and Keisha, Matt’s days are spent running from trouble in his own way. One afternoon, while the three friends are gathered at Keisha’s house, the doorbell rings and things change in a way none of them could have guessed.
My Black Life Matters, by Michael A. Brown, is the story of young Malik and his friends, three African American elementary students who explain how they deal with the abuse and bullying endured on a daily basis. Malik, Keisha, and Matt live with mistreatment on many levels, the most painful of which comes from their own peers and family members. Readers of all ages will find Malik’s story relatable, and teachers and parents will recognize many children in Keisha and Matt. They represent a large part of the African American population all of whom deserve to have their voices heard.
Author Michael A. Brown brings to light the incredibly challenging lives of children across the country. In making sure that their lives matter, he gives them voices through his vibrant and engaging characters. Brown’s book is a must-have for school counselors. Brown deals with triggering content in a tasteful way that parents and counselors can easily incorporate into important personal discussions. Kudos to Brown for giving readers a story grounded in real-life with a positive and uplifting message.
Pages: 44 | ISBN: 1735604194
Her Tale Was Told In Whispers
![Her Tale Was Told In Whispers by [Mutch Katsonga]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RGYMJD-8L.jpg)
Her Tale was Told in Whispers by Mutch Katsonga is a haunting coming-of-age story about a young man who becomes fixated on a girl named Marcy who he witnesses being bullied at Knoxridge High School when they are teenagers. He does not join in bullying Marcy, but he doesn’t stand up against the bullies either. Then one day Marcy disappears, and when she reappears briefly, he feels regret for not defending her against the bullies. A short time later, he leaves Knoxridge High after a disturbing incident, and it is many years before he sees Marcy again. When Marcy vanishes from his life yet again, he is determined to find her. But will learning the truth of what really happened all those years ago change everything?
This was an intriguing story that kept my interest from the beginning all the way through to the end. As I read the book, I had many questions that I wanted to find the answers for, which kept me turning the pages. I liked the consistent element of mystery and uncertainty in the story. All the threads started to come together at the end, with the reader learning the true significance of many of the previous events. I liked that there was a surprise twist at the end which I did not expect. This book is a short novella that can be read in a few hours.
While I enjoyed this story, I felt that the flow of the story felt a bit disjointed, going from the time when Marcy was fourteen being bullied in high school, then recalling events from her earlier childhood, and then jumping to when Marcy is twenty-one years old. Also, I wanted more details around who was the narrator, where the story was taking place, and in what time period.
With those minor distractions aside, Her Tale was Told in Whispers is a riveting mystery novel that follows the lives of some very intriguing characters. With a rich atmosphere and easy storytelling, I think this would be a perfect book for fans of young adult literature.
Pages: 103 | ASIN: B085FW88BT
Inside the Head of a Bully
Bullying: What Are We Really Scared Of challenges our current response to bullying and explores successful ways of dealing with bullies. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I was able to get inside the head of a bully, learn all the secrets as to how they bully and why. Stemming from this, I was able to devise an action plan to stop bullies from hurting me. After many years of implementing this plan, learning that it worked every time, seeing the world was in such a state with bullying problems, saddened, I felt it was imperative I shared the secrets to defeating the bullies to help victims with this worldwide problem.
What were some ideas that were important for you to focus on in this book?
Divulging the truth about bullying, that it is not just the schoolyard bully or domestic violator, but that bullying is in every aspect of our lives. Exposing their secrets and sharing how easy it is for bullies to be retrained during counselling from being a physical violator to a psychological abuser because that is when they are most dangerous. Demonstrating, with examples, how easy it is to fall victim to bullies and what to look out for to be safe from the manipulations of bullies. Explaining to victims that the Justice system is more often than not, a lame duck when it comes to seeking help from them so they don’t fall into the abyss of depression when it fails to help them. Most importantly, I wanted to empower victims to be self reliant, to help themselves to stop the bullies in their lives.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about bullying?
That bullying is scary, that once they fall victim to a bully it will never stop, that they cannot defeat it and no one would believe them.
Do you have plans to write other books on this topic?
Yes, I am in the midst of writing a book for younger children (ages 3-8) to help them understand bullying and what they can do to stop it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Winner of the Best Self Help Book for 2018 by the Pacific Book Awards, Finalist for Self-Help Books for 2019 by the Book Excellence Awards and a Gold Winner Award for Education/Reference for 2020 by the Elite Choice Book Awards.
This informative book challenges the current “system” response of victim blaming and punishment and lays the foundation for a successful way of dealing with bullies.
The author gives:
• Realistic, affordable and easy solutions to the bullying problem.
• Empowering victims to overcome their fears so they can stop the bullies easily.
• Aiding victims to diffuse bullying situations.
• Educating bystanders to understand their role in helping victims
• Educating parents to understand the situation their child is in and how to help.
• Educating school staff how to help the victims instead of punishing them.
• Educating the Justice System to help victims of all forms of abuse.
• Educating governments and education departments on better policy and decision making.
Bullies are really not that scary when you understand them, in fact, they are easy to control when you know how. Put all bullies in their place today, order your copy of Bullying What are we really scared of?
Bullying: What are we really scared of?
In Brenda Turner’s book, Bullying (What are we really scared of?), she explores the subject of bullying. This self-help book leaves no stone unturned, giving insights into the psyches of both bullies and their victims. By sharing snippets from her life, societal facts, and even information from court proceedings, she paints a clear picture of how bullying has evolved over the years.
As you read this book from page to page, you come to understand the different types of bullies, what motivates them, and how to defend yourself against them. And I must say, never has an author laid out such a clear and actionable defense plan before.
As a person who has been bullied before, I deeply relate to the situations painted in this book. From all the stories and statistics that she provides, I can clearly see that the author not only has extensive personal knowledge of the subject matter but also that she constantly does the necessary research to understand it better. She even goes as far as attaching links to research materials.
While this book is thoroughly comprehensive and relatable, I still feel a lot more could be done to pull a reader in. For instance, how the source links are placed in the middle of text with neither warning nor acknowledgment is quite destabilizing. Also, the text seems to get away from the title of the chapter. In this regard, I would have preferred shorter, clearer, and more concise paragraphs. However, I still feel that the author did a good job of breaking down such a complex topic.
However, what I truly love about this book is its action-based approach. The fact that it doesn’t paint victims as helpless individuals but rather as people who can fight back and defeat their oppressors is quite refreshing. In my opinion, it is this single quality that transforms this book from a hopeless doomy piece into a hopeful one.
Apart from hope and the triumph of good against evil, another recurring theme in this narrative is the importance of the family unit’s independence. In this regard, the author iterates again and again the dangers of the government dictating how parents should run their households.
Pages: 420 | ASIN: B0794TXPPN
Bully Friends
![Bully Friends by [Kelechi Uchendu]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41TtO33IHEL.jpg)
Bully Friends by Kelechi Uchendu is an uplifting and inspiring book about how to deal with bully friends, and how to cope with the way they’ve treated you. The book also tells you how to stop yourself from becoming a bully friend. The book explains how having good friends can change your life in a positive way. Kelechi Uchendu provides examples of bully friends, coupled with real-life experiences to let the reader know that they aren’t alone. At the end of every chapter is a page for you to write down your own experiences and ways you think you can improve your friendships.
Providing real-life experiences is great for young readers as they can relate to them. It helps the reader to not feel alone or like the author doesn’t truly understand what they’re going through. The pages to write on at the end of each chapter is great for the reader to identify the similarities between their situation and Kelechi’s so they can stop it. Overall, Bully Friends is a good book for young-adults to read so they know how to avoid bad friendships. Reading a book like this is good for kids to notice the toxic friendships they may have, so they can find better, nicer, and supportive friends.
Bully Friends is one of the most useful books that I’ve read this year as it gave me tools that I can actually use. Kelechi Uchendu covers almost every way a bully friend can abuse you mentally so her readers can avoid those situations. The relatable experiences and helpful advice can help to change anyone’s life for the better.
Pages: 34 | ASIN: B08D3YH1B9
Metal like Me
Metal Like Me by D. W. Saur is a sweet story about acceptance. The author has lovingly crafted an endearing story that will inspire children to learn about diversity and inclusion. Kids will learn that being unique is a gift and we must all embrace it. It does not matter if others are like us or not, as long as we are comfortable with ourselves and not afraid of showing the world who we are. There is no one thing that defines us and we all have different sides. Children will benefit from the life lesson presented in this story, that if others are not willing to make an effort to get to know us then we must step up and put the effort to know them. That’s how we can celebrate true friendships and meaningful relationships. Metal Like Me approaches the topic of bullying in a unique way that makes it easy for parents and children to start a discussion. I definitely recommend this well written, short and easy to understand book as it will teach children a positive way to identify themselves. The illustrations by Danielle Green are beautifully simple with a rough sketch like illustration that will make it easy for kids to relate to. The fantastic artwork excellently captures the unique voice in this charismatic children’s story.
Pages: 50 | ASIN: B0863JJ2WG
LITERARY TITAN 