Use children’s books about safety as a gateway for opening up discussions in the learning environment. Teaching body safety in the classroom is important because it helps kids identify unsafe situations and recognize warning signs of abuse. This knowledge enables children to seek help, report concerns to a trusted adult, and prevent unsafe situations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience sexual abuse at some point during childhood. Because of this, it's vital to teach kids how to keep themselves safe.
Whether you are a teacher, counselor, or parent, using books to help illustrate a topic is a great way for kids to learn.
11 Children's Books about Safety You Need in Your Library
Here is a list of some of the awesome children’s books about safety out there you can use to help teach this topic to students:
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1. I Said No!
Title of Book and Author: I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private by Kimberly King
A short summary of the book: Kids learn how to set healthy boundaries regarding their private parts in a straightforward way through this book. Kimberly King writes this book from a child’s perspective. Kid-friendly language and pictures are used to help parents and adults guide children through a variety of potentially problematic scenarios regarding body safety.
Why I like the book: This book includes a direct system to help children practice appropriate remarks they can use to help keep them safe. Parents, teachers, and counselors (and any other concerned adult) can use this book to help teach children clear boundaries about their body and how to process emotions that come with challenging situations such as abuse. It’s a great book to read with early elementary aged students.
The moral of the story: Your body is your own. You can say no!
Topics covered: Body Safety; Consent; Social Emotional Skills; Guilt; Shame; Courage; Body Autonomy
2. My Body Belongs to Me
Title of Book and Author: My Body Belongs to Me: From my Head, to my Toes by Pro Familia
A short summary of the book: Through a little girl named Clara and her mom, this book makes it easy for adults to teach children the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touches and how to tell others when you do not want to be touched. Children learn how to confidently take charge of their bodies as they say “no” and tell trusted adults if something has happened.
Why I like the book: Pro Familia includes clear examples of what to say for adults to teach their children when not wanting physical contact. There are also examples for children who have already experienced an unwanted touch. This story highlights that bad touches are not just the obviously violating ones, but also the ones that are unliked or annoying like tickling. It’s a perfect read for younger elementary school children to help teach consent and body safety.
The moral of the story: Be assertive when saying “no” about your body!
Topics covered: Body Safety; Consent; Social Emotional Skills; Body Autonomy; Courage; Bravery; Abuse
3. No Means No!
Title of Book and Author: No Means No by Jayneen Sanders
A short summary of the book: This picture book is about a little girl who has a very strong and clear voice in all issues, especially those relating to her body and personal boundaries. This book can be read to children from 3 to 9 years. It is a springboard for discussions regarding children's choices and their rights.
Why I like the book: Although it is short, this book does a great job of discussing consent and body authority in a simple but impactful way for young readers. “No means no'' is a clear mantra that children can take away and really remember as they consider body safety in real life.
The moral of the story: The choices you make about your body should be respected!
Topics covered: Body Safety; Consent; Personal Boundaries; Respect; Courage; Bravery; Social Emotional Skills
4. I Can Say No!
Title of Book and Author: I Can Say NO by Jenny Simmons
A short summary of the book: The story is about a girl who learns to say NO. She learns to say no to things that she is uncomfortable with, things she is not interested in or does not have time for. She says no to her own negative thoughts, and to herself when she feels like quitting. The girl learns to say no to keep herself safe, to those who invade her personal space, and no to peer pressure. She can say no to hate: "I can use my words, if someone looks down on me for the color of my skin or the makeup of my family. I can say, NO! There is no room here for hate, injustice, unkindness, or fear."
Why I like the book: This book is EXACTLY what I needed right now because it covers ALL the relevant topics. So many lessons can be taught using this book: respecting yourself and others, setting boundaries, peer pressure, and making safe choices. As someone who has trouble saying NO as an adult, the book really has a special place in my heart. I plan on using this book with students for years to come!
The moral of the story: Saying no means you know your own limits.
Topics covered: Courage; Bravery; Acceptance; Personal Safety; spoon
5. I Can Be Safe
Title of Book and Author: I Can Be Safe by Pat Thomas
A short summary of the book: Children are introduced to safety tips regarding physical and body safety while also encouraged to listen to their intuition. They are empowered to distinguish between safe and unsafe things. Children are also advised to remember information to stay safe like their own names, parents’ names, phone numbers, and more. Normal childhood fears and feelings are addressed through the different situations discussed in this book.
Why I like the book: This book encourages children and adults to have a positive rapport and trust in order to discuss hard situations. There’s also a helpful page of advice for parents and teachers to help guide discussion further. By including explicit information for children to learn like safe phone numbers, they can walk away from this book empowered and confident in their ability to stay safe.
The moral of the story: Safety comes first!
Topics covered: Safety; Social Emotional Skills; Growth Mindset; Body Safety; Consent; Confidence
6. How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?
Title of Book and Author: How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe? By Jane Yolen
A short summary of the book: In this funny book, large dinosaur children work through different scenarios in their human-world while learning how to make safe choices. They learn that they must cross the road with their Mama, what to do when they meet a stranger, how to call 9-1-1, and more. It’s a great book to teach general safety to young children in a fun way!
Why I like the book: This book provides humor while also maintaining its clear message of safe behavior. The silliness will have kids asking to read this book over and over again– giving parents and teachers many opportunities to discuss important safety topics.
The moral of the story: It’s important to stay safe.
Topics covered: Safety; Social Emotional Skills; Responsibility
7. A Little Safety Spot at School
Title of Book and Author: A Little Safety SPOT: At School by Diane Alber
A short summary of the book: Little Safety Spot shows children how to stay safe in school. Situations are given for safety inside, outside, and around school. Children will learn how to stay safe while crossing the road, riding a bike, while playing outside, after using the bathroom, using classroom tools, and more.
Why I like the book: This book is perfect to share with preschoolers while introducing many concepts related to safety. The pictures help young students visualize different safety rules in order to understand the concepts easier.
The moral of the story: You can make safe choices at school!
Topics covered: Safety; School Safety; Social Emotional Skills; Responsibility
8. Consent Ninja
Title of Book and Author: Consent Ninja by Mary Nihn
A short summary of the book: Consent Ninja teaches kids how to be the B.O.S.S. of their own bodies. He gives examples of relatable situations when a child might feel unsafe or uncomfortable and then shares easy-to-understand strategies of how to stay in charge in these moments. Consent Ninja also explains times when children should respect the boundaries and consent of others.
Why I like the book: Mary Nihn uses entertaining and colorful ninjas to keep elementary-aged children engaged in a very serious conversation. Unlike many other books about consent for this age group, this book addresses this topic from a personal standpoint for children but also regarding respect for others’ boundaries and choices. It provides a well-rounded and comprehensive approach to this important topic!
The moral of the story: Each person is in charge of their own body, and their boundaries should be respected!
Topics covered: Body Safety; Safety; Boundaries; Consent; Social Emotional Skills, Physical Abuse; Respect; Responsibility
9. Some Secrets Should Never be Kept
Title of Book and Author: Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneen Sanders
A short summary of the book: This book is about keeping children safe from unsafe touches. Alfred’s mom works for a famous man named Lord Henry. Lord Henry appears to be a nice man and offers to watch Alfred. One day, Lord Henry touches Alfred in an inappropriate place and tells Alfred not to tell anyone. Alfred is left wondering if he should tell his mom or not, but he remembers that some secrets should never be kept. While reading this story, children learn to immediately find and tell a trusted adult if they are ever touched unsafely and continue to report the issue until they are believed.
Why I like the book: This book is perfect to read with young children. Thorough notes to the reader and discussion questions can be found in the back of the book to support adults as they guide children through this difficult topic and help children as they begin to comprehend what is being discussed. Related activities and child protection resources can be found on an accompanying website. This book is also available in 7 different languages!
The moral of the story: Always speak up if you are touched inappropriately! Some secrets should never be kept.
Topics covered: Body Safety; Social Emotional Skills; Consent; Safe and Unsafe Touches; Sexual Abuse; Trauma; Bravery; Body Autonomy
10. Do You Have a Secret?
Title of Book and Author: Do You Have a Secret? By Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
A short summary of the book: Everyone has secrets! Some secrets feel fun to keep, but not all of them really are. This book makes it easy to introduce the topic of privacy and good and bad secrets. Different types of abuse are discussed in age-appropriate ways while equipping children to tell trusted adults when a secret isn’t okay to keep. Children can feel safe!
Why I like the book: This book is appropriate for toddlers through early elementary school aged students. The child-friendly language and simple pictures keep this book appropriate for such a young audience while still addressing the topic of boundaries, secrets, and consent in a clear way!
The moral of the story: Not all secrets are good ones to keep.
Topics covered: Body Safety; Secrets; Boundaries, Consent; Social Emotional Skills; Feelings; Abuse
11. Body Boundaries make me Stronger
Title of Book and Author: Body Boundaries Make Me Stronger by Elizabeth Cole
A short summary of the book: This story follows a little boy named Nick and how his parents teach him about personal boundaries and consent. He experiences several situations that make him feel uncomfortable, but when he talks to his parents about these things, they help him learn how to be confident in his choices about his body and how to clearly express his feelings and desires to others.
Why I like the book: This book uses kid-friendly language and real-life scenarios to help children understand who should see and touch their bodies, how to express their feelings, and what rules to create for good and bad touches. It is a phenomenal tool for parents to use in helping them talk to their children about this very important safety topic!
The moral of the story: Your body is yours, and you make the rules about your own body!
Topics covered: Personal Safety; Personal Space; Social Skills, Body Awareness; Consent
Resources about Safety
Pair your favorite children's books about safety with this low-prep, done-for-you resource to reinforce body safety. Incorporate real-world scenarios to help students master how to keep their body safe– & pledge to do so!
This Body Safety Lesson is the perfect Child Abuse Prevention lesson! It features posters, scenario practice, and a body safety plan and pledge. This resource is an easy print and go or digital learning tool.
Looking for more ideas on how to teach safety in the classroom? Check out this blog post on Teaching about Safety in the Classroom.
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