Multicultural Children's Book Day

#ReadYourWorld

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Mission & History
    • Our Partner Organizations
    • What is a Multicultural Book?
    • Co-Founders
    • Board of Trustees
    • Board of Advisors
    • Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
    • Team
    • MCBD Timelines
    • Make a Donation: #GivingTuesday 2022
    • Media Partners
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Us
  • FREE Diverse Books
    • FREE Diverse Books for Classrooms Program
    • FREE Diversity Book For Reviewers!
    • Authors & Publishers: Book Donations
    • Donate
  • Sponsorship
    • MCBD2023 Medallion Level Sponsors
    • MCBD2023 Author Sponsors
    • Fundraisers & Marketing Services
      • Fundraiser | Social Media Shout Outs!
      • Sponsor of the Week/Month
      • Fundraising/ Sponsored Post Services
      • Multicultural Children’s Book Day ebook
    • Medallion and Author Level Sponsorships for MCBD2023 are OPEN!
  • Reading Resources
    • Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents
    • Multicultural Children’s Book Day Classroom Kit 2022 Mental Health Support for Stressful Times
    • Raising Awareness on Systemic Racism in America Classroom Kit
    • Homeschool Diverse Kidlit Booklist & Activity Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Activism and Activists Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Empathy Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Kindness Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Physical and Developmental Challenges Kit
    • FREE Teacher Classroom Poverty Kit
    • Gallery of Our Free Posters
    • Neurodiverse and Autistic Voices Are Your Best Autism Resources
    • IG Live Interview Series
    • 2021 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2020 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2019 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2018 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2017 Big Giant Linky!
    • 2016 Big Giant LInky!
    • 2015 Big Giant Linky!
  • Press Kit & Stats
    • Press Kit
    • Social Proof & Media Mentions
    • 2016 Recap and Stats
    • 2015 Recap and Stats
  • Blog
  • Sign Up for Free Updates

9 Diverse Middle-grade Books for National Bullying Prevention Month

September 29, 2020 by Valarie Budayr

{guest post from Tonya Duncan Ellis }

 

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Though many children aren’t physically in schools this fall, it’s still a great time to increase awareness of this important issue, which can also happen during virtual learning. Bullying, defined as repeated, unwanted aggressive behavior toward someone vulnerable, can leave lasting, negative effects on a child. Bullied kids suffer depression and anxiety, health complaints, and lowered school performance, among other issues.

One in five students reported being bullied last year, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. Elementary school bullies most often name call or use physical attacks, while bullies in high school most often spread rumors, exclude others, or cyberbully. Children who are overweight, underweight, disabled, gifted, belong to racial or ethnic minorities, speak a second language at home, or are transgender, gay, or are in any way different from the “norm” is most likely to be targeted by bullies. Kids are often afraid to report bullying incidents because they’re scared of being called snitches or tattletales by peers, or fear the bully with retaliate.

What’s one of the best ways to prevent children from bullying or being bullied? Talk about it. Statistics show that when discussions about bullying go up between parents and children, teachers, and school officials, bullying incidents go down. Reading some of the multicultural, chapter and middle-grade books listed below that address bullying is a great way to get conversations started.

Diverse Middle-grade Books for National Bullying Prevention Month

Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff – Not really great at anything, half-Korean main character Albie is bullied in school and is a disappointment to his parents because of his learning differences. His babysitter, Calista, helps him realize his true worth. There are many lessons in this sweet story about accepting yourself and others as they are.

A Place At The Table by Saddia Faruqi and Laura Shovan– Told in alternate viewpoints of main characters, Sara, a Pakistani-American, and Elizabeth, a white, Jewish girl, whose mother is British, this book explores friendship, family, and fitting in. When Sara is the target of racist attacks from Elizabeth’s former best friend, Elizabeth learns to stand up to the bullying behavior and offer Sara support.

EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken by Sally Warner – Eight-year-old EllRay gets in trouble every time he tries to stand up to Jared the class bully. EllRay’s father makes a deal to take him to Disneyland if he can stay out of trouble for a full week. Can he avoid the bully and meet the challenge?

Front Desk by Kelly Yang – This book, based on the author’s childhood as an immigrant, tells about a newly arrived Chinese family’s experience managing a California hotel. The immigrants are taken advantage of and abused, and the main character, Mia, is bullied at school. Though the book deals with tough issues, it is heartwarming and at times even funny.

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams – Self-acceptance is a big theme of this book about a girl whose family is constantly forced to move because of her father’s alcoholism and gambling addiction. The main character, Genesis, struggles to make friends and keeps a list of the reasons she hates herself, many of them stemming from her dark skin and African American features. Sadly, a lot of the bullying comes from within her own family. The scenes where Genesis tries to alter her skin and finds out her grandma and father’s views of her appearance are heartbreaking, but there is a strong message of hope and forgiveness in the end.

Just Jaime by Terri Libenson – In this graphic novel, told in two points of view, Jaime and her BFF, Maya, are on the outs when Maya starts hanging with a faster crowd who thinks Jaime is too babyish. This book shows what happens when friendship dynamics change as kids grow and what kids can do when they feel excluded.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park – Racist micro-aggressions toward the main character, Hanna, as she tries to fit in and realize her dreams in a small town in America’s heartland are the focus of this book. The author perfectly captures the feel of the beloved Little House series but modernizes it by showing prairie life through the eyes of a half-Chinese girl, and also gives glimpses into the Native American experience.

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gina Varadarajan – Joe, a so-so student whose best friends have moved away, and Ravi, a nerdy new classmate from India, seem like polar opposites, but they have one thing in common. They’re both teased by the class bully, Dillon. Sticking together, the unlikely pair come up with a solution and become friends.

Sophie Washington: The Snitch by Tonya Duncan Ellis – A bully terrorizes fifth-grader, Sophie, and friends in this entertaining, illustrated chapter book. They keep quiet because they don’t want to be labeled as “tattletales.” Then a classmate gets seriously injured and Sophie needs to make a decision: fight back, or snitch?

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the bestselling Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).


www.tonyaduncanellis.com
Like Us on Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks
Follow Us on Twitter: @tonyaDEllis
Follow Us on Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks

Middle-Reader Bullying Booklist

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Multicultural Booklist Tagged With: Books for Kids about bullying, Bullying, diverse chapter books, diverse middle-grade books, Diverse Middle-grade Books for National Bullying Prevention Month, Middle-Reader Bullying Booklist, National Bullying Prevention Month middle-reader books, Prevention

Help us get diverse Kidlit into schools!

Join our Read Your World
Newsletter and Blog List
Be the first to know about the latest Read Your World news, new children's books, exclusive offers, and special events.
Thanks for subscribing to our newsletter!

Make a Way Media Super Platinum Sponsor

Language Lizard Platinum Sponsor

Mia Wenjen Founders Circle

Audrey Press Founders Circle

Publisher Spotlight Gold Sponsor

Publisher Spotlight 2023

Interlink Publishing Gold Sponsor

Interlink 2023

Cardinal Rule Press Silver Sponsor

Barefoot Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low Books Silver Sponsor

Lee & Low 2023

Kimberly Gordon Biddle Silver Sponsor

Vivian Kirkfield Bronze Sponsor

Patrice McLaurin Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

The Quarto Group Bronze Sponsor

Carole P. Roman Bronze Sponsor

Star Bright Books Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Redfin Canada Bronze Sponsor

Redfin Canada 2023

Rent.com Bronze Sponsor

Bay Equity Home Loans Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward Bronze Sponsor

Title Forward 2023

Brunella Costagliola Bronze Sponsor

Brunella Costagliola 2023

Stay in the loop with all MCBD Happenings!

MCBD is included in the Top 100 Children’s Book Blogs!

Children’s Book Blogs

Copyright © 2023 · Multicultural Childrens Book Day on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cleantalk Pixel