Reading selection to prevent bullying

Abstract

Violence in school is not a new theme in literature. Classics books like Young Nicholas, Celia, Just William and more recent releases as William Four Eyes or Harry Potter, have described scenes in which characters experienced bullying. Nowadays, the way how bullying is portrayed in children's literature has changed considering that bullying has become a major problem in our society, and public concerns exist about the consequences of these behaviors. In this study, we offer guidelines to consider when selecting books for children and young people in order to prevent and manage this type of behavior. We believe that literary fiction, and specifically children's literature, can be a great resource to help children who are experiencing bullying but also to raise public awareness, especially young people in schools, about these serious events.