Categories: Bullying, Violence & Abuse, Courage, Friendship & Getting Along, Kindness

Insults Aren’t Funny: What to Do About Verbal Bullying

When Charlie is verbally bullied by his team mate, his thinks about quitting football all together. Luckily, with some help from a friend, Charlie learns what to do to get help when he is being bullied.

Author: Amanda F. Doering
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Publisher: Raintree

Charlie the rabbit loves playing football. However, it stops being fun when an older squirrel starts to call Charlie names and be unfair to him when the team loses. Charlie thinks about quitting the team, but his friend suggests Charlie talks to his coach about the bullying. Charlie does so and the coach talks to the team about the consequences of bullying. The coach talks to Charlie’s parents and Charlie understands that he can speak to his parents, friends and teachers if somebody is making him feel upset.

This simple story includes more general discussion about bullying in information boxes, including practical suggestions on how to respond to name calling.

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

This book identifies a the different feelings that Charlie has and uses a wide range of vocabulary when describing the impact of bullying. This may help children who are experiencing something similar name the emotions they are having.
There is acknowledgment that speaking to adults about this situation may be scary.
General discussion points throughout the book highlight the lasting effects of verbal bullying that may help the child understand why the feel upset long after the incident.

Guidance:

The story focuses on the practical steps Charlie takes, with the support of a friend, when he is the victim of verbal bullying, including speaking to a trusted adult and his parents.
It also contains additional suggestions to prevent bullying incidents such as the use of a “buddy system” which are not necessarily highlighted in the story.

Hope & Inspiration:

The steps Charlie takes help to alleviate the problem, giving hope that these situations can be resolved. By the end, Charlie is hopeful that football will be fun again soon.

Worth noting:

This book has a brief introduction for adults around name calling and insults. It also includes a glossary of some of the terms used, some further reading and information about additional resources.

Review by: Cleo Allan