Picture Books and Bullying Prevention

It’s Picture Book Month!!

​For the entire month of November we get to officially celebrate the often underrated art of combining words with illustrations to create a magical dynamic that impacts readers in a way no other medium can.  The picture book, unlike any other form of literature, invites readers to analyze, not just the words in the story, but also the images on the page. With their shorter prose and beautiful images, picture books are often the first taste of the world of books that young people get. They gently introduce difficult topics, speak complex truths simply, and bring to life worlds and characters we could never imagine. 

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​Yes, picture books are fantastic for kids and -- let’s admit it -- we all have at least one favorite picture book sitting on our shelves that we like to page through every now and then. I know I do, and I’m not alone. 

Image found on Pinterest.com/repent4kingdomo

Picture book author/illustrator Molly Idle writes,
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​“Picture books are a mirror. A magic mirror. For picture books can show us, not only reflections of ourselves, but reflections of other people and places too. They can show us reflections of the past, the present and the future. Reflections of the possible and the impossible. The real, and the imagined…And in all of those reflections, we see ourselves.”

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​(Check out the Picture Book Month Website to read even more quotes from your favorite authors on why they believe picture books are important!)

​Sadly, picture books are often brushed aside as “beginner books”. Many people believe that a child still reading picture books after the age of 8 must be stunted in some way. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Picture books are fantastic tools for introducing difficult or complex topics, encouraging reluctant readers, building analytical skills in readers of all ages, and growing observational skills, in addition to just being fun! Thankfully, thanks to recent studies, more and more people are beginning to realize the incredible value packed into the pages of the picture book.  Author Debbie Ridpath Ohi wrote an excellent blog post that discusses this value and the many benefits of picture books in greater depth over on her site, inkygirl.com. 

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Another frequently overlooked detail about picture books is the incredible amount of collaboration that goes into their creation. Occasionally a brilliant author/illustrator/marketer appears on the scene, but this is rare. Typically, there is an author, illustrator, and publisher working together to make a story come to life. Pictures and text must work seamlessly to capture the most important essence of the page, revealing the depth of character and the tone of the story. Every line and every color is carefully chosen to ensure the message is communicated properly. Once completed, a marketer must identify the proper audience and find ways to connect that audience with the books that they enjoy. 

​ It is teamwork, from beginning to end. 
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The idea of a lone author madly typing away in solitude cannot exist in this situation.
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Photo found on hollind.edu

This collaborative quality, combined with the inherent power for teaching inside each picture book, makes this genre a fantastic instrument for integrating bullying prevention into the classroom (For more great ideas on integrating bullying prevention into other areas of the classroom, check out last month’s blog).

​ Not only do they offer an easy gateway into the discussion of a difficult topic and leave room for expansion, their collaborative nature provides an opportunity to discuss the value of teamwork and the bringing together of different talents to meet a common goal. Here is a simple project integrating bullying prevention education that you can do with your students of all ages using picture books:

• Begin by reading a currently published picture book about bullying. Talk about the lessons the students learned through the story. Focus on both the text and the illustrations and how they work together to convey a message. Have the students describe what they liked and didn’t like, and what they would have done differently.

Photo from This is A. Blob by L.A. Kefalos.

• Break the class into groups. One group will be writers, one will be illustrators, and one will be marketers. The groups will have to work together to come up with story ideas, write the stories, illustrate them, and let their fellow classmates know about the new books. If you want to take it a step further, have the students put out ads in the halls to other students and set up interviews and signings.
•  Explain to the students how creating a picture book is a team effort. Talk about each role and its importance in the big picture. Without one piece, the machine just wouldn’t work. Explain that it is the same way in the world and in the classroom. Each and every student has something unique and important to add to the dynamic and without them, it wouldn’t work as well.
• Discuss who might be best at each position and pair up students that don’t typically work together.

Photo credit woodleywonderworks, flickr.com

• Building a marketing campaign provides a perfect opportunity to discuss why bullying education is important. Marketers must understand the needs of their audience, so educating your students about the importance of bullying prevention will be part of helping them understand their audience. 

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• ​As the students illustrate the stories, make sure they are really thinking about the emotions and ideas they want to convey.

​Picture books are more than just books. They are more than starter literature. They are examples of the magic that can happen when people work together using their unique gifts to achieve a common goal. This Picture Book Month, grab a picture book off the shelf and capture some of that magic for yourself!

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What picture book do you still have on your shelf? What lesson did you learn from a picture book that you still remember today?  Share in the comments!

​An added bonus is that this project will open the door for students to talk to students about bullying. While they may not want to listen to what an adult has to say, they may be more open to the messages of their peers. Books are fun and nonthreatening and often bring together groups and individuals that would not typically meet. As Reddit user “Coolstoryreddit” stated:
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“Seeing someone read a book you love is seeing a book recommend a person”

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​​This is A. Blob is a masterfully illustrated picture book suitable for children ages 4-8.  This first installment in a series follows the antics of A. Blob, a slimy, purple, blob-like creature who wreaks havoc on the elementary school playground with its bullying ways. As the story progresses, however, readers learn that there might be more to A. Blob than meets the eye. Along with its powerful illustrations and rhymed verse for early readers, this story invites children to put themselves in the shoes of another. The book demonstrates that a bully can come in any shape, size, or color and encourages readers to consider why bullies behave the way they do – and start to consider what can be done to help.

​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!