Staci J. Schwartz, MD | Children's Book Author and Playwright

In today's world, bullying behavior is all around us––in books, games, movies, on television--and unfortunately--even in our daily encounters with peers, family, teammates, and co-workers. Adults must work harder than ever to teach kids, from the earliest ages, to treat one another with kindness and respect––in person and online.

If all adults who live and work with children are committed to creating a culture of kindness in homes and classrooms, on playgrounds, and online––and if parents and teachers work together to prevent bullying and encourage inclusiveness––then children will learn how to interact with each other in positive ways and deal with conflicts more easily when they occur. Adults must counter the mean and divisive messages our kids see and hear by modeling how to treat others with respect and empathy, by monitoring children's social interactions for bullying and intervening to stop it as early as possible, and by guiding kids to choose books, television shows, games, and movies with positive messages.

If you are looking for children's books that empower kids to stand up for themselves and each other, then you've come to the right place!

If you are looking to learn about Good Character Productions' fun, interactive play called Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical, which was a smash hit at the 2019 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, then you've also come to the right place!

Welcome to
StaciSchwartz.com
also the home of
Good Character Productions, LLC

image is characters from Th New Bear on the Block

Choose to be kind!

About the Author

Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander

About the Author

Staci, J. Schwartz, MD is a physician, author, illustrator, playwright, and educational consultant for children's bullying prevention. She has performed interactive readings and bullying prevention workshops for elementary schools, after-school and youth programs, and religious schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. She delights in creating characters whose actions and adventures encourage young children to choose to be kind and to stick up for themselves and each other.

All of Staci's stories are written in engaging, rhyming verse––which she finds to be both challenging and rewarding. Many teachers, reading specialists, and parents feel that rhyming text actually helps children learn to read. The rhymes also encourage kids to pay attention to the story (by guessing which rhyming word will show up at the end of a sentence), and help kids to remember the important lessons and themes (just like the catchy jingles we remember from television commercials or the words in our favorite songs).

Above all, Staci likes to write books that encourage kids (and grownups) to make the world a better place.

Disclaimer: Staci Schwartz is a retired physician with experience in working with patients to help them to manage the physical and psychosocial challenges of medical conditions and disabilities. However, she is not board certified in psychiatry or psychology. Over the past 20+ years, she has attended numerous conferences, collaborated with educators & specialists, and studied a vast array of books, articles, and programs about bullying prevention, empathy training, and the social-emotional development of children. The advice, tips, and strategies for bullying prevention and social skill development that are shared in Staci's books and presentations are not meant to be a substitute for professional consultation and counseling when necessary.

Books

The New Bear on the Block is about the adventures of a tiny grizzly bear who moves to a small town in the woods. When the bear's eyeglasses are accidentally broken, a series of silly mishaps occur as a result of his poor vision, and the bear's new neighbors assume that he is rude and mean before they even have a chance to meet him. The wise turtle, who is the town optician, fixes the bear's glasses and finds him to be a delightful new friend.

Now, the turtle must convince the other neighbors that they have misjudged the bear based on false first impressions and incomplete facts. Will the neighbors give Mr. Grizzly Bear a second chance?

This book, written for children aged 4–9, teaches young children about welcoming new friends into the classroom or community, avoiding impulsive judgment of others, and the importance of apologizing for mistakes.

Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat is a story about a young goat named Billy who constantly picks on the other “kids” in his class. From stealing their lunch money to pulling their hair, Billy is making life miserable for his elementary school peers. When Billy's parents realize that they have exhausted all of their own strategies to stop their son’s rude and unacceptable behavior, they finally seek help from The Wise Old Goat on the hill, a certified Goat Therapist.

With a little bit of magic dust, some common sense, and support from his family, a brilliant plan is initiated to cure Billy of his bullying ways. Instead of a plan that involves "bullying the bully" in retaliation, this plan teaches kids about empathy and how their words and actions (kind or mean) can affect other people.

By describing the circumstances and feelings associated with bullying, Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat provides children with the opportunity to identify bullying behavior and share their own personal experiences with bullying—as an aggressor, a target (or victim), or a witness.

I’ve Got Your Back: Help Children Say Hello to Friends & Goodbye to Bullies is uniquely designed for parents and children to read together. Short and action-focused, I’ve Got Your Back guides parents (and teachers and caregivers) to help children form positive friendships, while improving their self-esteem and resilience. Adults must step up and support their children, while acting as positive role models for respectful, compassionate behavior.

I’ve Got Your Back offers strategies to protect children from becoming targets of bullying behavior, and to deal with bullying when it occurs. Though designed for children aged 5–10, people of all ages can benefit from the principles and exercises that are shared in this book.

Engaging children’s stories highlight these important concepts with relatable, kid-friendly characters,along with “Stop and Think” sections that will promote discussions about choosing to act with kindness and empathy. An entire chapter is devoted to practical, social skill-building activities for adults and children to do together that will empower children to stand up for themselves and each other. Teachers can easily adapt all activities for classroom use.

Kids need to know that the adults in their lives have their backs, and that adults will be monitoring and shaping respectful behavior until kids are able to sustain their own circle of kindness among their peers.

For further information about I've Got Your Back: Help Children Say Hello to Friends & Goodbye to Bullies (including charity and corporate sponsorship opportunities), please visit IGYBbook.com

Meet New Friends With Open

Minds & Open Hearts

Reviews

Reviews

The New Bear on the Block

"This book is a wonderful reader for children and primary students to enjoy and learn from -- as individuals or in a classroom setting. The story also presents a strong message of acceptance of others, the problems with making premature judgments about people, and an appreciation of diversity, which are major goals of the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education toward meeting the legislative mandate."

––Dr. Paul B.Winkler, Former Executive Director New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education

"A fun read for kids and parents alike!"

––USABookNews.com

"The New Bear on the Block is a lovely, light-hearted tale of a multicultural animal neighborhood, slightly shaken up by their newest bear neighbor. With clever rhyme and engaging illustrations, Staci shares some wise lessons for kids of all ages: things are not always as they seem, don't pre-judge your (new) neighbors or friends, give everyone another chance, and richness comes from the blending of differences, even with some challenges. Acceptance and respect for all are the only solutions to bullying. Staci shows children, and the adults around them, what respect looks like in action, even during stress or conflict, and how looking for the best in others, instead of the worst, creates a far happier ending."

––Lorna Blumen, bullying prevention specialist and author of Bullying Epidemic: Not Just Child's Play and Girls' Respect Groups: An Innovative Program To Empower Young Women & Build Self-Esteem!

"I read The New Bear on the Block to my Kindergarteners after a lot of bullying was happening on the playground. The book covered many issues associated with bullying and provided a way to discuss various problems children face––including ways of solving them! ABSOLUTELY love this book!

––Rachel Keenan, Kindergarten Teacher (31 years), George A.McCall School, Philadelphia, PA

Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat

Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat handles a serious problem with a light-hearted touch. With clever rhyme and engaging illustrations (also done by Staci), she gives a 360º look around bullying – the bully, the target, and the bystanders (adults and "kids"). As with humans, the solution to goat bullying is respect for all and a healthy dose of empathy – engagingly conjured with magic and help from Billy's family and peers. A great book for sparking classroom and bedtime conversations!

––Lorna Blumen, bullying prevention specialist and author of Bullying Epidemic: Not Just Child's Play and Girls' Respect Groups: An Innovative Program To Empower Young Women & Build Self-Esteem!

I've Got Your Back: Help Children Say Hello to Friends & Goodbye to Bullies

Having read I’ve Got Your Back and watched my adult daughter use it with her 8– and 5–year–old sons, I’ve concluded that this book will be both timely and impactful for parents and teachers as they strive to help children cope with bullying in school and on the playground. The book explains the reality of a bully’s behavior, provides exercises enabling children and adults to discuss the problem comfortably, and suggests ways for children to support potential victims who need help. I’ve Got Your Back fills a void in character education and offers sound advice at multiple levels.

––Lawrence M. Glaser, Executive Director, New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education

"Parents and teachers of children ages 5-10 will find I've Got Your Back's tips and skill-building activities helpful in teaching kids how to connect and engage with their peers in positive, caring ways."

––Trudy Ludwig, author of The Invisible Boy