My Body is Private

Author(s): Linda Walvoord Girard; illustrator, Rodney Pate

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: sexual abuse

Year of Publication: 1984

Publisher & Location: Albert Whitman & Company, Morton Grove IL

ISBN #: 978-0-8075-5319-0 (paperback)

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 26

Quality of Illustrations: black & white with yellow highlights, pencil drawings

Brief Summary (1-2 paragraphs): Julie is a young girl, her mother is teaching her about physical boundaries with others--what is appropriate and what is not. Positive examples and negative examples and how to deal with them.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or things to consider when using this book with children: Have recommended this for parents looking for ways to talk to their children about boundaries and child abuse. Pictures aren't all that great but content good. There is a page for parents (last page) that directs parents on how to talk with their children about sexual abuse. Rare, considering it was published in 1984. More for prevention than for dealing with a crisis that has already happened.

Activity:
At the end of the book there are pointers and a guide for parent/adult reading with the child. Follow those suggestions.