Regular visitors to Linda’s Book Bag know I began blogging partly because I used to review children’s books and write teacher resources for them for a large publisher so, although I’m trying not to take on blog tours, I couldn’t resist accepting Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian. When I was inspecting education, I frequently had responsibility for care, guidance and support and Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU piqued my interest. I’d like to thank Namishka Doshi at Hatchette Children’s Group for inviting me to take part.

Published by Hatchette imprint, Wren and Rook, on 9th January 2020, Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU is available for purchase here.

Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU

Your body belongs to you and you get to set your own rules, so that you may have boundaries for different people and sometimes they might change. Like when you hi-five your friends and kiss your kitten, but not the other way round!

But consent doesn’t need to be confusing. From setting boundaries, to reflecting on your own behaviour and learning how to be an awesome bystander, this book will have you feeling confident, respected, and 100% in charge of yourself and your body

Brought to life with funny and informative illustrations, this is the smart, playful and empowering book on consent that everyone has been waiting for.

My review of Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU

A book to show children what is acceptable and how they can control their own lives.

Now, you know that I’m going to say, so I’ll get it out of the way before I review properly. My ex-literacy consultant head prefers a children’s book that isn’t almost entirely in upper case letters because that’s not how we expect children to write. That said, in Respect, the capitals are used effectively for emphasis with an important message so I’ll forgive their use!

Firstly, I need to say how brilliant the physical design of Rachel Brian’s Respect is. With a very robust cover and small size it is just perfect for children to handle and own, both literally and metaphorically. I can envisage Respect being used over and over again in classroom, homes, hospitals and libraries and am sure it would last well in the process.

The illustrations work very well in underpinning the text. I love the presentation of able and disabled characters, the range of ethnicities and the soothing colour scheme, all of which ensure any child can feel included in the meanings and advice.  The short chapters mean that an aspect can be dealt with individually, so that children are not overwhelmed by the amount of information. I especially liked the inclusion of the kind of things that can happen on social media, and those elements asking children to consider the way they treat and respect others, as well as emphasising that they have control over how others treat them because they help children become rounded and emotionally literate. Also really helpful is the inclusion of vocabulary definitions woven throughout so that children can become familiar with a language of respect and boundaries, giving them a tool to employ in their own lives.

Most importantly, however, is the inclusion of helpful telephone numbers and websites at the end of the book so that children have a resource immediately accessible to them as they learn to put in place the techniques described in Respect.

Respect is a sadly much needed book that takes an issue so many children struggle with and helps them to control their lives and seek help when needed. What could be better than that?

About Rachel Brian

Rachel Brian is the founder, owner, and principal animator of Blue Seat Studios. She is best known for her work on “Tea Consent,” a video that has been translated into over 20 languages and has had more than 150 million views worldwide across platforms. The follow-up, “Consent for Kids,” also has a tremendous following and has been translated into over 15 languages. A long-time artist, Rachel is a former researcher and an educator, having taught physiology, biology, and maths at both the high school and college level. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Visit Rachel’s website for further information or follow her on Twitter @rachel_brian.

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