E ARUEG

A not very nice snake is scaring all the animals by sneaking up on them. When he opens his mouth to scare the duck, he swallows him instead. Now when he tries to scare anyone, a not so scary "quack" comes out. With very little text but perfect illustrations, the lesson of treat others as you would like them to treat you will be clearly understood.

-Dawn

E HOWE
 

Pinky is a 7-year-old boy who got that name because he loves the color. . . PINK! He's got no problem with the name until a school bully begins calling him a girl and making fun. Pinky considers changing his name back to Billy, until he meets an older neighbor who warns him that if he tries to change to suit other people, he will give up too much of himself. Author James Howe shows kids how to respect other people's choices and deal with conflict in a non-violent manner. A great lesson for all of us!

-Miriam

Ten-year-old Augie was born with severe facial deformities and has had 27 surgeries in his short life. Because he has been in and out of the hospital so often, he has always been homeschooled-- but now his parents have decided to have him start fifth grade in a small private school in New York City. Will the other kids accept him?

-Kathy

J FICTION PRELL
 

Eric is the new kid in seventh grade. Griffin wants to be his friend. When you’re new in town, it’s hard to know who to hang out with-- and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool, confident, and popular. But something isn’t right about Griffin. As Eric gets drawn deeper into Griffin’s dark world, he begins to see the truth about Griffin: he’s a liar, a bully, and a thief. Eric wants to break away, do the right thing. But in one shocking moment, he goes from being a bystander. . . to the bully’s next victim.

-Mariana

E LUDWI

Monica doesn't know what to do when her good friend begins to call her names and make fun of her in front of their classmates. But with her mother's help, she finds a way to regain her confidence and realize that not everyone is a friend.

-Barbara

No Matter what Jessica does, wears or says, her mean classmate Brenda Bailey picks on her. How will Jessica solve this problem? A great book to break the ice about the subject of bullying.

-Noreen

E LANDS
 

When a rooster of a small farm starts to bully his four hens, the hens must take a course in self-esteem to reclaim their fair share.

-Tamberly

E FORLE

This is the story of Eliza (a small, bird-like child) who sticks up for the new girl, Lainey, who is bullied by a group of children. Eliza (empowered by her mom) finds the courage to stand up to the bullies. She and Lainey triumph-- not by fighting, but by becoming friends and defying the bullies. This beautiful picture book is for every child- but especially for grades K-4.

-Susan

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
by Chris Crutcher

J PBK CRUTC

When Sarah Byrnes was three years old, her face and hands were badly burned in a mysterious accident, and her father refused to allow reconstructive surgery. Eric Calhoune, who is overweight, befriends the cold but smart Sarah, and they bond over their "terminal uglies" and the mockery they suffer from their peers. When Sarah suddenly stops talking and is committed to a mental institution, Eric knows he has to help, but finds himself in over his head. This is a darkly funny and suspenseful book about true friendship.

-Vicky