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Learning to be a good friend is an important childhood skill. These books about toxic friendships can help children learn to manage friendship problems.
Picture books are great for helping kids learn to talk about and work through difficult topics and situations.
On the topic of friendship, parents and teachers can use picture books to help model good behavior and positive friendship traits.
Should your child encounter a bully or a friend who isn’t acting so nice, these picture books can help you approach the topic with younger children or help older children work through their emotions on their own.
Books About Toxic Friendships
Below, I’ve featured just a handful of picture books that will help your students learn to identify and discuss toxic friendship traits in themselves or those around them.
You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.
It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one.
Luckily Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy!
Children will learn an easy and practical lesson about how to firmly and assertively―yet kindly―stand up for themselves in the face of a bully.
By teaching children about the importance and value of setting boundaries for healthy friendships, this book provides children the tools they need to foster their social confidence and emotional well-being.
Willow silently wishes she could find a way to say no to her bossy classmate Kristabelle's demands, but the words never seem to come when she needs them.
That is, until Kristabelle starts using the powerful threat of un-inviting children from her birthday party to keep them in line, and Willow decides she's finally had enough.
Surprising everyone, even herself, Willow steps up and bravely does something shocking, and it changes the entire dynamic of the classroom.
Maya's friend Bailey loves to talk about everything and everyone. At first, Maya thinks Bailey is funny.
But when Bailey's talk leads to harmful rumors and hurt feelings, Maya begins to think twice about their friendship.
D.J.'s friend Vince has a habit of teasing D.J. and then saying, Just kidding!" as if it will make everything okay. It doesn't, but D.J. is afraid that if he protests, his friends will think he can't take a joke.
With the help of his father, brother, and an understanding teacher, D.J. progresses from feeling helpless to taking positive action, undermining the power of two seemingly harmless words.
A new cub, Lizzie, has moved to town and Sister can’t wait to become her friend.
But when bossiness enters the mix, Sister and Lizzie’s new friendship might be in trouble.
Mean Jean was Recess Queen and nobody said any different. Nobody swung until Mean Jean swung. Nobody kicked until Mean Jean kicked. Nobody bounced until Mean Jean bounced.
If kids ever crossed her, she'd push 'em and smoosh 'em lollapaloosh 'em, hammer 'em, slammer 'emkitz and kajammer 'em. Until a new kid came to school!
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