A KIDS BOOK ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE

A sexual abuse–prevention text.

Before the title page, a note reads: “This book is best read together, kid and grownup.” That suggestion carries through in stark black and purple text against plain backgrounds with the statement “I’m so glad a grownup decided to get this book for you.” The book goes on to provide definitions of the words sexual and abuse, explains what sexual abuse can look like, states that it might be committed by a trusted person in a kid’s life, emphasizes that sexual abuse is never a kid’s fault, and counsels that they should be talking to a trusted grown-up if they’re experiencing it. There are no illustrations to distract from this focused, serious approach. But despite the attempt to stay simple, clear, and straightforward, there’s a lot missing that kids still need to know. The definition given for sexual is, convolutedly, “a word we use when we talk about actions that involve someone’s private parts.” Apparently private parts are “parts of your body that are only for you,” which neglects to acknowledge that a person’s whole body is private and belongs only to them, and that sexual abuse can include touching elsewhere. Toward the end there’s also an unexpected twist in which the author discloses an experience of sexual assault by her doctor, a break in tone that only serves to further confuse an already disorganized text.

A valid introduction in need of external support.