How to Handle Bullies, Teasers, and Other Meanies by Kate Cohen-Posey

How to Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies. Kate Cohen-Posey. Rainbow Books, Inc., c1995. 91 pages.

Summary:

“Bully: Big nose!

Person: Why, yes, my nose is a bit large. How sweet of you to notice” (Cohen-Posey, 1995, p.24).

Kate Cohen-Posey’s How to Handle Bullies, Teasers and Other Meanies “takes the nuisance out of name calling and other nonsense.” The book opens with a discussion of what makes bullies and teasers tick, giving tweens important insight into why their bullies may be acting the way they do. It covers various forms of bullying (name calling, prejudice, etc.) and offers multiple ways to handle these situations. Cohen-Posey also includes examples of ways to respond to mean, bullying comments, a glossary of important terms, and a section for parents.

Review/personal thoughts:

Cohen-Posey’s book is a great resource for tweens who are being bullied. The book’s second chapter (“What Makes Teasers and Bullies Tick?”) exposes bullies as people who “act mean because they feel angry, hurt, or afraid” (Cohen-Posey, 1995, p.11). I thought it was smart of Cohen-Posey to include this information, as it’s important for tweens to develop empathy for other people and to consider what they may be going through. Another of the book’s strengths is its comic approach. Many of the suggested responses to a bully’s mean comments are hilarious! However, I worry that some tweens may find the book a bit immature. The use of the word “meanies” in the book’s title, for example, feels childish. Thus, the book is best suited for younger, less mature tweens.

Reading level: ages 8-12