How can we stop

and prevent
With books!
bullying?

Through books, students

can make a connection
with story characters and
their feelings, and this
association can promote
self-confidence, empathy,
and insight (G. Esch,
2012, page 381).
Coping can come in many
forms such as verbally
confronting, revengeful
behavior, seeking advice
from adults or friends,
resolving a conflict,
avoiding, creating
distractions, humor, and
ignoring the problem
completely (K Flanagan,
K. Hoek, A. Shelton, S.
Kelly, C. Morrison, A.
Young, 2013, page 693).
As adults, it is important
to watch the individuals
behaviors and understand
which coping strategies
are appropriate for the
individual.

References:
Entenman, J.,
Murnen, T. J., Hendricks,
C. (2005). Victims, bullies,
and bystanders in K-3
literature.The Reading
Teacher,59:4, 352-364.
doi:10.1598/RT.59.4.5

By Melissa Bucher

Esch, G. (2012).
Childrens literature:
Perceptions of
bullying.Childhood
Education,84:6, 379-382.
doi:
10.1080/00094056.2008.10
523046
Flanagan, K. S.,
Vanden Hoek, K. K.,
Shelton, A., Kelly, S. L.,
Morrison, C. M., Young, A.
M. (2013). Coping with
bullying: What answers
does childrens literature
provide?School
Psychology
International,34:6, 691706. doi:
10.1177/014303431347969
1
Mankiw, S., Strasser,
J. (March, 2013). Tender
topics: Exploring sensitive
issues with pre-k through

Mankiw, S., Strasser, J. (March, 2013). Tender topics: Exploring sensitive issues with pre-k through first
grade children through read-alouds. Young Children, 84-89.

Bullying
and
Literature

What is bullying?
Bullying is a tender topic
many people relate to in
some way, whether it be
as the bully, victim,
bystander, or adult.
Bullying is a conscious
and willful act of
aggression or
manipulation by one or
more people against
another person or people
(J. Entenman, T. Murnen,
C. Hendricks, 2005, page
352). To young students,
this is even more so
important to resolve and
prevent because young
children are vulnerable
targets of persecutors (G.
Esch, 2008, page 380).
Bullying is not the same
as fighting because
fighting is when both
individuals are upset.
Bulling is the desire to
intimidate or dominate
another student (J.
Entenman, T. Murnen, C.
Hendricks, 2005, page
352). Bullying can be seen
in different ways such as
teasing, stealing
homework or money,

How does literature

play a role in bullying?
Bibliotherapy is an affective
tool to use when students
come across tender topics,
such as bullying. It is a way of
using literature to help
individual or small groups of
children understand specific
difficult experiences (Thibault
2004) (Mankiw and Strasser,
2013, page 85). Sometimes it
is difficult to discuss certain
topics, such as bullying, to
students of different ages.
Literature helps explain what
bullying is on a level
appropriate of the age of the
student. Books help students
not only put in perspective, but
also help students relate by
allowing students to see
themselves in the characters
(Mankiw and Strasser, 2013,
page 85). Childrens books
demonstrate many possible
strategies to resolve and
prevent bullying or being a
victim of bullying (G. Esch,
2008, page 381). Reading plays
an important role in education
and learning. Because of this,
reading is an important
element in tender topics, such

What is the adults

role?
As the adult, you are the
one students look up to for
information. Because of
this, invite conversations
about tender topics
(Mankiw and Strasser,
2013, page 88). When
explaining tender topics,
such as bullying, it is
important to listen to the
children so that you can
create a deeper
understanding of how
children use real-life
experiences to construct
knowledge about the
world (Mankiw and
Strasser, 2013, page 88).
This will help you when
explaining by putting
yourself in their shoes to
see how they best
understand these tender
topics, as well as address
any misunderstandings
they may have or develop.
Reading is a great tool to
help discuss bullying and
any other tender topic. By
using books to explain
bullying, you are helping