Title: The Right Touch
Author: Sandy Kleven
Illustrator: Jody Bergsma
Publisher and Year: Illumination Arts Publishing Company, 1998
Number of pages: 32
Tags/Themes: Emotion, Family, Picture Book, Award Book, K-5, Olivia Ruff
Genre: Educational
Descriptive Annotation: This book follows a little boy and his mother talking before bed. The mother decides to tell her son about inappropriate touching. She gives an example of a little girl who went over into her neighbor’s house and was assaulted. There is a note for parents and teachers in the front of the book with steps to what to do if a child comes to the adult saying that they had been inappropriately touched. This note also explains the importance of the book for various reasons including the fact that children are not always aware of the dangers of familiar people taking advantage of them.
Classroom Application: This story would be a good story to read to children whether it is read in the homes of children or during a lesson on bullying or abuse. We often teach children to beware of strangers, but children are rarely told about the biggest child-predators: people that they might already know of. This book is a good, appropriate way to tell children about the different ways to be aware of situations where sexual abuse could happen.
Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Analysis: This book helps foster a safe space for children to talk about abuse and become aware of some of the dangers. This would open up a door for already abused children to speak up. The illustrations are welcoming and warm, and there is one page with drawings of a boy and a girl so that the adult can explain the differences in whichever way they want to. Quotes: “Lots of kids say they get warning feelings when things are not safe” (21) and “Kisses and cuddles I like a lot, but when I say no, please touch me not” (30).