Book Review
A short overview of this book
Only For Me by Michelle Derrig is a great book for parents who want to empower and protect their children from sexual abuse.
This book seeks to disarm predators by educating and empowering children with the knowledge that:
- their bottom is private and not for sharing, touching, feeling or photographing;
- other people’s bottoms are private and it is wrong for someone to expose themselves or to show them images of bottoms on any sort of device;
- that these rules apply no matter if the person is male, female, friend, family, stranger, cool, clever, kind etc.
- that they can say no whenever someone’s touch doesn’t feel right (including kissing, stroking, cuddling, snuggling, either through clothes or direct touch).
- that these rules apply even when it feels like a game
- that boys bottoms have a penis and testicles and that girls bottom’s have a vagina and vulva;
- that the reason we use these correct terms is so that no one ever gets confused;
- abusive behavior is never a secret even when threatened;
- secrets should be nice and fun;
- abusive behavior is not their fault and they won’t be in trouble;
- they need to tell a trustworthy adult if someone does the wrong thing to them;
- it is the responsibility of that adult, to ensure that the abuse stops and that they visit someone who can help them (the victim) feel better; and
- if that adult doesn’t do these things, then they must keep on telling until they find an adult who helps.
- includes space to record 5 adults they can trust;
- includes contact numbers for Kids Helpline as well as contact details for adults who are concerned about a child’s welfare.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 5 to 9 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Only For Me by Michelle Derrig from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, I’m Cath Hak, your friendly sex educator. On my YouTube channel and website, I review a bunch of books that can help you with sex education and talking to kids about all sorts of topics related to it.
Today, let’s dive into a book called All Bodies Are Good Bodies by Charlotte Barkla, beautifully illustrated by Erica Salcito. This book is all about bodies, and let me tell you, books about bodies are really important, especially for young kids. They help them understand that everyone’s body is different, but equally beautiful.
This book is fantastic for teaching diversity and helping kids feel more comfortable in their own skin. Trust me, it pays off in the long run, even when they become teenagers. I’ve been reading books like this with my own kids for a while now, and it’s made a world of difference. When my daughter went through puberty, she had moments where she felt self-conscious about her changing body. But because we had been talking about body diversity for so long, she adapted and embraced the changes.
Now, let’s take a look at this book. It’s so diverse! Modern books these days are all about celebrating different cultures and backgrounds. In this one, you’ll find kids with eye patches, kids in wheelchairs, and so much more. It starts off by talking about eyes, how they come in different colors and some may need glasses. Then it moves on to noses, hair, mouths, and all the different parts of our bodies. It’s a fun read, trust me!
Oh, and let me mention something important. While this book covers a lot, it doesn’t talk about genitals. It’s rare to find a book that does, and I think it’s because mainstream publishers tend to be conservative. But don’t worry, there are other resources out there if you want to discuss private parts with your kids.
You can even use this book to talk about body safety and consent. For example, it mentions tickling and how you can tell someone to stop if you don’t like it. It’s a great way to open up those conversations.
All Bodies Are Good Bodies is a fantastic book that showcases a wide range of body shapes, sizes, cultural backgrounds, and disabilities. You can keep it in your bookshop or borrow it from the library every few months, just like I did with my own kids. We used to read different books every night, and it was a wonderful way to reinforce these important messages. Kids really love books, you know?
I hope this review helps you out. Cheers!
