The horrifying stories in the documentary Bully illustrate the critical need to combat bullying on all levels. While it takes the combined efforts of many to prevent bullying, sharing books about kids' experiences with bullies and bullying may help your children, from younger kids to teens, to cope with bullies and to understand how wrong it is to bully others.

Tomie dePaola's Oliver Button is a Sissy is one of two picture books I recommend. The other is The Bully Blockers Club. In addition, I recommend the chapter book Jake Drake Bully Buster by Andrew Clements for independent readers ages 7 to 10, the informational book The Skinny on Bullying for middle grade readers (ages 9-14) and Walter Dean Myers' young adult novel Shooter for teens in high school. In addition, teen librarian Jennifer Kendall just recommended another young adult book. Read her review of Hate List by Jennifer Brown.

For more resources, see All About Bullying on the About.com Parenting Channel.

(Cover art courtesy of Rand Media Co.)

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I have another children's book to add to my list of children's books featuring libraries and librarians. As far as I am concerned, public libraries are magical places, and Lola certainly agrees as you'll see in librarian Nancy Snyder's book review of Lola at the Library. Lola at the Library is available as a board book for toddlers, as well as a picture book for preschoolers.

Here are some other children's picture books that celebrate books, libraries and librarians:
Otto the Book Bear
The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians
Tomas and the Library Lady
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story of Iraq
Don't just read about libraries; visit them often! In these tough economic times, it's nice to know you can save money at your public library.

(Cover art courtesy of Charlesbridge)

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Our pansies and butterfly weeds are in bloom and the sunflower seeds we planted have grown into foot-tall plants already. Share the joys of gardening with your kids with hands-on experience and children's picture books about gardens and gardening. There are a lot of excellent children's picture books on the subject, including books set in the city, in the suburbs and in rural areas. My Top 10 book list includes books for children ranging in age from two- to ten-years-old. These picture books emphasize the joys of planting seeds and bulbs, cultivating a garden, and enjoying the flowers and vegetables that result. If you are planting a vegetable garden, I also recommend Simply in Season Children's Cookbook, which focuses on good foods that can be grown and enjoyed from the garden.

(Cover art courtesy of PriceGrabber)

If you are looking for special Mother's Day gifts for a mother or grandmother who enjoys children's books, see my list of children's books that make good Mother's Day gifts. It includes a number of children's picture books, plus one book of quotations from children's books. For example, Pieces: A Year in Poems and Quilts is an excellent gift for a woman who quilts. Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, a book of poetry by Latino poets, will appeal to a wide audience while Mommy, Mama, and Me will be of particular interest to gay couples. Are there other children's books that you think would make good Mother's Day gifts? If so, click on "Comments" below and share your recommendations.

(Cover art courtesy of Lee & Low Books)

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