Pink Shirt Day, which falls on February 24 this year, started with the story of two Nova Scotia teens who stood by a bullied classmate. Here are 10 other stories to teach kids of all ages about bullying, empathy and acceptance.
Ages 3 to 5
Stick and Stone
By Beth Ferry
After Stick sticks up for Stone when he’s bullied by Pinecone, their friendship flourishes. On the adventures that follow, they’ll learn that having and being a good friend rocks!
Llama Llama and the Bully Goat
By Anna Dewdney
When Gilroy pushes and teases kids on the playground, Llama remembers what his teacher said about bullies. He walks away and tells an adult — and it works!
Ages 6 to 8
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
By Patty Lovell
Molly Lou is short and has buck teeth, but her grandmother taught her to stand tall and smile big. So when a boy picks on her at school, Molly Lou knows just what to do.
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
By Christine Baldacchino
Morris uses his imagination to go on a fantastic space adventure and learns to embrace his differences after classmates tease him for wearing a tangerine dress at school.
Ages 9 to 11
Confessions of a Former Bully
By Trudy Ludwig
After she gets caught teasing a friend, Katie shares advice from the school counsellor about how her behaviour hurts others (and herself) in this illustrated diary-style book.
Wonder
By R. J. Palacio
Auggie, who was born with a facial deformity, shows his classmates that people are more than their appearance while also learning that it’s OK to stand out.
Ages 12 to 14
Twerp
By Mark Goldblatt
As Julian writes stories about his sixth-grade life for an assignment, he realizes how easily joking around with friends and trying to fit in can escalate into bullying.
Does My Head Look Big in This?
By Randa Abdel-Fattah
When 16-year-old Amal decides to wear a hijab full-time, she learns how to deal with taunts from her classmates and stand by her decision to embrace her faith.
Ages 15 to 17
Symptoms of Being Human
By Jeff Garvin
Riley finds solace in writing an anonymous blog about being gender fluid until an unnamed commenter threatens to expose Riley’s secret.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
By Meg Medina
When Piddy becomes a target at her new school, the Latina teen struggles with the decision to report her tormentor even as fear and shame take over her life.
