children's books

What Are the Best Children’s Books About Consent?

Children's Activities

Teaching kids about consent helps them set and maintain boundaries for themselves and respect the boundaries of others. Here are the best children’s books to help you teach your little one about consent:

Would You Like a Hug?

Follow Gus and Grumpy Bear through the forest in search of a hug. Gus learns that not everyone likes hugs, and he finds a hug from one of the most unlikely of friends. Would You Like a Hug? is a heartwarming book about consent, respecting boundaries, and learning that it’s okay to say “no” and ask for help when you need it.

You can also download a fun discussion guide to help your children or students understand the lessons hidden in Would You Like a Hug?

Don’t Hug Doug

Don’t Hug Doug by Carrie Finison is another sweet book about hugs. This fun tale helps kids understand when it’s okay to give a hug and when it’s better to offer a high-five instead.

Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent

Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli is more of a didactic book than a storybook. This adorably illustrated board book teaches young children about bodily autonomy and the many ways to say “no.”

Can I Give You a Squish?

Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson follows a mer-boy named Kai through the ocean as he learns various ways to greet friends and show affection when others don’t like hugs.

Consent Ninja

Consent Ninja by Mary Nhin is a unique book about a little ninja who learns how to set boundaries and say “no” in uncomfortable situations. This didactic book helps kids develop strategies for being in charge of their own bodies and speaking up for themselves.

Will Ladybug Hug?

Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung is a fantastic board book for your youngest little ones. This sweet, simple story helps kids learn that some friends love hugs, some don’t, and that’s okay.

Why Use Books to Teach Kids About Consent?

Books offer the following advantages when teaching kids about consent:

Age-Appropriateness

Storybooks and board books introduce the topic of consent in age-appropriate ways. Explaining concepts such as bodily autonomy and boundaries is easier when you read a book with fun characters and situations kids can relate to.

Memorable Lessons

Research shows that reading about characters overcoming challenges significantly influences children’s behavior. A memorable book with a positive message can stick with your child for years, helping them carry lessons well into adulthood.

Quality Time

Reading with your child helps them feel safe, loved and connected. Storytime may feel like a simple part of the day, but it creates memories you and your little one will treasure forever.

Teach Your Kids About Consent With a Heartwarming Storytime

Reading is a fantastic way to connect with your child or young students and teach them about boundaries. There are several children’s books about consent you can enjoy with your little ones, giving them a fun, memorable way to learn about bodily autonomy.

Add Would You Like a Hug? to your bookshelf, and take your little one on an adventure through the forest with Gus and Grumpy Bear.

Picture from Would You Like a Hug? – Written by Jessica Weibley and illustrated by Alexandra MacVean

From Screen to Page: Finding the Best Printer

Publishing Blog

First-time authors often travel the print-on-demand route when deciding how to get their book out into the world. It’s fast. It’s safe. It’s cheap. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right?

Wrong.

Print-on-demand services seem great on the surface. Companies like Ingram Spark allow authors to print books as customers order them. This can seem like the safest option for many authors because no bulk orders are necessary. However, this route smashes an author’s chances of making any profit off of their books.

When I made it to the printing stage of publishing Would You Like a Hug? I was tempted to go with a print-on-demand company. I had no idea if my book would sell many copies, so print-on-demand seemed like the safest option at the time. However, print-on-demand is not worth the sense of security that it provides. Companies like Ingram Spark often charge authors $10-15 per book, which means that authors only make a couple dollars of profit on each book sold. That’s not even enough to cover the costs that go into publishing a book.

So, I took a leap. I had faith in myself and my business, and I took a risk. I found a great printing company overseas, and I paid $4,000 to print 1,000 hardcover copies of my book, which is about four dollars per book. I now have an apartment full of book boxes and some anxiety that I might not sell all of them, but it’s worth it. Ordering a bulk amount allows me to sell my books at a reasonable price and still make enough of a profit to earn back the money that I put into publishing the book.

If you’re considering a print-on-demand company to print your books without risk, please reconsider. Ordering a thousand books at one time might feel daunting, but all of those boxes piled up in your house will be your motivation to keep going.

Now go print! You’ve got this.