Stand Up to Bullying!: (Upstanders to the Rescue!)

by Phyllis Kaufman Goodstein, Elizabeth Verdick

Who has the most power to stop and prevent bullying? Teachers? Parents? The Principal of the Universe? No, no, and no way! When it comes to changing bullying behavior, nobody has more power than upstanders—all the people who see bullying or know it’s happening . . . and decide to do something about it. How strong are upstanders? Stronger than a snarling seventh grader. More powerful than a petty put-down. Able to delete Internet rumors with a single click. When Bystanders choose to act as UPstanders, they are real superheroes!

With full-color cartoons and humorous, kid-friendly text, Stand Up to Bullying! teaches kids how to safely take a stand against bullying, support kids who are targeted, and spread the word that bullying is not cool—it’s cruel. The power to end bullying starts with one person: you.

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tone of this book is upbeat and positive, focusing on what can be done to stop bullying, rather than being completely negative and depressing. I think the activities will be the most popular part of the book. There is an "Eye Spy" Bullying illustration where readers can try to locate each instance of bullying behavior. A Tic Tac Toe game asks you to choose between the myths and facts about the behavior. One of the games that would be fun to do in a group is the Jeopardy that has categories for singers, actor/actresses, athletes, and other famous people and the readers have to guess the identity of each one.

It would be good for classroom use since it has the games and also a skit that students could act out. There are definitions of the various roles in a bullying scenario and suggestions of how to become an "upstander" and even advice for how grownups can help. The helpful tips about body language and how to be assertive in responding without being aggressive are useful. For those who are really interested in the topic, the references at the end are a good place to look for further reading. I would recommend including this in school or classroom libraries for reference by students, parents, and teachers.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Kristi Betts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phyllis Kaufman Goodstein and Elizabeth Verdick have written a wonderful book entitled Stand Up to Bullying: Upstanders to the Rescue which defines bullying, explains that it is NOT a game, identifies the roles of bullying, and empowers the "upstanders" (as opposed to the bystanders) to get involved and stop the bullying. In kid friendly terms and interactive text (Reader's Theater - short plays,True / False quiz , Assertive responses, and even body language tips), Goodstein and Verdick have created a great resource for school counselors, teachers, and others who work with children on a regular basis. I believe this books should be in the hands of these professionals on the first day of school to get the message out to all students that bullying is not acceptable. I think going through this book as a group, class, or maybe even one of one with students will empower them to become upstanders. If this book helps only one student in a school to feel they can make a difference in the war against bullying, then we have all won.

[Kirsty Bicknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last school year my eldest son was bullied, verbally and physically, by two classmates and because he has special needs I found it difficult to explain to him why children bully and how he should cope with it.
Stand Up To Bullying! was an ideal resource for us as it is written using simple language and 'slang', which made it an easy book for us to read together. The book has cartoon illustrations which are colorful, attracting the child's attention, but they have a meaning. I really loved the idea that the author encourages anyone witnessing bullying to become 'upstanders'.
Stand Up to Bullying! empowered my son because he could understand several difficult issues and for that I am very grateful.
Phyllis Kaufman Goodstein purposefully repeats important points, enforcing her positive message and she uses quizzes which make learning fun and accessible to all.
This is a perfectly targeted book and we would recommend it for any parent, whether their child is a bullying victim or not.

[Amber Lovett Dhamija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Laugh and Learn series. Co-authored by Licensed Master Social Worker Phyllis Kaufman Goodstein, this guide is filled with helpful information to help children combat bullying by transforming from a bystander to an upstander, someone who helps put a stop to bullying. The tone is light and humorous, but the information provided is well-researched. Games and activities are included to test children's knowledge of the concepts. The book also includes resources to help readers talk to adults about bullying and start anti-bullying campaigns in schools. Chock-full of illustrations and sidebars, this colorful and compact guide is a good resource for both children who have been bullied and those who have witnessed bullying but did not know how to help. Due consideration is also given to helping the bullies themselves learn how to alter their behavior and become more understanding of others. Recommended. Ages 8-13.

[Sue Poduska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of positive and useful information, this volume tackles the all-too-relevant subject of bullying and what kids can do about it. The approach is fun, the example are real, and the advice is valuable. Kids are given many mnemonics and other ways to remember information. The authors give a list of ten areas in which kids can take action, such as following the Golden Rule and getting involved. The illustrations also impart a lot of information. Kids are invited to spot bullying activities in a classroom scene. Even adults are given specific actions that they can do to lessen the bullying around them. Adults are given ten ways to join the upstander team.

[Fives OnTheFly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids spent a morning working on the activities in this book. It presented the problem of bullying and the many solutions or actions that we can take against bullying in a very kid friendly and engaging way. A must read for any family!

[Saba N Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand information, tips and advice paired with fun cartoon illustrations make this a resourceful tool for children who are bullied and/or witness bullying and are not quite sure how to deal with the situation.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for the kids to have. I am going to pass this to my daughter's school.
Thank you.

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come after 08/03/14

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming in August.