As a children’s librarian, sometimes I see a “big kid” book that really captures my eye. Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian was one of them. I’m glad I picked this book up, because it touched on the major and even more nuanced points of an important topic in an approachable, amusing, yet still totally serious way that kids will understand. As a grown-up, I found this book to be a quick read with a lot of impact!

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The summary, from Amazon:

With clear explanations, fun illustrations, and expertly-presented information, Consent (for Kids!) is an empowering introduction to consent, bodily autonomy, and how to respect yourself and others.

Consent is like being ruler of your own country…population: YOU.

This is a smart, playful guide to consent and bodily autonomy, packed with bright and energetic illustrations. Readers will learn about boundaries and how to set them; ways to respect themselves and others; what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe; and much more. Along the way, they’ll be encouraged to reflect on (and improve!) their own behavior and to practice consent in their daily lives.

Whether you’re looking for a consent primer to share with a friend or searching for a way to talk to your child about what it means to be in control of their own body and respect others’, look no further! This humorous and insightful book from the co-creator of the viral “Tea Consent” video is the perfect teaching tool, conversation starter, and insightful, empowering resource for educators, kids, and families everywhere.

Buy Consent (for Kids!) here!

This graphic novel talks about consent in simple terms while also covering not just the broad definition but every nuanced detail. Consent uses fun, simple illustrations, humor, and earnest dialogue to teach kids about bodily autonomy and consent. Final chapters talk about reflecting on whether or not you practice respectful behaviors and what to do when an adult in your life does not do so. Even this is done in a nuanced way, talking about how children can discuss with the adult, tell a trusted friend or another adult if the situation calls for it, or reflect on how they will behave towards children as a grown-up. There are also resources provided on the last page for those who might be in an abusive or otherwise worrisome situation.

I also really loved how this book talks about aspects of consent that are often viewed as sexual in a completely non-sexual way. The closest it gets to touching on sexuality is mentioning that it is illegal to have or take nude photos of people under eighteen. Still, it talks about important concepts under the umbrella in a tasteful manner. For example, the book discusses clothing and consent. In one chapter, a child is wearing a swimsuit at a pool. Their friend asks why they are wearing a swimsuit if they do not want to swim, and the child responds that they just like swimsuits and plan to wear it to dinner later that day. How awesome is that?!

Overall, this was such a good read. I don’t know that any book could do a better job of describing such an important topic in a simple, easy to understand manner. 5 stars.

Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOUConsent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this! As an adult, it took me about 15 minutes to read. It really hits all the major points of consent in a way that kids will understand. And it’s funny, too!

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P.S. If you have a child in your life, might I suggest Owl Post Books? This bookish subscription box is geared specifically towards the kiddos.

Interested? Buy Consent (for Kids!).
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