Will Ladybug Hug? By Hilary Leung

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Will Ladybug Hug? By Hilary Leung is a board book that can be used with babies and toddlers in starting conversations about body safety and consent.

This book is ideal for teaching your child that they are the boss of their body ie they have a say in whether they can be touched (or not). It is also helpful in encouraging them to ask permission before they touch someone too.

You can learn more in this blogpost, about how to talk to kids about consent.

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

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 3 to 4 years and younger.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Will Ladybug Hug? By Hilary Leung from Amazon or Book Depository.

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. This is my YouTube channel where I chat about sex education and review awesome books that can make talking about sex with your kids a breeze. I also have a website where I share resources to help parents have those important conversations with their kids about a wide range of topics. So, let’s dive into a board book called Will Ladybug Hug by Hilary Leung.

This board book is perfect for babies to chew on, hold, and explore with their little hands. It’s all about the power of touch. Ladybug loves giving hugs to say hello and goodbye. But here’s the thing, we need to teach our little ones that they have control over their own bodies. They get to decide who can touch them. So, if you have a family member who insists on forcing hugs, this book can come to the rescue. You can hand it to them and say, Hey, this is how we do things with little Johnny. Why don’t you read this book together and maybe they’ll get the message?

I know it can be tough to tell people, especially your mother-in-law, that they can’t just go up and hug your kids. That’s why books like these can lay the groundwork for those conversations. With kids, it’s all about having many conversations because their little brains are constantly absorbing information. It takes time for messages to sink in. So, this book shows that alligator says side hugs are okay, but will bear let ladybug hug? Yes, hugs are warm and wonderful!

The book goes on to explore different scenarios, and sometimes someone might say no. I think it’s the sheep who doesn’t want a hug. And you know what? That’s totally okay! Ladybug understands and asks if sheep is ready for a high five instead. It’s not just about not touching if you don’t want to. It’s about finding other ways to greet and interact with people. And if you still don’t want to do anything, that’s totally fine too.

Now, I know some people might think it’s impolite for kids to say no to hugs. But let me tell you, it’s all about teaching them about personal boundaries and keeping them safe from any kind of abuse. It’s also about empowering them to own their own bodies. Saying no doesn’t mean they’re being rude. They can still use good manners and say goodbye in a polite way. Starting these conversations and building these foundations when they’re young will make it easier as they grow older, especially when they start thinking about being sexually active.

By the way, I just had some chocolate slice with coconut, and it’s sticking in the back of my throat. Anyway, books like Will Ladybug Hug are super important, and I actually recommend having your own copy. These books get read over and over again. As kids get older, there are other consent books too. But when they’re little, books like this can really help get those important messages across.

I hope this review was helpful! Cheers!

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