Your Body Belongs to You

by Cornelia Maude Spelman

Book Overview

In simple, reassuring language, therapist Cornelia Spelman explains that a child's body is his or her own; that it is all right for children to decline a friendly hug or kiss, even from someone they love; and that even if you don't want a hug or kiss right now, you can still be friends. She goes on to define private parts and stresses that it's important to tell if someone tries to touch your private parts.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807594733
• ISBN13: 9780807594735
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Length: 24 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 7.8" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Great Book!

This is a really great book. I have young children and needed a teaching tool for them on privacy. This book touches on it lightly and delicately without alot of negativity. It is great for really young children. There are wonderful illustrations also. This book provided exactly what I needed!

Respecting Everybody's Body

How I wish this delightful book existed when I was child. Until fairly recent years, most children were warned about the cliche stranger, but very seldom was the issue of predators children knew ever addressed. When I was a child, I honestly thought a double standard existed - improper touching was only frowned upon by one's caretakers if done by strangers. During those years, I wondered why nobody ever said if children had any recourse if they were confronted with "bad touches" by people they knew. This is a wonderfully empowering book. It also dispels the myth of the candy-bearing stranger, lurking on playgrounds and parks if indeed he ever even existed. Statistics have shown that "bad touches" are very rarely done by strangers! The text is gentle and simple without being overly so; it is something I would happily present to every child from 2 on up as well. It is timeless; the message of assertiveness and respect for boundaries and the human body at large can never be over emphasized. I also like the way the book encourages children not to keep secrets if they are approached and touched inappropriately or made to touch someone else against their will. Private parts are rightfully defined as the parts of the body one's underwear and bathing suits cover. My favorite point the book stressed was what to do if the touch is neither wanted nor welcome and that it is perfectly all right not to want to be touched in certain ways. The most important service this book does is distinguishes "good" and "bad" touches and that for the most part, hugs and kisses are perfectly fine and acceptable. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will certainly help empower children of all ages and will also help to put an end to keeping harmful secrets. I also highly recommend in addition to this book Sandy Kleven's "The Right Touch: A Read Aloud Story to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse," Linda Walvoord Girard's "My Body is Private" and Peter Alsop's collection "Songs on Sex & Sexuality," most particularly the song "My Body," which addresses this topic in a sensitive and forthright manner.

Simple Text That Gets an Important Message Across

This 19-page book contains simple text and warm, gentle, colorful illustrations. I think caring adults should read this book to every child age 2 and up; children age 4-8 will probably be able to read it themselves. The book covers a few simple concepts that would not only empower a child, but shy/unassertive people of any age.By the end of the book, you'll know: 1)your body belongs to you; 2) it's okay if you don't want to be touched; 3)what to do if you don't want to be touched; 4) your "private parts" are the parts of your body that are covered by a bathing suit, and 5) you shouldn't keep a "touching" secret.However, this message is conveyed in a very safe, non-threatening manner, and the book begins and ends by acknowledging that most of the time we do like getting hugs and kisses. (Not all touches are bad).I highly recommend this book!

Excellent book that can be read to a preschool class

After an incident of inappropriate touching in my class, I looked depserately for books about our bodies/our rights that would be appropriate to read to a group of 3-5 year olds. While there are many good books out there, too many are only appropriate from parent to child, or instigate TOO many questions. I didn't want to introduce too much information to those children who are still young and innocent, but I wanted a forum to open discussion in our classroom. This book simply describes that your body is your own, and there are touches you like and touches you might not like (like tickling)

Lovely book

A book for very young children on how to avoid sexual abuse. Nicely written, very sweet, well-done illustrations. As a therapist who works with children who have been abused, I strongly recommend this book for children 7 and under.