¡Mi Cuerpo Es Mio!

by Pro Familia, Dagmar Geisler (Illustrator), Christiane Scheurer (Translator)

Decir no y rechazar contactos desagradables no es fácil. A los niños seguros de sí mismos les cuesta menos decir lo que quieren y lo que no quieren. Por eso es importante que todos los niños tomen conciencia de sus emociones y de su cuerpo. Solo así podrán establecer límites.
· Premio del Libro Infantil y Juvenil concedido por la Asociación Alemana de Mujeres Médicos.
· Prevención contra el abuso.
· Para niños y niñas a partir de 5 años.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Kids, Parenting, 1st Grade

36 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1994

Reviews

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great literature, but I found this a really useful book for opening up a discussion with little kids about issues of safe touch and boundaries. It encourages kids to be assertive, not just about touch that is blatantly inappropriate or violating, but about touch that is disliked or annoying—tickling, for example.

[June Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've started having the "bad touch" conversation with my kids and thought this book would be a good way to make it feel less random and awkward. It wasn't quite what I'd hoped for, but isn't a bad book by any stretch. This book is from the perspective of a little girl, but doesn't really read that way. It didn't feel like how a child would speak including using the word whom, kids don't talk like that. That said, my kids liked it enough to ask me to read it again.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must-read for every child.

This is an important book that illustrates good touch, bad touching and what to do when someone touches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable. It's quick but concise and gets the message across efficiently. Definitely a great resource and starter book for little ones.

I don't think I'm the target audience but would probably rate it higher if I was a kid. Personally for me though, it's not nuanced enough. Like, what do you do when you say no or stop and they don't listen? I wish things were as simple as "tell someone". Unfortunately, things get a lot murkier when you grow up...

[Sarah Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations in this book. They were a little goofy and fun, and really complemented the text. The girl who "narrates" the book is a little sassy and knows with out a doubt that her body is hers! I also appreciated the way that the authors dealt with the issue of "bad touching." I thought that it got the point across without being creepy or making anyone uncomfortable, which sometimes is the case. I would recommend this book for lower elementary grades, I think the upper grades would find it condescending. This could be a great springboard for discussing personal space and appropriate classroom physical contact.

[Child Protection Toolkit · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child protection and safeguarding consultant, I highly recommend this book for ages 0-5. It's simple clear messaging. Unlike too many books on body and consent it's not too scary and it's not overly complicated or nuanced. Yes, at some point parents or teachers need to augment this learning about exceptions being health and safety (shots, doctor visits, moving kids from dangerous situations when they don't listen, etc.) but it's good that this book is simple and clear. I'd highly recommend it to families and classes.

[Citlalli Zacarías · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se necesita empezar a hablar de este libroool!

[Adric Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una buena lectura para enseñarle a los niños a cómo cuidarse.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very important message about body autonomy and how to teach children to stand up for themselves. I especially like that the book ended with the little girl telling her mom about a touch because "Sometimes a person doesn't stop when you say, "No!"... You must stick up for yourself. If you can't do it by yourself, then tell somebody you trust about it, and they will help you."
Opening up the conversation and letting kids know they can come to an adult for help is so so important!

The only aspect of the book I didn't like was when the main little girl says she doesn't like it when a dog licks her or when she feels trapped when she gets held too tight (and it looks like she's struggling against her mother/an adult female).
Sometimes we need to hold a child even when they don't want to be held...like holding their hand crossing the street, or walking down the block, or even holding them tight when they're having a temper tantrum, or picking them up and removing them from somewhere.
There's a very important message to this book about not being touched in a way that doesn't feel right to a child/not being touched when and how they don't want to be touched (which will hopefully teach them how to protect themselves from molestation and inappropriate touching), but I think teaching a child to say a blanket "No, I don't want to be touched!" when Mom needs to hold their hand is dicey.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think there needs to be a line added with distinction about that.

Otherwise, I think this type of book is sadly important.

[Monica Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An imporant message that is presented in a way to appeal to kids. Not the most fun read, but one that should be required reading both with parents and also in school as well.

[Baylie]

This is a book about a girl names Clara. During the story Clara talks about her body and how it belongs to her and only her. Throughout the book she talks about ways her body goes throughout the world, like being cuddled, sitting on granny's lap, holding a baby, or tickling her friends. These are all things she likes to do with her body, however there are things she doesn't like to do sometimes with her body. She doesn't always like being touched or hugged. When she doesn't want to be touched, she explains that it's okay to say, "stop it. Don't touch me. I don't want to". Or even a simple "no". And if someone is not listening to you, it's important to tell someone you trust. The premise of the story is that your body belongs to you and only you.
This is a children's picture book and the author is talking directly to the reader. The text style stays the same throughout.
What I like about this book is that it displays how to set healthy and sometimes necessary boundaries from a young age and if those boundaries are broken, talking to someone they trust is important.
I could use this in a classroom if my students are not respecting boundaries of their peers and not listening to when their friends say "no". It would be a good book to read to read also when teaching the concept of boundaries. I don't necessarily think this needs to be in a lesson though, and can just be a book that is in your classroom library for kids to choose.

[Anne S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book for its simplistic thoughts and actions. I love that it is easily understandable by a child. I liked where the author shows a kid who doesn't want to be hugged by someone (perhaps that child has sensory issues or not). Embrace and let the child be who they are. If they do not want to kiss or hug someone, that's ok! The person who wants to hug, might not have ulterior motives, but it is still important to let ALL children know that their body is their own!

I have children who have been in my life since they were babies, and I still ask permission to hug them! I think that it shows that I have respect for the child (who some are in their teens now and out of the "hugging" stage!).

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been trying to branch out on my 2 young son's usual tractor/truck/digger kind of books and bought this off Zulily. It's a nice book but doesn't engage or keep my kid's attention. Maybe it will grow on us but we've always talked about private areas being private and they'd much rather practice screaming "NO, NO, NO, DON'T TOUCH MY PENIS" rather than read a book that seems to talk around the subject. We will keep it in our reading library and hope that they are picking up more than they let on.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara es una niña orgullosa de su cuerpo y nos enseña multiples casos de contacto físico: desde las cosquillas con los amigos, hasta los adultos insistiendo en tocar a los niños.

Muy buen recurso para platicar con los niños de la autonomía corporal. El lenguaje es sencillo, las ideas fáciles de entender y el mensaje claro. Además, vienen frases que los niños pueden practicar.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple text affirms that the reader is in charge of their own body. Young children have the right to say no if they don't want to be touched. It offers simple phrases to use and encourages the reader to share with a trusted adult if something uncomfortable happens.
A letter for adults and a list of resources are also included.

[Al Faisal Kanon · Rating 4 out of 5]

চমৎকার কনসেপ্টের একটা বই। ছোট বাচ্চাদেরকে good touch - bad touch সম্পর্কে জানানোর জন্যে লেখা। পাশাপাশি bad touch বুঝতে পারলে কী করতে হবে, কিভাবে করতে হবে তা নিয়েও বলা আছে। পুরো বইটাই দারুণ সব ইলাস্ট্রেশন নিয়ে সাজানো। কমিকসের আদলে প্রয়োজনীয় একটা ম্যাসেজ দেয়া হয়েছে। যাদের ছোট বাচ্চাকাচ্চা আছে তাদের সাজেস্ট করছি।

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl named Clara explains to readers that her body is hers to control. She talks about the different kinds of touch that are possible and that is perfectly ok to tell someone that you don't want to be touched.

I really like the kid-appeal of this difficult topic.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book about bodily autonomy, because it doesn't include scary scenarios. It's very empowering. From grown-ups to friends to dogs, the message is simple: your body belongs to you and you get to decide who you touch and when.

[Todd Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book does a decent job bringing attention to personal space & comfort with tough. For me, some of the wording & dialogue could have been a little better. I’d recommend it for older elementary age range.

[Mary Cavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start. I have it for my Granddaughter.

I have read it and will read it with her the first time, then let her talk to me about it.

[Nicole (book.quill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for teaching consent, though more wordy than I could see young kids liking

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my twins to help reinforce good vs bad touch, body control, etc. I thought it was a good book but above their heads.

[Classroom #9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about being proud of your own body . It teaches children about personal space and encourages them to speak up when they feel uncomfortable with physical contact.

[Meg Deeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains consent and boundaries in a simple, child-friendly way.

[Maki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book to teach child protection and boundaries.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource for talking with kids about body autonomy.

[Lenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explicación muy accesible y comprensible para los niños, hacen falta más libros infantiles sobre este tema

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about body safety and consent. I wish they had a boy character too.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes it's educational. It's a very important subject, and this book charms, entertains, and gets the message across. Delightful illustrations enhance the clarity.

Recommended LFL find.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

Puts the idea of consent into a perspective that children can understand. This should be required reading in every Pre-K.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit preachy and the story didn't really grab me. Not awful, but not my top pick of books in this genre.