“I Don’t Really Tell Adults”: Children’s Responses to Picture Books About Bullying

• In Event: Children’s Literature, Identity, and Power: Textual Ideologies and Students’ Collaborative Inquiry

Abstract

Childhood aggression, specifically bullying, is a critical social and educational problem. This research draws upon sociocultural and transactional theoretical frameworks to explore how children respond to picturebooks about bullying. Data for this presentation were collected during nine interactive readalouds with culturally diverse children ages 7-10 over a three-month period. Narrative analysis revealed that children’s responses to the readalouds reflected their understanding about what bullying is, how they have experienced bullying in their own lives, how they draw upon the picturebooks to consider coping strategies for the future, and how they perceive the role of adults in addressing bullying. The findings reveal the potential of interactive picturebook readalouds to promote discussion and reflection on bullying.

Authors

• Angela Michelle Wiseman, North Carolina State University

• Kelly K. Wissman, University at Albany - SUNY