More Than Fluff

by Madeline Valentine

A fresh, funny, and timely picture book about a fuzzy chick navigating autonomy and consent. The perfect conversation starter on the topic for young children.

Daisy happens to be fluffy--she's a young chick after all. Her friends can't help but want to pet her, squeeze her, and tell her how cute she is. But Daisy doesn't want to be hugged or kissed. She's not just fluff; Daisy has substance! But how can she tell everyone to give her some space without hurting their feelings?

A timely and funny book that encourages kids to establish and respect boundaries--perfect for reading aloud and shared story time!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Birds

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Madeline Valentine is the author-illustrator of The Bad Birthday Idea. Painting and drawing have been her favorite activities since she was smaller than Little Red Henry. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great primer for kids on consent and personal boundaries and comfort. Wish this was something I had as a kid!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such An Adorable Book

A great book for helping teach children about boundaries. It is sometimes hard for children to know that it is alright to give others boundaries because we don’t want or like certain things. This book can help your child understand that its ok and not necessarily being mean to tell people you would rather not do something. This book teaches them just that with a cute little chick. In a pressure filled world, this can be a challenge even for adults.

I would recommend this to all parents and teachers of young children.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm using this book teaching 3 and 4 year-olds. The story worked and now they are telling me noone can touch them.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy knows she's a cute little bird-- every creature reminds her constantly, usually coupled with hugs and kisses that she doesn't like! She's more than her adorable fluff-- but pecking people isn't a great way to tell them you don't want to be touched. More Than Fluff is indeed adorable, as well as a very important yet lighthearted book for kids (and adults!) about consent and communication, how to express it, and how to understand consent in regards to others.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is a 3.5 for me, and it covers important territory regarding the assumptions we make about others as well as the importance of setting and respecting boundaries. Featuring digital illustrations enlisting graphite and watercolor, the book centers around the plight of Daisy. She's adorably fluffy. After all, she's a yellow chick. But she becomes annoyed when that's all that anyone notices about her and when all the other animals just want to hug her. A little attention is a good thing, but too much of a good thing becomes unbearable. Daisy decides to change her looks, and when that doesn't work, she decides to stand up for what she wants and make her boundaries clear. All those hugging animals learn to back off and accept what Daisy has to offer--a high-five, a low-five, a tail bump or a handshake, all signs of affection with which she feels comfortable. And Daisy gets her hugs from her mother when she asks for them. This book would be a great avenue through which to share the importance of boundaries and not allowing others to enter your personal space without permission. The book's title and the fact that Daisy is a chick have significance for women since they are often the ones who are regarded as cute and fluffy based on appearance with the rest of their attributes, characteristics, and abilities being ignored. This book could provide a good conversation starter about limits and how to receive or offer affection.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because Daisy is cute and fluffy, the other animals feel entitled to touch her.

This picture book introduces the idea of personal space and lets young readers know that one has a right to set boundaries and have those boundaries respected.

As a parent, I didn’t like that Daisy’s mother left Daisy to face adults on all her own. Whenever we are in public, I frequently have to step between my child and another adult. I was flabbergasted at the mother in this story for 1) reprimanding the child for striking an adult who was touching her without her consent and 2) simply telling the child that it was up to her to stop the adults if she didn’t want to be touched.

There is a significant power imbalance between adults and children, and a child needs to experience his/her caregiver(s) modeling boundary setting on his/her behalf in order to be able to enforce boundaries on his/her own. It’s too much to expect most children to be able to stand up to adults alone without having been scaffolded.

Another important part of boundary setting that this book leaves out is that one is not responsible for other’s feelings. If someone reacts negatively when a person enforces a boundary, that is not the person’s being transgressed upon’s problem, and one should never give in as a form of appeasement. Just let that person be insulted or angry.

[Niharika · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than Fluff is a story about Daisy is cuddly and cute. All her friends want to hug her be it the duck, the snake or the squirrel. Daisy gets hugged when she doesn't want to be hugged. She feels frustrated and covers herself with wet mud. She thinks that by turning muddy and icky, no one will cuddle her. But to her dismay, she is still cuddled. Her only haven is her house. When her mother sees her perturbed, she decides to talk to Daisy. Daisy pours her heart out and shares her agony with her. Her mother tells her that she shouldn't peck anyone as that's being rude. But she can express and request that her friends not cuddle her. Daisy walks on the advice of her mother and soon lets her politely refuse to her friends if they try to cuddle her. She learns to stand up for herself and expresses to her friends that she doesn't mind a wing hi-fi or pat on the shoulder etc.

PS. Daisy subtly teaches us to set boundaries and constructively express our feelings. She uses the medium of words to express and request her friends to not hug her as that makes her feel uncomfortable.

[Sam Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so enjoyable! I teach child abuse prevention and I cannot wait to share this with my students! I thought that this would fit for my younger kids (kinder and 1st) given the illustration but I found myself giggling at this phenomenal book so I will be sharing with my 4th and 5th graders as well.

Perfectly explains how many people do not respect kids' boundaries because they are small although they should. This can be tough for kids navigate. Offers a great, obtainable solution- using your voice to express and hold boundaries! This book empowers kids to decide who comes into their personal space, when, and how.

I can say it enough, I LOVE THIS BOOK.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad to have this to add to the growing roster of books about consent for our younger readers. Pair with Rissy No Kissies, Don't Hug Doug and Can I Give You a Squish?.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy is an adorable fluffy chick. Everyone wants to hug, cuddle, kiss and pet her. She hated it! One day she tries solving the problem by jumping in a pond that coats her in slimy, sticky, stinky muck that no one wants to come near. However, she quickly realizes that this is not a long-term solution.

When Daisy unintentionally hurts a friend while trying to avoid unwanted attention her mother steps in and tells her it's time for her to learn to use her words to convey her boundaries. Once Daisy is able to verbalize her wishes to those around her, life becomes so much easier.

A sweet story that serves the purpose. But otherwise nothing special.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Fluff tells the tale of a young chick Daisy who wants to be more than what everyone wants to touch, hug and cuddle. She works to change her appearance with little success and then takes the advice of her mother on how to tell others what she wants and how to establish boundaries. It's a good classroom addition that can serve as a catalyst for discussions about boundaries and consent. It actual provides alternatives to unwanted intimate contact. Dialogue bubbles are used and modeled for aspiring writers.

[Grace Calvin]

This book is about an adorable chick, Daisy, who is very fluffy. Because she is fluffy, her friends always want to hug and kiss her, but she doesn't like this! She gets so upset that she ends up pecking her friends. Her mom teaches her that she can communicate how she is feeling to her friends, and she has great success doing this! This is a great book to begin to teach children about boundaries, communication, and consent. The illustrations and text-box style writing make it appealing for kids, too!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy is a fluffy adorable little chick. All the animals want to hug her and do so whenever they choose. Daisy wants them to know she is so much more than fluffy. She talks with her mom and gains the courage to speak up and share what she wants and does not want.
A message of empowerment for our youngest readers. They need to know they have control over how they interact with others and can speak up for themselves.

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any kid who has ever been made over at an extended family gathering will relate to Daisy, and they’ll enjoy the funny ways she tries to avoid all the attention. In the end, Daisy finds lots of ways to use her voice and establish her boundaries, modeling great boundary-setting the kids can adopt in their own lives. The illustrations are charming and engaging. Loved it!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Everybody cuddles me when I don't want them to!"

Daisy is adorable, at least that's what everyone keeps saying. But it makes Daisy mad that everyone wants to hug her, pet her or cuddle her. Thankfully, her mother helps Daisy figure out what she needs to do.

A sweet story about learning to advocate for your own personal space.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very simple and direct. There are two messages that stand out. This book really demonstrates that one should ask for consent and that there is more to someone than just appearance. Having a small little duckling as the main character entices the readers a little bit more. It allows them to be excited and enjoy the book but also to learn about the importance of those messages.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and approachable way to start the discussion about greeting body permissions (unwanted hugging, kissing, touching) and how to kindly let people know you prefer a first bump or a dance instead.

[Jennifer Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures and story. In this story, Daisy learns to ask for personal space, and to accept others wishes.

[Tessa Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book to teach kids about personal space and body autonomy. Fist bumps, high fives, handshakes, etc. are perfect substitutions for an unwanted hug.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction for kids to boundaries and body autonomy!

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal space

[Big · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a cute story. I would’ve rated it higher but there’s a grammar issue-a question needs a question mark.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book about setting boundaries and bodily autonomy. IMO we can't have too many of those.

[Heather]

Read alike for "Don't Hug Doug"

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set those boundaries little one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for teaching little ones about boundaries and consent.

[Dylan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet, teaching about the importance of setting boundaries and normalizing the fact that not everyone is equally okay with closeness like hugs and cuddles.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun story. It helps children understand why personal space is important.

[Lillian Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable way to explain consent to your child!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consent & advocating for yourself/your comfort level. Pair with Can I Give You a Squish?