12 Picture Books for Pink Shirt Day
I came across Pink Shirt Day a few years ago and posted about it. It has now become one of my most popular posts which I’m grateful even if it makes me a little sad. According to the statistics on the Pink Shirt Day website, 1 in 5 children are affected by bullying – a staggering number that has only risen with the advent of social media.
Pink Shirt Day was created to raise awareness of bullying “in schools, workplaces, homes, and online” and to raise funds to “support programs that foster children’s healthy self-esteem.” With people participating in over 180 countries, Pink Shirt Day is an important organization doing really good work.
Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday in February, so add it to your calendar this year and share a book or two with your readers about the importance of kindness and friendship and how to navigate a bully safely. I want kids to be able to stand up to bullies, for others to have empathy, and to not let bullies win. Hopefully, I’m able to do my small part by sharing just a few books with you.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
12 Picture Books for Pink Shirt Day
The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates
By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. It doesn’t matter if you are tall. Or plaid. Or hairy. It doesn’t matter how many legs you have.
Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room.
Lush illustrations and simple, lyrical text subtly address themes of inclusion and tolerance in this sweet story that accomplished illustrator Amy June Bates cowrote with her daughter, Juniper, while walking to school together in the rain.
Bully by Jennifer Sattler, illustrated by Tamara Ryan
Bully the bullfrog lives in a pond full of lilies. The flowers are beautiful, fragrant, and enjoyed by the many other creatures that also inhabit the pond. The pond is a very pleasant place to live. Or it should be. Instead, Bully decides that only he should be able to enjoy the beautiful lilies. He demands that the other inhabitants of the pond leave. And once Bully has the flowers to himself, his selfish behavior almost destroys them. Can anyone stop Bully and his bullying ways? As it turns out, the answer is YES! Using humor and whimsy, author-illustrator Jennifer Sattler masterfully shows young readers that standing up together can make all the difference in the world.
Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Bully doesn’t have a kind word for any of his friends. When the other animals ask him to play, he responds in the way he’s been taught:
Chicken! Slow poke! You stink!
Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s bold, graphic artwork, along with her spare but powerful words, make for a tender, hilarious, and thoughtful tale
Daisy by Jessixa Bagley
“Daisies seem so simple on the surface, but when you look closely you see their hidden beauty.”
That’s what Daisy the warthog’s mom always says, and it’s the reason she got her name. But when Daisy goes to school, she doesn’t feel like her name. The other kids, Rose, Violet, and Petunia, make fun of her and call her “Thistle.”
Daisy spends a lot of time with her head down, but she doesn’t need her classmates to have fun. When she looks at the forest floor, she starts to find all sorts of treasures, beautiful things that were once special and have since been forgotten. The other kids might make fun of her pastime, but it turns out she’s not the only one who appreciates the hidden beauty of forgotten things when she meets a like-minded new friend.
How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you’re sorry. From a porcupine who accidentally popped his friend’s balloon to a snail who was running so fast he stepped on a sloth’s toes, hilarious examples and sweet illustrations abound. For both listeners who are just learning and older readers who need a refresher, this book will come as a welcome reminder that even though apologizing can be hard, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
The Kindness Book by Todd Parr
With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young readers and caregivers. His books promote an essential message of love and acceptance that is inspiring, empowering, and accessible.
Kindness is listening.
Kindness is saying sorry.
Kindness is helping things grow.
Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer
Kindness is a friendly hello. A roaring cheer. A quick boost. Kindness is what makes us strong! This joyful board book shows various children as they extend kindness in all kinds of situations: on the playground, at lunchtime, on a bike path, and on a neighborhood street. This sweet preschool read-aloud shows the way kindness helps build friendship and community.
My Footprints by Bao Phi, illustrated by Ngoc Diep Barbara Tran
Every child feels different in some way, but Thuy feels “double different.” She is Vietnamese American and she has two moms. Thuy walks home one winter afternoon, angry and lonely after a bully’s taunts. Then a bird catches her attention and sets Thuy on an imaginary exploration. What if she could fly away like a bird? What if she could sprint like a deer, or roar like a bear? Mimicking the footprints of each creature in the snow, she makes her way home to the arms of her moms. Together, the three of them imagine beautiful and powerful creatures who always have courage – just like Thuy.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Christian
Robinson
Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe.
She was the smallest girl in the smallest grade.
But Sally notices everything—from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor’s ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.
Tickled Pink: How Friendship Washes the World with Color by Andrée Poulin, illustrated by Lucile Danis Drouot
Filippo can’t help that he’s pink. He’s a flamingo, after all. But Zac the zebra and Poncho the panda aren’t having it. They only want to play with fellow black-and-white animals. Filippo is sure he’ll never be content without Zac and Poncho’s friendship. But what would the world be without pink? There would be no roses, no sunsets, no strawberry ice cream. With a little love and encouragement along the way, Filippo sets out to find the value of pink―and of himself.
When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt
When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves.
