No-no the little seal

Author: Sherri Patterson

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Sexual Abuse

Year of Publication: 1986

Publisher & Location: Random House: New York

ISBN#: 978-0394880549

Target Age Level: preschool- elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: very realistic looking seals, in new editions the seals are more cartoon looking

Brief Summary: A young seal is upset when his uncle starts touching his body in private places, until he finds the courage to tell Wise Whale.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:

It's a little wierd to hear about seals molesting eachother but the book has some good advice, asuming the child has a wise whale in their life.

Activity:

Stop the book after the sad song and ask the child what they would do and then read on to see how that compares to what No-No did.

How Long Does It Hurt: A Guide to Recovering from Incest and Sexual Abuse for Teenagers, Their Friends, and Their Families

Author: Cynthia L. Mather and Judy Wood

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: abuse / neglect

Year of Publication: 2004

Publisher and Location: Jossey-Bass
# ISBN-10: 0787975699
# ISBN-13: 978-0787975692
Target Age Level: 13-18
# of Pages: 288
Quality of Illustrations: no ilustrations
Brief Summary:
"The many aspects and complexities of incest and sexual abuse are well covered in this book. Notwithstanding the comprehensive presentation of factual information, its strength lies in its emphasis on empowerment and healing. How Long Does It Hurt? fully achieves its claim as a guide to recovering from incest and sexual abuse for teenagers, their friends, and their families and will likely fulfill the author's wish that teens will learn that they are not alone and can successfully continue on from the pain."
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
Addresses an exhaustive range of issues pertinent to sexual abuse survivors and does so in a manner that is dynamic, engaging, and straightforward."
The most helpful aspects of the book are the case examples and testimonials of victims. Especially useful are the personalized descriptions of possible reactions in self or from others and the accompanying message to have the strength and courage to find a way to recover despite the obstacles.
Activity: highlight passages and discuss in small groups.
Posted by Fátima Vera

It's My Body: A Book to Teach Young Children How to Resist Uncomfortable Touch

Author: Lory Freeman
Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: Child sexual abuse
Year of Publication: 1982
Publisher and Location: Parenting Press, Inc: Seattle
ISBN# 0-943990-03-3
Target Age Level: Lower Elementary
# of Pages: 24
Quality of Illustrations: Show emotion, but is in black and white (a little dated).
Brief Summary: It describes situations where touching is acceptable and when touching can make a person uncomfortable, whether someone is touching you or wants you to touch them. It provides the reader with how to respond and what to say.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Using the illustrations, explain that the person can be an adult, child, a stranger, or someone you know.
Activity: There is a section that includes phrases that a child can say if they feel uncomfortable. When reading out loud, have the children say the phrases over and over.

Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story

Author: Lynn C. Tolson

Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: mental ilness emotional instability of parent

Year of Publication: 2003
Publisher and Location: The Book Peddlers
ISBN-10: 1410724174
Target Age Level: high-school
# of Pages: 304
Quality of Illustrations: no ilustrations

Brief Summary: This is a story of a young woman who attempted suicide and her journey towards recovery. It’s a true story that shows cycle of abuse and provides a great message of hope.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
This book is a great resource for survivors of abuse – sexual, physical and emotional. It’s an inspiring story of courage that may empower minds and spirits.

Activity:
1)Have the students read the book and discuss in groups.
2) Mini-drama: groups select a scene from the books and prepare a quick dramatization of the scene.
Posted by Nalu de Araujo Nunes

My Body Is Private

Author: Linda Walvoord Girard

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Abuse

Year of Publication: 1984

Publisher & Location: Niles, Il. A. Whitman

ISBN#: 0807553204

Target Age Level: Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Fair

Brief Summary: A mother talks to her daughter about touching that is okay and areas where touching is not okay. The mother tells her daughter that if someone touch is uncomfortable to her she needs to tell one of her parents right away.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This book is a good way to open up a discussion about sexual abuse. It uses correct words to identify private areas of a male and females body. Use with upper elementary age group with caution. At the end of the book there is a note to parents on sexual abuse.

Chilly Stomach

No Image Available

Author/Authors: Jeannette Caines

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: SEXUAL ABUSE

Year of Publication: 1986

Publisher & Location: Harper & Row, Publishers

ISBN #: 0-06-020976-3

Target Age Level: Lower elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Colorful illustrations

Brief Summary: Whenever the girl’s Uncle comes over, she gets a chilly stomach. The book never specifically states the issue other than the girl does not like it when he kisses her on the lips or tickles her. She especially does not like it when he spends the night. The girl tells her friend about her chilly stomach and the cause. She hopes that her friend will tell her mom who will then call to tell the girl’s mom. However, she is afraid that her parents will not like her anymore. This story really hints around the issue and does not give a clear path to follow to resolve the problem. At least she tells her friend and it shows that it is serious enough that she is going to tell her mom. One thing I do like about this book is that it portrays the feeling a young child may have when there is abuse, and the conflicted feelings about what to do.

Post reading activity:
If using this book, a good activity would be to use puppets or toy figures to role play what happens next in the book. Role play the friend’s mom talking to the girl’s mom and showing that mom is not going to be mad at her. Role play a resolution and then talk about the child’s fears.

A Very Touching Book...for Little People and for Big People

Author(s): Jan Hindman

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: boundaries, sexual abuse, appropriate/inappropriate touching

Year of Publication: 1983

Publisher & Location: AlexAndria Associates; Baker City OR

ISBN #: 978-0961103415

Target Age Level: Upper and Lower Elementary. But when I asked when to start reading this to children the author suggested you "lay it on your belly" while pregnant (she was a very funny and good lady).

# of Pages: 56

Quality of Illustrations: very good, colorful (warning: illustrations show body parts that normally aren't shown)

Brief Summary (1-2 paragraphs): A book written from the perspective of an adult talking to a child about body parts and touching (both good and bad). Discusses how this topic is embarrassing for adults. Also addresses secrets and how they are destructive.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or things to consider when using this book with children: This author is/was an authority on the subject of child sexual abuse. Many people, I think, are offended or embarrassed by the content of the book, however being a therapist for sex offenders and victims, my opinion is that these things need to be talked about with parents and their children. This book helps make it easier. Recommend this book for any parent.

Activity:
This book provides a lot of opportunity for discussion with any age children. Allow the child(ren) to ask questions and have the adult answer them openly.

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.