Ben and the words that hurt
by Janine PetracekPublish: Aug 18, 2026Children'sBook Overview
Some words leave wrinkles. Kind ones are worth practicing.Ben loves drawing dinosaurs, building block towers, and making people laugh. But when a classmate’s words turn unkind — at recess, and then on a screen at home — school stops feeling like a happy place.
With the help of a brave friend and a teacher who truly listens, Ben learns that telling isn’t tattling, that sorry is a beginning, and that one kind voice can change everything.
Told in gentle, honest language and illustrated in soft watercolor, Ben and the Words That Hurt helps children understand what bullying is — including when it follows them home onto a screen — and what they can do about it, whether it is happening to them or to someone they see.
Inside you’ll find:
• A warm 25-page story that names hard feelings without frightening young readers
• A gentle introduction to cyberbullying and Ben’s three steps: don’t answer it, don’t delete it, show a grown-up
• Eleven “Kindness & Courage” activity pages — feelings to circle, hearts to draw, safe people to name, promises to trace
• A Special Page for Grown-Ups with conversation questions for reading together
Perfect for home, classrooms, school counselors, and anyone helping a child through a hard season at school. Because every child deserves to feel safe — and kind words are worth practicing every single day
