Books About Bullying

Kids grappling with bullying can check out our list of relatable books for various ages, from picture books to tween and teen novels to memoirs. Some books deal with cyberbullying, while others portray the old-fashioned face-to-face kind. In some cases, bullying stems from racial bias or simply perceiving the other person as "different." In others, it's driven by petty jealousies and power dynamics. These stories show positive ways to stand up to bullying, and many zero in on the deep wounds that can lead a kid to engage in bullying -- and how a person can grow beyond them. For more stories about kids' interactions, see our Books That Support Diversity and Inclusion and Coming-of-Age Books.

Bully Poster Image
BOOK

Bully

age 3+

Simple animal tale of bullying, empathy, and forgiveness.

Llama Llama and the Bully Goat Poster Image
BOOK

Llama Llama and the Bully Goat

age 3+

School bully tale great for showing kids how to respond.

By: Anna Dewdney (2013)
Myrtle Poster Image
BOOK

Myrtle

age 4+

Affirming story of a little rat standing up to a bully.

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BOOK

Stick and Stone

age 4+

Charming art distinguishes story about friends and bullies.

By: Beth Ferry (2015)
Coat of Many Colors Poster Image
BOOK

Coat of Many Colors

age 5+

Lyrics of inspirational Dolly Parton song address bullying.

By: Dolly Parton (2016)
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully Poster Image
BOOK

Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully

age 5+

Imaginative girl tackles bully in upbeat playground story.

By: Julianne Moore (2009)
Super Fly: The World's Smallest Superhero!: Super Fly, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Super Fly: The World's Smallest Superhero!: Super Fly, Book 1

age 5+

Underdog takes on bully in light, fun chapter book.

By: Todd H. Doodler (2015)
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BOOK

Bluebird

age 6+

Striking, vibrant tale of friendship, bullying, and loss.

By: Bob Staake (2013)
EllRay Jakes the Dragon Slayer! Poster Image
BOOK

EllRay Jakes the Dragon Slayer!

age 7+

Kids stand up to bullies in warm family story.

By: Sally Warner (2013)
Justin Case: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully Poster Image
BOOK

Justin Case: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully

age 7+

Giggles, wisdom as worrywart Justin starts fourth grade.

By: Rachel Vail (2014)
Black Brother, Black Brother Poster Image
BOOK

Black Brother, Black Brother

age 8+

Boy challenges school bully in exciting sports story.

Me and Marvin Gardens Poster Image
BOOK

Me and Marvin Gardens

age 8+

Sensitive boy vs. subdivision, bullies in coming-of-age gem.

By: Amy Sarig King (2017)
Pottymouth and Stoopid Poster Image
BOOK

Pottymouth and Stoopid

age 8+

Underdogs overcome labels in sensitive, funny story.

Real Friends Poster Image
BOOK

Real Friends

age 8+

Painfully honest, hopeful memoir of coping with frenemies.

By: Shannon Hale (2017)
The Queen Bee and Me Poster Image
BOOK

The Queen Bee and Me

age 8+

Relatable story about conformity has strong science content.

By: Gillian McDunn (2020)
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BOOK

Blubber

age 9+

Honest novel shows brutality of grade school bullying.

By: Judy Blume (1974)
Smiling Black boy in blue shirt holds large magnifying glass
BOOK

Chester Keene Cracks the Code

age 9+

Boy finds family, friendship in heartwarming adventure.

By: Kekla Magoon (2022)
Falling Short Cover
BOOK

Falling Short

age 9+

Sweet, vulnerable friendship of two Latino sixth-grade boys.

By: Ernesto Cisneros (2022)
Book cover: Latina girl with big, curly hair smiles hopefully
BOOK

Frizzy

age 9+

Girl untangles prejudice, grief as she cares for her hair.

By: Claribel A. Ortega (2022)
Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone Book Image
BOOK

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

age 9+

Powerful, emotional novel tackles bullying and friendship.

By: Tae Keller (2022)