Recommended Books

Preventing Biased Based Bullying Elementary School Age

(Many of these books have been pulled from the Human Rights Campaign’s Welcoming Schools Booklists. To see their full lists of recommendations click here.)

Big. Vashti Harrison. (Pre-K – 2) The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling creator Vashti Harrison traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

Bully. Patricia Polacco. (3 – 6) Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie. When Lyla makes the cheerleading squad, she joins the clique of popular girls leaving Jamie behind. But Lyla knows bullying when she sees it and becomes friends with Jaime again. The mean girls take revenge. Focuses on cyberbullying.

Chocolate Me! Taye Diggs. (Pre-K – 1) Teased for looking different than the other kids—his skin is darker, his hair curlier—he tells his mother he wishes he could be more like everyone else. She helps him to see how beautiful he really, truly is.

The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate. Janice Cohn. (2 – 6) Based on real events that happened in Billings, Montana, in 1993. This powerful narrative tells how two children, two families – one Jewish, one Christian – and a community resolve to stand together against the shameful actions that have been happening in their town.

Chrysanthemum. Kevin Henkes. (Pre-K – 1) Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria. "Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu. Wendy Wan-Long Shang. (3 – 6) A humorous and heartwarming story about split cultural identities and the way life doesn’t go as planned for sixth-grader Lucy Wu – especially when her great-aunt comes for an extended visit from China.

Indian No More. Charlene Willing Mcmanis. (4 – 7) After their tribe is “terminated” by the government, Regina's father signs the family up for the Indian Relocation program and moves them to Los Angeles. Regina finds a whole new world. For the first time in her life, Regina comes face to face with the viciousness of racism.

The Invisible Boy. Trudy Ludwig. (K – 3) Nobody ever seems to notice Brian or think to include him in their group, game or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class. Spanish Edition: El niño invisible

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness. Kerascoët. (Pre-K – 1) In the wake of seeing a classmate treated badly, one girl inspires a community to stand up to bullying by being allies. Inspired by real events.

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You. Sonia Sotomayor. (Pre-K – 2) Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have using her own experience as a child.

Ouch Moments: When Words Are Used in Hurtful Ways. Michael Genhart. (1 – 3) Sometimes kids use hurtful words to put down another child. Ouch moments happen quickly and other kids don’t know what to do. When these moments occur, the perpetrator, the victim and the bystanders need help. Readers will be encouraged to be caring and take a stand.

Pippa Park Raises Her Game. Erin Yun. (5 – 7) After Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to Lakeview Private, she juggles old and new friends while keeping her past and her family’s laundromat a secret. But when Pippa begins to receive a string of hateful, anonymous messages via social media, her carefully built persona is threatened. Pippa wonders if she can keep her old and new lives separate, or if she should even try.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family. Ibtihaj Muhammad. (Pre-K – 1) It’s the first day of school and Asiya will wear her first-day hijab. “Some people won’t understand your hijab, Mama had said. But if you understand who you are, one day they will too.” Olympic medalist, Ibtihaj Muhammad writes of the unbreakable bond between siblings, and of being proud of who you are.

Real Friends. Shannon Hale. (4 – 7) Shannon needs to decide whether being part of The Group is worth it even if that means bullying others. A graphic novel memoir about relational aggression and the power of finding true friends. The sequel Best Friends looks at the challenges of keeping a circle of friends, and the anxiety of standing up to bullying.

Save Me a Seat. Sarah Weeks. (3 – 7) Joe's lived in the same town all his life while Ravi's family just moved to America from India. Joe and Ravi don't think they have anything in common -- but soon enough they have a common enemy (the meanest kid in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.

Starfish. Lisa Fipps. (5 – 7) Since she was young, Ellie was bullied about her weight. With support from a few people, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life--by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

Preventing Biased Based Bullying Secondary School Age

American Born Chinese. Gene Luen Yang. (7-9) The Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest Chinese fables, Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, and Jin Wang, who discovers he is the only Chinese-American student at his new school, learn empathy and acceptance in this graphic novel featuring three apparently unrelated characters' lives that come together through an unexpected twist.

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories. Dawn Metcalf. (8-12) Today's top authors for teens and young people come together to share their stories about bullying—as bystanders, as victims, and as the bullies themselves-in this moving and deeply personal collection. 

Felix Ever After. Kacen Callender. (9-12) Felix Love has never been in love. What's worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he's one marginalization too many-Black, queer, and transgender-to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages, Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. Spanish Edition: Felix para sempre

Free Lunch. Rex Ogle. (5 - 9) Based on his own experience as a poor kid in a wealthy school district, Rex vividly tells of his first semester of sixth grade as he tries to hide that he doesn't have much money while classmates and a teacher take one look at him and decide he's trouble. Life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. 

Harbor Me. Jacqueline Woodson. (48) When six kids have to meet for a weekly chat by themselves, with no adults to listen in, they discover it's safe to talk about what's bothering them-- Esteban's father's deportation, Haley's father's incarceration, Amari's fears of racial profiling, Ashton's adjustment to his changing family fortunes and more. When they are together, they can express the emotions they have to hide from the rest of the world. Also see Feathers.

Henna Wars. Adiba Jaigirdar. (1012) Nishat doesn't want to lose her family, but she also doesn't want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once her childhood friend, Flávia walks back into her life. Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance. Spanish Edition: La guerra de la henna

Maybe He Just Likes You. Barbara Dee (48) For seventh-grader Mila, it starts with some boys giving her an unwanted hug. Then, boys don't leave Mila alone. It doesn't feel like flirting. Mila learns how to stand her ground as the book explores the subject of #MeToo for the middle grade audience.

The New David Espinoza. Fred Aceves. (9 – 12) After a humiliating video of David being bullied and slapped goes viral, he decides he will do anything he can to change his life. Although steroids and bodybuilding give him the physique he desires, the new David has just as many problems as the old one.

Other Boys. Damian Alexander. (5 - 9) Damian is the new kid at school. He thinks he has a foolproof plan to avoid the bullying that's plagued him his whole childhood: he's going to stop talking. If he keeps his mouth shut, the bullies will have nothing to tease him about, right? This graphic memoir details David's struggles with bullying, the death of his mother and coming out. 

The Skin I'm In. Sharon G Flake. (5 – 7) Maleeka suffers every day from the taunts. If they're not getting at her about her homemade clothes or her good grades, it's about her dark, black skin. But the new teacher's attitude surprises Maleeka. Miss Saunders loves the skin she's in. Can Maleeka learn to do the same?

Stargirl. Jerry Spinelli. (7-12) Stargirl captivates everyone at Mica High when she arrives — including Leo. Soon, however, Stargirl realizes she either has to change herself to be "normal" enough to fit in, or remain true to herself and accept her classmates' taunts. Stargirl knows she has to choose what's right for herself, not Leo or anyone else. Also see Love, Stargirl.

LGBTQ+

Gender Explained: A New Understanding of Identity in a Gender Creative World. By Diane Ehrensaft, PhD and Michelle Jurkiewicz, PsyD (9th Grade +) Explores all of the most recent terminology, science, and psychology surrounding gender and gender expression.

This Book Is Gay. Juno Dawson. (9th Grade +)  A frank, humorous, and educational guide for teens about LGBTQ+ life

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family. By Amy Ellis Nutt (10th Grade +) This book is the humanizing true story of an American family as they learn and grow together through their transgender daughter's journey.