The Literacy Classroom
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English teaching and learning
Anti-bullying Fiction
The Huge Bag of Worries
by Virginia Ironside, illustrated by Frank Rodgers
Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her - in a big blue bag. They are there when she goes swimming, when she is watching TV, and even when she is in the lavatory. Jenny decides they will have to go. But who can help her?
The Huge Bag of Worries was written by Virginia Ironside, one of Britain's leading agony aunts, and has sold 140k copies to date.
'This book can be read millions of times when you are worried.' - Books for Keeps
A compelling picture book which can be used as a spring board into what worries children today.
Tease Monster
by Julia Cook and Illustrated by Anita Dufalla
When One of a Kind is laughed at by Purple One and called a name by Green One, is the Tease Monster to blame? This whimsical story teaches children the difference between mean teasing and friendly teasing and is the newest book in Julia Cook's Building Relationships series.
Leave Me Alone
by Kes Gray
From the bestselling team behind Mum and Dad Glue comes an important story to help raise awareness at home or at school about stopping bullying.
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.
The gently clever use of rhyming verse gives a difficult subject a wonderfully light touch. A must-have for any child who has to deal with bullies.
'An empowering story.' - Books for Keeps
Giraffe is Left Out
by Sue Graves, illustrated by Trevor Dunton
This simple, engaging story is the perfect way to introduce young children to what bullying is, and help them become aware of how their behaviour can impact on other children.There are even suggestions for activities and ideas to talk through together to help children understand.
When Leopard arrives at Jungle School, Giraffe doesn't want to include him and tries to exclude him from joining in. So when Leopard has a birthday party he doesn't invite Giraffe, even though he has invited all his friends. Slowly Giraffe begins to understand how Leopard must have felt when he started school. Can the two of them learn to become friends after all?
Blubber
by Judy Blume
Blubber is a thick layer of fat that lies under the skin and over the muscles of whales . . .
When Linda innocently reads out her class project, everyone finds it funny. Linda can't help it if she's fat, but what starts as a joke leads to a sustained and cruel ritual of humiliation. Jill knows she should defend Linda, but at first she's too scared. When she eventually stands up to the bullies, she becomes their next victim - and what's worse, Linda is now on their side . . .
In Blubber, Judy Blume sensitively explores bullying and true friendship.
The Juice Box Bully
by Bob Sornson, illustrated by Maria Dismondy
How many people have ever seen a bully in action and done nothing about it? In The Juice Box Bully the kids at Pete's new school get involved, instead of being bystanders. When Pete begins to behave badly, his classmates teach him about 'The Promise'. Will Pete decide to shed his bullying habits and make 'The Promise' himself?
The Eighteenth Emergency
by Betsy Byars
Magical storytelling, perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney, David Walliams and Roald Dahl.
Mouse has a plan for every emergency. He knows how to survive a fall from a plane, what to do in quicksand, and how to bewilder a charging bull. But nohing - nobody - could be prepared for Marv Hammerman. Marv Hammerman, Neanderthal man, is twice as big as anyone else in the class, and when he is out to get someone, he usually succeeds.
A timeless, poignant and funny story about bullying from Newbery Medal-Winner Betsy Byars.
The Afterdark Princess
by Annie Dalton
AFTERDARK has been invaded. Only weedy, whining Joe Quail can rescue the last Princess of Afterdark, imprisoned in the Palace of Nightfall. Joe doesn't like Kit and Maisy. But his mother's having a rare evening out, and Joe shares their babysitter Alice Fazackerly. No sooner than his mother leaves, Joe is whirled a desperate rescue operation. Alice, last Princess of Afterdark, is taken hostage by the Mighty Cosmo, Emperor of Nightfall and King of Afterdark. A magical map shows the obstacles which Joe must overcome to save them. Joe fears failure at each challenge on his journey to the Palace of Nightfall. With luck and gradually increasing confidence, he begins to realise he 'wasn't the wrong kind of boy but only needed the right kind of adventure to sort him out'. Joe finally meets the Mighty Cosmo to realise that as ever, his fear is out of proportion. He uncovers the local bully, Kevin, who admits he'd prefer company to power. Together they release Alice, leaving Afterdark and Nightfall united.
The Angel of Nitshill Road
by Anne Fine
A classic children’s story from one of our best-loved authors, former Children’s Laureate Anne Fine.
Until the angel came, Penny, Mark and Marigold were bitterly unhappy. ‘Fat.’ ‘Freak.’ ‘Smelly.’ Barry Hunter was bullying them and everyone at Nitshill Road School knew it. But the angel brings a clever solution. Life at school is going to be very different from now on.
Confessions of a Former Bully
by Trudy Ludwig and Beth Adams
After Katie gets caught teasing a schoolmate, she's told to meet with Mrs. Petrowski, the school counselor, so she can make right her wrong and learn to be a better friend. Bothered at first, it doesn't take long before Katie realizes that bullying has hurt not only the people around her, but her, too. Told from the unusual point of view of the bullier rather than the bullied, Confessions of a Former Bully provides kids with real life tools they can use to identify and stop relational aggression.
My Secret Bully
by Trudy Ludwig and Abigail Marble
THE SECRET'S OUT ON BULLYING
Here is the all-too-familiar story of Monica. She and Katie have been friends since kindergarten. Monica loves being around her when she's nice. But there are times when Katie can be just plain mean. And Monica doesn't understand why.
Monica is a target of relational aggression, emotional bullying among friends who will use name-calling and manipulation to humiliate and exclude. But with a little help from a supportive adult her mother Monica learns to cope and thrive by facing her fears and reclaiming power from her bully.
Including a foreword by the founder of the The Ophelia Project, as well as helpful tips, discussion questions, and additional resources, My Secret Bully is a vital resource for children, parents, teachers, and counselors.
Cloud Busting
by Malorie Blackman
Despite his Mum's insistence, Sam doesn't want to be friends with Davey; he thinks Davey's a first class, grade A, top of the dung heap moron. But one day Davey saves Sam's life and a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey, but little by little he has to admit, when it's just the two of them, Davey is a lot of fun. But then something terrible happens to Davey... Told in verse, in the first person, this is the touching story of an extraordinary friendship that changes two boys’ lives forever.
Willy the Champ
by Anthony Browne
Willy the chimpanzee doesn’t conform to the macho stereotypes and so comes in for a lot of hard times and bullying. Willy likes to read and listen to music. However hard he tries he just cannot get interested in football or swimming, so when Willy meets Buster Nose he is in for a surprise. This book examines the behaviour of bullies and shows ways of dealing with them.
Secret Friends
by Elizabeth Laird
On the first day of secondary school, Lucy calls Rafaella "Earwig" because her name sounds funny and her ears stick out. She regrets her words as soon as they leave her mouth, but now all the other kids are teasing Rafaella, too. Afraid she'll be branded as unpopular, Lucy finds herself avoiding Rafaella at school, but after school a secret friendship develops. By the time Lucy decides to bring their friendship out into the open, a tragedy has occurred: one that may have been avoided if only Lucy had the guts to stand up for her friend.
Secret Friends
by Elizabeth Laird
On the first day of secondary school, Lucy calls Rafaella "Earwig" because her name sounds funny and her ears stick out. She regrets her words as soon as they leave her mouth, but now all the other kids are teasing Rafaella, too. Afraid she'll be branded as unpopular, Lucy finds herself avoiding Rafaella at school, but after school a secret friendship develops. By the time Lucy decides to bring their friendship out into the open, a tragedy has occurred: one that may have been avoided if only Lucy had the guts to stand up for her friend.
The Lion and the Unicorn
by Shirley Hughes
Evacuated during the Second World War, Lenny takes with him a badge given to him by his father, depicting a lion and a unicorn fighting. Lenny is bullied by the children at his new school, but draws courage from his father's badge, and comes to terms with his fear and loneliness when he befriends Mick. Beautifully written and illustrated.
The War Next Door
by Phil Earle
How do you beat someone who bullies? Courage is good. Brains are great. How about circus skills? Jemima has just moved in next door to Masher, a horrible man who loves beating people up. Nobody on Storey Street has ever dared stand up to Masher. But Jemima isn’t scared of Masher. She puts the strength she has gained from her circus act to take him on. A brilliant story about courage and standing up to people who bully
Buried Alive
by Jacqueline Wilson
Tim and his friend Biscuits were having a great time on their beach holiday. Only now two awful boys, Prickle-Head and Pinch-Face, are ruining their stay. With a little help, they learn to stand up to them, but what will happen when the friends fall out and the Prickle-Head and Pinch-Face get the upper hand?