Resisting Bullying

Social emotional learning is a broad topic to introduce, yet this series does so succinctly. The information presented is plain and straightforward, defining what it means to be kind or generous, how to show responsibility or honesty, and how to handle a bully and persevere. The notion that life can be hard, or that someone can be mean, might be difficult for younger child to comprehend, but the short examples given, such as finishing a race even when it appears that you won’t win, offer the ability to discuss the texts for meaning. Each title starts with information for caregivers or teachers, and suggests taking a “walk” through the book before reading it, to begin discussion on the topic. Suggested activities are thematically tied to each title, like a gratitude jar or an anti-bullying poster. VERDICT An unpretentious look at emotion and character education suited for classroom and library settings alike.

This title in the Building Character series (7 titles) uses short, direct sentences to relay examples of kids responding to instance of bullying in helpful ways, such as saying “Stop” or walking away. Vocabulary words (“bully,” “tease,” “cyberbully,” “buddy”) are highlighted in the text and defined in the picture glossary. Neither the examples nor the accompanying stock photos feel particularly compelling, but they do get the message across. A “Help Stop Bullying” page in the back matter summarizes the five anti-bullying techniques introduced in the text and presents a project: making a hand-outline poster as a reminder of these techniques. While children may not be independently drawn to this book, parents and teachers may find it a helpful and straightforward tool to aid in discussions about preventing bullying. —Miriam Aronin