National Bullying Prevention Month
“National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Initially held the first week in October, the event was expanded in 2010 to the entire month.
PACER developed the initial campaign, National Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week, to raise awareness about bullying. Historically, bullying had been viewed as ‘a childhood rite of passage’ that ‘made kids tougher,’ but the reality has always been that bullying can leave devastating and often long-term effects such as a loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression for those involved. PACER reached out to the community through partnerships with education-based organizations such as the National PTA, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association to provide schools, parents and students with the educational resources and support to better respond to bullying behavior. The National Bullying Prevention Center laid the groundwork so that National Bullying Prevention Month is now a nationwide call to action around educating communities as to their roles in bullying prevention. This initiative has helped shift thinking away from bullying as a ‘rite of passage’ and toward the knowledge that bullying can be prevented and stopped through education and awareness.”
—PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center website
Paw Prints Publishing in partnership with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center present a read along video from October 9–18th of the book Troll, which can be viewed here.
To further encourage kids (and adults!) to be “upstanders” instead of bystanders, the CBC has curated a list of 24 new books, all of which tackle the important issue of bullying.
Ace and the Misfits, by Eddie Kawooya (James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers / Lorimer Children & Teens) — Friendships, Immigrant Experience, Cultural Diversity, Coming of Age, Teen.
Always Anthony, written & illustrated by Terri Libenson (HarperCollins) — Coming of Age, Friendships, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7-12.
Any Way You Look, by Maleeha Siddiqui (Scholastic) — Religion / Spirituality, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Coming of Age, Friendships, ages 7-12.
The Beauty of Us, by Farzana Doctor (ECW Press) — Friendships, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Coming of Age, Mystery / Thriller, Teen.
The Big Dreams of Small Creatures, by Gail Lerner (Penguin Random House / Nancy Paulsen Books) — Friendships, Action / Adventure, Animals, Fantasy, ages 7-12.
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody, by Patrick Ness; illustrated by Tim Miller (Candlewick) — Social Emotional Learning, Humor, Animals, Friendships, ages 7-12.
Coop for Keeps, by Larry Verstraete (Great Plains Press / Yellow Dog) — Animals, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Social Emotional Learning, Family / Community, ages 7-12.
Do You Even Know Me?, by Reem Faruqi; illustrated by Ani Bushry (HarperCollins) — Religion / Spirituality, Cultural Diversity, Kindness / Generosity, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
Fake Chinese Sounds, written & illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong (Penguin Random House / Kokila) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Coming of Age, Cultural Diversity, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7-12.
Lacrosse Clash, by Jake Maddox; illustrated by Eduardo Garcia (Capstone Publishers / Stone Arch Press) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Sports / Games / Recreation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Coming of Age, ages 7-12.
Love Is in the Hair, by Gemma Cary (Penguin Random House / Delacorte Press) — Humor, Coming of Age, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Teen.
My Extraordinary Face, by Samir Mardini, M.D., Marissa Suchyta, M.D., Ph.D.; illustrated by Violet Tobacco (Mayo Clinic Books) — Social Emotional Learning, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Disabilities, Kindness / Generosity, ages 4-6.
Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, by Andrew Hacket ; illustrated by Kaz Windness (Page Street Publishing / Page Street Kids) — Social Emotional Learning, Fantasy, Science / Nature, ages 4-6.
Pansy Boy, by Paul Harfleet (Barbican Press) — LGBTQIA+, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Science / Nature, Kindness / Generosity, ages 7-12.
Perla The Mighty Dog, by Isabel Allende; illustrated by Sandy Rodríguez (Penguin Random House / Philomel Books) — Animals, Friendships, Family / Community, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 4-6.
Pizza Face, by Rex Ogle; illustrated by Dave Valeza (Scholastic / Graphix) — Social Emotional Learning, Coming of Age, Humor, Friendships, ages 7-12.
Pizza for Birds, by Bob Shea (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) — Humor, Animals, Food / Cooking, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
Pretty Furious, by E.K. Johnston (Penguin Random House / Dutton) — Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Friendships, Coming of Age, Teen.
Select, by Christie Matheson (Penguin Random House / Yearling) — Sports / Games / Recreation, Friendships, Family / Community, Mental / Physical Health, ages 7-12.
The Things We Miss, by Leah Stecher (Bloomsbury / Bloomsbury Children’s Books) — Fantasy, Coming of Age, Friendships, ages 7-12.
Troll, by Frances Stickley; illustrated by Stefano Martinuz (Paw Prints Publishing) — Social Emotional Learning, Disabilities, Kindness / Generosity, Concepts, ages 4-6.
The Voice of the Forest, by Susanna Isern; illustrated by Daniel Montero Galán (Cuento de Luz) — Social Emotional Learning, Friendships, Animals, Kindness / Generosity, ages 4-6
Weirdo, by Tony Weaver, Jr; illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo (Macmillan Publishers / First Second) — Biography / Memoir, Friendships, Coming of Age, ages 7-12.
You Made Fun of My Sandwich, by Jessica Pegis; illustrated by Harry Briggs (Teacher Created Materials / Free Spirit Publishing) — Social Emotional Learning, Food / Cooking, Humor, Kindness / Generosity, ages 7-12.
Check out more Diversity booklists and resources, and our Inclusivity Resources.
