Can I Give You A Squish? by Emily Neilson

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Can I Give You A Squish? by Emily Neilson is a lovely book for starting conversations with kids about body autonomy and consent. It explains to children that not everyone likes to be hugged, and that some people like to greet people differently. So it is important to ask someone how they would like to be greeted, as they may be different to you.

You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 3 to 6 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Can I Give You A Squish? by Emily Neilson from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, my YouTube channel and website where I help parents find a better way to talk to their kids about love, sex, relationships, and growing up. If you’re looking for an easier way to start sex education conversations, you’ll find all the support you need over there.

So, let me tell you about this awesome book I found at my local library called Can I Give You A Squish by Emily Nielson. It’s perfect for talking to younger children about consent, you know, when it comes to touching someone’s body without asking for permission.

The story is about a little merperson named Kai who loves giving hugs and squishes to people. But then, he realizes that not everyone likes being touched that way. It’s a common thing for kids to go through, right? So, the book explores how to deal with that situation.

Kai gives his mom a big squish, cuddles other people, and even tries to give a pufferfish a squish. But the pufferfish gets scared, and Kai feels bad, thinking he did something wrong. Luckily, his friend suggests finding another way to show affection. They come up with a fin bump and try it with the pufferfish. And guess what? The fish likes it! Kai learns that everyone has their own preferred way of showing love and affection.

The book also introduces other ways of saying hello or showing affection, like tail claps and tentacle shakes. It’s a fun and different book that you can use to start conversations with your child about how they like to greet people. And it’s a great reminder that asking for consent is important. Just because you enjoy hugs doesn’t mean everyone else does, right?

Having conversations about consent can be a bit complex, with so many different messages involved. That’s why books like this, which focus on one aspect of the conversation, can be really helpful, especially for younger kids. It’s a fantastic resource to have in your toolkit.

If you want more ideas on how to talk about consent, head over to my website. I’ve got a blog post that’s packed with tips, and I even have a book list with other great titles on this topic. So, you’re covered!

I hope this summary was helpful. Cheers!

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