Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent

by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, Isabel Roxas (Illustrator)

Overview

A picture book edition of the bestselling board book about consent, offering adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.


A board book bestseller – now in picture book!
    Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood development and activism against injustice, this topic-driven book offers clear, concrete language and imagery to introduce the concept of consent. This book serves to normalize and celebrate the experience of asking for and being asked for permission to do something involving one's body. It centers on respect for bodily autonomy, and reviews the many ways that one can say or indicate "No."
    While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race, gender, and our bodies from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
    These books offer a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. Illustrative art accompanies the simple and interactive text, and the backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593383322
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Series:	First Conversations
Pages:	38
Sales rank:	159,119
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.90(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Jessica Ralli is the Coordinator of Early Literacy Programs at Brooklyn Public Library, where she develops and manages programming for BPL's award-winning First Five Years initiative. She received her MA in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and previously taught in schools, childcare centers, and museums. She has written about early literacy and library services for young children in School Library Journal (where she co-authors the "First Steps" column with Rachel G. Payne) and has presented on play-based learning at the American Library Association Conference, Young Child Expo, and the Bank Street Center for Children's Literature.

Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a lifelong student of radical Black feminism and an early childhood educator. She holds an MS in early childhood education from Dominican University and a BA in studies in religion from the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy. When she's not working on finishing up her dissertation, she works as a trainer for the Center for Racial Justice in Education, the Human Root, and the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute, facilitating workshops for teachers on race, gender, and sexuality.

Isabel Roxas is an author/illustrator, micro-publisher, ceramicist, and avid reader. She was born in Manila, Philippines, and was raised on luscious mangoes, old wives' tales, and monsoon moons. She now works in the backroom of an art gallery in Manhattan, where she writes and illustrates stories, designs books, and creates small objects in clay and resin. Her illustrator credits include picture books Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (2018 Newbery medal winner), Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê (named an NPR Best Book of 2016), and Day at the Market by May Tobias-Papa (2010 winner of the Philippine National Book Award). Isabel is the founder of Little Big Time Press, where she publishes artist books and zines for children.

Editorial Reviews

"Affirmative consent, bodily autonomy, and correct vocabulary for body parts and more are all addressed in the frank, easy-to-understand text." —Booklist (STARRED REVIEW)

"A thoughtful and inclusive approach to discussing consent both for young children and their grownups." — Rise: A Feminist Book Project (Top Ten Book Pick, ALA RISE, 2023)

From the Publisher

04/01/2022

K-Gr 2—Colorful illustrations and simple questions to discuss offer a lighthearted path into a serious topic. The concept of consent is explained in simple, direct terms: "If someone says YES, it means you have their consent. But if they don't say YES, the answer is NO." Familiar examples such as hugging and tickling are used to illustrate the topic, as well as various ways, verbal and nonverbal, in which someone might communicate a "No." There are explicit words and illustrations for various body parts (examples include "butt" and "nipples") and these are entirely appropriate in context. The book includes a mix of characters of varying skin tones and ethnicities. Though this has been published as a board book, the pages are far more text-heavy than one usually encounters in this format, making the text accessible only to an adult or older reader. Includes an author's note and four pages of back matter which include explanations of such topics as Bodily Autonomy, Power and Adultism, and Affirmative Consent. VERDICT Perfect for a parenting or school counseling collection, the book's format may not be the best choice for school libraries.—Sue Morgan

School Library Journal