Book Review
A short overview of this book
Kit and Arlo Find a Way: Teaching Consent to 8-12 year olds by Ingrid Laguna and Vanessa Hamilton is a great resource for having consent conversations with kids who have outgrown picture books!
Preteens or tweens are often at an age where they start to get picky about the books they read. They may find picture books too ‘babyish’, which is a problem as nearly all the consent books are designed for a younger audience. Or they are designed for teens, which means the conversation is all about sex.
So I was a little excited when I heard that there was a consent book for this age group. As theya re uncommon.
So, a few things I like about this book. One, it covers all parts of the consent conversation ie no important concepts are missing. I also liked that it has a storyline, which makes it a little bit more interesting than a non-fiction (or fact-based) book.
This book is designed to be read chapter by chapter, and it provides simple (but effective) discussion points and ‘read and respond’ notes to talk about consent in an age-appropriate way.
So I think this will be a super helpful book for having these important consent conversations!
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Kit and Arlo Find a Way: Teaching Consent to 8-12 year olds by Ingrid Laguna and Vanessa Hamilton 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. On my website, I help parents find a better way to talk to their kids about sex. Today, I want to tell you about a fantastic book called kitten that’s perfect for tweens.
Kitten is written by Ingrid Laguna and has been shaped by the amazing Vanessa Hamilton. When I first saw the cover, I was a bit confused, but don’t let that throw you off. The book is all about teaching consent to eight to twelve-year-olds.
Now, consent is a big topic, but this book covers all aspects of it in a way that makes sense. Vanessa’s involvement ensures that nothing is left out. Plus, there are teaching resources that come with the book to help you dive deeper into the subject.
I also want to mention that there’s some online information available, but don’t worry if your child’s school isn’t using this resource. You can still have important conversations at home. After reading a chapter, you can check out the back of the book for discussion points and expand on what you’ve learned. It’s perfect for homeschooling or just wanting to have these conversations with your child.
What I love about kitten is that it’s not too heavy or sexual. It focuses on consent in everyday life, which is something many parents overlook. It’s important for kids to understand consent in all aspects before they find themselves in sexual situations later on.
The guide at the back of the book is really helpful, and I’m glad they collaborated with someone to make sure nothing was missed. Trust me, I couldn’t think of anything that should have been included because it’s all in there already.
So, if you’re looking for a great resource to start conversations about consent with your tweens, kitten is definitely worth checking out. It’s an easy read that you can even finish in an hour while waiting in the car. Cheers!
