Little Girls Can Be Mean, by Michelle Anthony and Reyna Lindert [St. Martin’s Griffin, NY, 2010], is a unique look at bullying among girls. Bullying is redefined and put in a framework that makes even unintentional meanness an act of bullying that girls must respond to. Parents and teachers are taught a four-step plan to employ in cases of bullying to teach girls how to handle any situation of bullying.
Benefits of the Book Little Girls Can Be Mean
This book utilizes prolific examples of bullying situations and gives detailed discussion on how to handle each type of situation girls frequently find themselves in.
The tips and suggestions are practical and detailed for parents with boxes of additional information for teachers and young girls themselves to apply the strategies.
Illustrations in the book show actual child samples of various notes and pictures that specifically demonstrate the lessons taught in the book.
There is also a discussion that applies the four step plan to girls who are bullies as well as girls who are being bullied, something that is done gently and effectively.
The only caution about this book is that it is quite wordy. If you are looking for a quick and easy bullet point plan for teaching young girls how to handle a bully, this is not that book. There is a lengthy discussion on how to use the book and while there is an overarching organization, the many stories and lengthy discussion of each example seem scattered at times. This may be the result of two doctors attempting to provide all the information parents would benefit from within the pages of a single book, and in fact, the
book reads much like having a conversation with a family counselor.
If you would like to understand the social situations your daughter will inevitably find herself in and how to teach her to effectively deal with these situations, this book is an invaluable resource.
