Max’s Creepy Crawly Slimy Things by Cath Laws and Alicia Moore
Short Summary
Max’s Creepy Crawly Slimy Things by Cath Laws and Alicia Moore is a beautifully written story that helps kids learn to recognise and trust their inner warning signals. By following Max and his love of slimy, wriggly creatures, children are gently guided to notice how their body reacts when something feels unsafe – a vital part of protective behaviours. This book is a brilliant resource for helping kids tune into their instincts and learn that those “uh-oh” feelings matter.
Age Group
Suitable for children aged 4 to 7 years.
Topics Discussed
Prevent Sexual Abuse
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What this book is about
- Max loves all things creepy and slimy – especially spiders! His curiosity sometimes pushes him to ignore those icky feelings that pop up when something might not be safe.
- The story gently introduces the concept of “early warning signs” – physical sensations like a racing heart, sweaty palms, or a gurgling tummy that tell us when something doesn’t feel right.
- Max’s Gran reminds him that not all creepy things are safe – and that it’s okay to feel worried and to listen to that worry.
- When Max finds a strange hole in the ground and gets the urge to poke it, his inner warning signs kick in – and this time, he listens.
- He chooses a safer option: drawing the hole and asking a trusted adult for help. That decision keeps him safe – the hole turns out to be home to a dangerous funnel web spider!
- The book uses spiders as a metaphor for unsafe situations – making it easier for kids to understand tricky feelings without needing to talk about abuse directly.
- A fantastic book to support conversations about safety, instincts, and making safe choices – especially for Australian families where creepy crawlies are a reality!
- While not always easy to find, this book is worth tracking down for parents, teachers, and anyone teaching protective behaviours.
I hope you find this book review helpful!
Happy talking!
❤️ Cath