Book Club — Pre-K
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
“Included©” is a heartwarming story that aims to teach inclusion, kindness, empathy, and compassion. It expresses that although other kids may appear to be different on the outside, what is on the inside is what matters most.
Katy Didn't
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
Sometimes other kids can make faces, whisper secrets, and laugh. But a good friend can make all the difference in the world, which is just what this new bug finds out on his first day of school when he meets Katydid. She's not like all the other bugs. She's welcoming, kind, and caring. When all the other bugs picked on the new kid . . . Katy didn't! A slice-of-life picture book young readers will relate to, but with a twist: The school in the story is set in the insect world!
Lola Hopscotch and the First Day of School
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
A heartwarming story about a bashful bunny who is able to turn her first day of school into a great experience by spreading kindness.
Feeling bashful about the first day of school, Lola Hopscotch is off to the playground. This timid bunny’s world is shaken when other children make fun of her long ears and big feet.
But Lola has much to say and it’s time to play! She meets new friends and stands up for herself, even teaching the children how to play her favorite game. The picture book is wonderful when read by students, but is also meant for parents to read to kids in order to foster communication from an early age.
Check out Lola in her other wonderful book, There's A New Kid, Lola Hopscotch, about welcoming a new student with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
Mr. Fish and all his friends
Love to play down at the park.
But that ends when they’re bullied
By a misbehaving shark!
Mr. Fish wants to help.
He knows bullying is wrong!
But he’s just one fish—
Is he really that strong?
The New York Times–bestselling Pout-Pout Fish teaches a bully shark about kindness and being a friend in this original picture book. Swim along as he discovers the strength of his community, and the power of his own voice.
The Too Small Elephant
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
Simple and bright, The Too Small Elephant empowers young readers to respond to the behavior of others with kindness and understanding. The story of Emmaline, a very small elephant, reveals that sometimes those choosing to hurt others are most in need of our kindness. It takes the brave words of a new friend to inspire Emmaline to face her insecurities. Will her friends forgive her?
Download the classroom discussion questions.
Ella and The Mighties
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3-8
Enjoy this beautifully illustrated book called Ella and The Mighties, written by 19-year-old Jonna Samuelson and 21-year-old Michael Hernandez! Ella and The Mighties is a book about bullying prevention that shows children the seriousness of bullying, and how their words can affect someone. This book also shows children self-love and respect. Ella and The Mighties features a tiny dachshund puppy named Ella, who is getting bullied in school because of her size. She doesn't know who to go to or how to handle the situation. Ella is very confused and sad until she meets three friends who show her how serious bullying can be, and that she can ask for help. Her new friends also teach Ella, and Ella’s classmates, that judging people by how they look or talk is not okay.
The Secrets of the Pond
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3 and older
Cora and her turtle friends experience some bullying behavior by Haley at school in the Pond. Not knowing who to talk to, Cora keeps it secret from her mother and teachers. With the help of some trusted adults, Cora and Haley both find support and friendship.
Red
Suggested Audiences: Pre-Kindergarten and older
In this story, a girl finds it funny when her classmate starts blushing on the school playground. Her friends laugh along with her, but one student takes the teasing too far. Torn between her sympathy for her classmate and her fear of being bullied, the girl must make a difficult choice. This heartfelt book will inspire readers to find the courage to take a stance against bullying and show compassion towards others.
Being Small (Isn't So Bad After All)
Suggested Audiences: Pre-kindergarten and older
Being small is the worst! No one ever picks me for their sports team and my feet hurt from standing on my tiptoes all the time. There can't be anything good about being small...right?
Being Small is a picture book about a little girl who is scared to go to school because she's the shortest kid in the class. She talks about all of the reasons that being short is a challenge, but her mother presents to her funny and unique advantages that only she has because of her height, instilling self-confidence in her. This rhyming picture book is a great way to introduce children to concepts of self-acceptance, self-confidence and bullying prevention.
Boomer, Be Nice!
Suggested Audiences: Pre-Kindergarten and older
One Saturday morning, Boomer Bulldog bullies his friends at the neighborhood playground. When he finds himself sad and alone, he learns a valuable lesson about being nice to others. Follow Boomer and his friends in this story of bullying, the importance of being kind, and the power of forgiveness.
Strictly No Elephants
Suggested Audiences: Pre-Kindergarten and older
When the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals in this sweet and adorable picture book.
Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.
Imaginative and lyrical, this sweet story captures the magic of friendship and the joy of having a pet.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Suggested Audiences: Pre-Kindergarten and older
Every year at Christmastime, everyone—young and old alike—has one catchy, joy-inspiring song stuck in their heads: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!” Now fans of the most famous reindeer of all-time can fall in love with the original story, written by Robert L. May in 1939.
Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck who possesses an unusual luminous red nose, is harassed mercilessly and excluded by his peers because of this trait. One particularly stormy Christmas Eve, Rudolph manages to prove himself after Santa Claus catches sight of his nose and asks him to lead his sleigh for the evening. Rudolph agrees, saving Christmas, and is finally treated the way he deserves by his fellow reindeer!
Bernie Gets Bullied
Suggested Audiences: Ages 4-6
Bernie is a Bull. He’s not your typical scary bull. He’s soft, shy and always picked on. He’s the laughing stock of the school. When the book opens Bernie doesn’t even want to get out of bed. He is teased all the way to school and throughout the day. This day is different. This is the day Bernie will make a change. Today is the day he is going to do something about it. Today is the last day Bernie gets Bullied.
Stick and Stone
Suggested Audiences: Ages 4-8
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair become fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor? The warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. The New York Times best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare. In this funny story about kindness and friendship, Stick and Stone join George and Martha, Frog and Toad, and Elephant and Piggie as some of the greatest friend duos in children’s literature.
Access the online activity kit to explore the power of friendship with Stick and Stone.
WAHE
Suggested Audiences: Age 3 and beyond
Wahe (pronounced like HA) is the story of an adventurous little girl in the big city, who learns a small choice can make a big difference.
A portion of book sales and related products are donated to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
Little Lucky LadyBug
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3 to 7
Little Lucky Ladybug travels to each place where she meets different creatures. All of these creatures see the beauty and uniqueness in Ladybug, and she helps them each discover that they possess special qualities as well. Ladybug shows them that they are all beautiful and unique in their own way.
Mighty Millie
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3 to 8
Mighty Millie is a beautifully illustrated story written in verse. It is the tale of Millie, a shy little mouse who likes to stay unnoticed. One day, Millie discovers bullies are picking on other mice at her school. At first, Millie is scared and not sure what she can do to help. Despite her own fears and shyness, Millie decides that she can’t let this bullying carry on - she must stand up for others. Soon enough, other mice start to follow Millie's lead and stick up for each other. By being an upstander, Millie not only helps the mice being picked on, she also begins to overcome her own shyness. This story encourages young readers to put themselves in Millie’s place and think about how they would react to a similar situation.
Bob the Artist
Suggested Audiences: Ages 3 to 5
An affirming picture book for ages 3+ about the power of art and of being confident. Bob the bird is just like all his friends, apart from his skinny legs. When Bob is teased, he decides to try and change himself to fit in. But little does he know where all his efforts will lead him.
“Feel Brave” Book Series
Suggested Audiences: Ages 4 to 9
The Feel Brave series is a collection of five picture books designed to help children explore positive psychology and emotional intelligence in a safe and non-threatening way, through the art of storytelling. Each story contains a strategy in which to overcome a negative emotion, with the help of a lovable wolf called Wolfgang and his friends. A Teaching Guide based on the key learning areas from each book has been released to help teachers seamlessly integrate social and emotional health into their classroom routine.
Each of the five books tackles a difficult issue a child may be experiencing at home or at school, with their friends or alone, and provides them with the tools to feel better. This includes low self-esteem; change, loss and grief; anxiety and fears; and bullying. The Feel Brave series uses the magic of storytelling to approach these real life issues in a safe and creative way and shows the reader that they are not alone.
Children will fall in love with the characters and the engaging text and illustrations, while parents and teachers will delight in the subtle but inspiring messages contained in each story, encouraging the reader to feel brave again.
