Book Reviews
The Bully in the Book and in the Classroom by C. J. Bott
Reading level: Adult
STEPS TO RESPECT users will find this book a useful resource for identifying additional selections of children's literature about bullying. The Bully in the Book and in the Classroom provides a variety of recommended books for the following grade-level groupings:
- Kindergarten–Grade 3
- Grades 4–6
- Middle school
- High school
Each grade-level chapter includes:
- A brief overview of bullying characteristics for that grade level
- 8–10 recommended books with:
- In-depth summaries of each book
- Topics for discussion
- Excerpts from the recommended books to fuel reader response and discussion
- A bibliography of additional titles published since 1990
Additional chapters in the book provide:
- General information about bullying
- What teachers can and should do about bullying
- An annotated bibliography of selected resources
The author's focus is how to use literature as a subtle yet powerful way of addressing the often hidden problem of bullying. The books that are highlighted were chosen specifically for their relevance to children's day-to-day lives.
Although The Bully in the Book and in the Classroom is not a substitute for focused schoolwide bullying prevention efforts, it can be a valuable tool to complement a bullying prevention program.
Doug Cooper
Research Associate
Committee for Children
