Children’s literature and read-aloud
Sometimes, when we hear about children’s book that deal with diversity or various important issues, we assume they will be very heavy handed with the morality and frankly, somewhat insufferable. The good news is that there are some precious gems out there that are just waiting to be discovered.
Grade 2
The Ant Bully
by John Nickle
A young boy is bullied all his life and decides to bully ants because they are the only thing smaller than him that he can beat up. The ants make a potion with special crystals in their hill and pour it in his ear ,when he is sleeping, so that he will turn into the size of an ant. He is forced by the queen ant to spend time as an ant, and learn their hard ways of the hill. When he finally understands, after many trials and classes, he gets bigger by an antidote and never hurts the ants again. He makes friends with the followers of the cruel boy who bullies him, and they chase off the bully for good.
Grade3
Mr. Lincoln's Way
by Patricia Polacco
Mr. Lincoln is the coolest principal ever! He knows how to do everything, from jumping rope to leading nature walks. Everyone loves him . . . except for Eugene Esterhause. "Mean Gene" hates everyone who's different. He's a bully, a bad student, and he calls people awful, racist names. But Mr. Lincoln knows that Eugene isn't really bad-he's just repeating things he's heard at home. Can the principal find a way to get through to "Mean Gene" and show him that the differences between people are what make them special?
Grade 1
Hooway for Wodney Wat
By Helen Lester
Rodney Rat can't pronounce his R's and the other rodents tease him mercilessly. When Camilla Capybara joins Rodney's class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than any of the other rodents, everyone is afraid. It seems she really is bigger, meaner, and smarter than all of the rest of them. Until Wodney Wat, catches Camilla out in a game of Simon Says. Read along with Wodney as he surprises himself and his classmates by single-handedly saving the whole class from the big bully.