english
rissy: 4-8 years
consent: mg & up
- Consent
- Body Autonomy
- Activism
- Self-Advocacy
- Personal Agency
summary:
This big topic of consent can seem scary (or embarrassing to talk about) but Can We Talk about consent? breaks it down easily, sometimes metaphorically, and humorously. Author and educator Justin Hancock explains how we’re used to making decisions everyday and that is essentially consent. The more we practice, the better we’ll get at having the trickier conversations about consent. Consent is so much more than romantic relationships, we’re making decisions and considering how others feel. Think about the last time you chose what to watch on tv with a friend or family member, you probably talked about what genre you wanted to watch or what kinds of snacks you should share.
I hope you were able to catch my IG Live chat with author Katey Howes who wrote the picture book Rissy No Kissies, about a lovebird who doesn’t like to show affection by giving kisses. Everyone around Rissy gives different excuses for why she must not want them, maybe she’s sick or just being mean. The message of the book is empowering to Rissy, and teaches self-advocacy to those of us who have different preferences for showing our love and affection. In the back is lots of back matter for both kids and adults, and Katey even developed educational tools that are free on the Lerner website!
Consent and bodily autonomy are skills that we should be teaching kids from the get go. Both of these books are great resources for different ages!
Katey Howes writes with the twin goals of helping children connect their own experience to the greater world, and of inspiring children to become lifelong readers. She loves exploring different techniques, styles and genres to match a theme and to build an immersive experience for the reader. Her debut picture book, Grandmother Thorn, illustrated by Rebecca Hahn, was named a 2018 Anna Dewdney Read Together Honor Book by the Children’s Book Council. Publishers Weekly calls the folk-tale-style Grandmother Thorn“a visually arresting reminder that compromise has its benefits.”
Katey is also the author of Magnolia Mudd And The Super Jumptastic Launcher Deluxe, illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti (Sterling), which Barnes & Noble named one of “10 New Books We Love” for February 2018. School Library Journal says of Magnolia Mudd: “VERDICT: A girl who loves inventing finds an unexpected ally in her uncle’s bride-to-be. Fun text meets spot-on illustrations with a little learning thrown in—it’s a winning combo.” Katey’s website offers many STEM activities to pair with this book at home or in the classroom.
Be A Maker, illustrated by Elizabet Vuković, was released in May 2019 (Carolrhoda.) It quickly became a popular book in classroom and library makerspaces and was named the #1 Makerspace Read Aloud of 2019 by Teach Outside the Box. Kirkus Reviews raves, “this is more than a book about engineering and making – make an excellent choice to add this to the shelves.”
Jess is an artist and creative working out of her studio in Austin, Texas. You can find her art in Crate + Barrel, West Elm, Pottery Barn and in many online and local shops throughout the U.S.
Jess does illustration for kids, businesses and brands. She works in wobbly lines from a quill dipped in her Grandfather’s vintage pot of India Ink, and in colorful watercolor washes. Her characters elicit a sense of wonder and adventure, with just a hint of mischief.
Justin Hancock is a UK-based sex educator with over 20 years of experience. His website, BISHuk.com, is a leading sex and relationships advice resource for users aged 14+, and receives thousands of visits per day. In addition, Justin works with practitioners in sex and relationships, education and sexual health services, providing training and resources.
Fuchsia MacAree is a Dublin-based illustrator. Her practice involves drawing, mural painting and screen printing. Her work has appeared in exhibitions worldwide. Fuchsia’s character-based drawings are playful and colorful.