Best Books for Kids About Bullying, Teasing, and Hitting
“When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you do not stoop to their level. Our motto is when they go low, you go high.” — Michelle Obama
Chrysanthemum: A First Day of School Book for Kids by Kevin Henkes
This charming story follows Chrysanthemum, a little mouse who adores her unique name until teasing at school shakes her confidence. This story teaches kids about empathy and embracing difference and we used it as an opportunity to talk about what they would do if they were each of the characters in the book.
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
A playful Elephant & Piggie tale about friendship, persistence, and what loyalty really means when a bigger bully snatches your favorite ball.
I Eat Poop by Mark Pett, illustrated by Mark Pett
A cute and funny story my kids wanted to read again and again that that gently opened up conversations about teasing people for their differences, or what you can do if someone teases you about your differences.
My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Abigail Marble
A thoughtful and sensitive exploration of the type of aggression that pops up in close relationships, this book uncovers the hidden hurts of friendship misbehavior and the importance of speaking up.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud, illustrated by David Messing
This book encourages young readers to understand that their own actions matter and how showing kindness to others makes both you and the other person feel good, while unkindness makes you both feel bad. This has become a regular part of our family vernacular, and we were thrilled when we learned it was also present in one of our sons' classrooms!
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
A poetic and powerful story that won the Coretta Scott King Award and the Jane Addams Peace Award reflects on missed opportunities for kindness, reminding us how small acts, or their absence, leave lasting impact.
Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy, illustrated by Kim Shaw
We have been trying to teach our kids that it’s not enough to just not bully, and that they also need to be willing to intercept when they see someone else being bullied. This is an empowering read that equips kids with the courage and language to stand up calmly and confidently against bullying, showing that even little actions can make a big difference.
Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
When Stick tries to help Stone, they both become targets of teasing, but through kindness and camaraderie, they discover the strength of true friendship.
Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
A brave story about the often hurtful line of “just kidding” remarks, and how important it is for kids to speak up when teasing goes too far and hurts their hearts.
The Good Dog and the Bad Cat by Todd Kessler, illustrated by Jennifer Gray Olson
A tale where a good-hearted dog and a mischievous cat remind readers that differences, though sometimes annoying, can teach respect and empathy. In our house, we talked a lot about the labels of “good” and “bad,” and how understanding why someone did the behavior they did can result in empathy, forgiveness, and sometimes even friendship.
Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier
This is a super silly story about Millie the cow, who bullies the local mailman. We loved this entertaining way to talk about patience, resilience, and handling teasing with grace.
No More Hitting by Bernette Ford, illustrated by Sam Williams
A simple, direct story that offers children clear guidance on how to replace hitting with words, empathy, and nonviolent communication. We had a teasing-turning-into-hitting situation happening in our neighborhood and of all the books we read this one was the one that opened up the best conversations, which I was a bit surprised by! My four-year-old asked to read it at least a dozen times already.
That’s My Truck! A Good Inside Story about Hitting by Dr. Becky Kennedy, illustrated by Hatem Aly
In this new Good Inside picture book, Dr. Becky helps kids explore the feelings behind hitting and shows them healthier ways to express big emotions. What I loved most about it was that I have a highly sensitive/deeply feeling kiddo who always goes to shame when he recovers from an unkind action. For years I have been telling him “you’re a good kid having a hard time” in response to him declaring “I’m bad” or “I’m the worst kid ever” (heartbreaking for a mom!). There was something that lit him up and validated my words when he read them in this book! I’ve been saying those words to him for at least four years and he never repeated them back until he read them here.