A great book to teach kids the power of no and also empower them with their own agency. I appreciated how diverse the illustrations in this book were! An important message about saying no that kids are never too young to learn!

This was a fantastic book about the power of saying no. I loved how it described all the places you can say no. I loved how it talked about saying no as a superpower. This is a great message for students to learn how to say no and it is okay to say no to things you do not want to do. Great Book!

A very good book for kids, parents and teachers to use. Saying "no" is difficult not only for children but for adults as well and therefore we cannot expect kids to learn this if we do not know how to set these explanations for them.
The book uses examples of various situations when the kids can say "no" and be empowered to use their own voices. They are encouraged to prioritize their needs.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of this book.
Read and reviewed by seven-year-old Amy.

'I Can Say No' is a colorful picture book. It has beautiful illustrations that keep you engaged.
This book has a message that you can say NO to anything that you don't like to do, and you should say yes to important things.
Children will learn to voice their opinions and feel proud of them.
The main character has a superpower, which is to say NO.

I recommend this book for children three and above! 🙂

Review: An important book for children to learn how to say 'No" effectively with numerous examples of everyday life. One of the most challenging social emotional issues that children deal with is knowing how and when they are able to say no, especially to peers or adults. The colorful graphics also include a diverse range of community members. The last page after the story includes helpful tips for educators and parents for helping a child to learn to say no and arm them with healthy boundaries.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own.

This book is about saying “No.” It’s about giving children the courage to say no to something that isn’t their preference, but more so about something they feel is not right— whether happening to them or to someone else. It touches on things that it is okay to say no to, even when it is hard. It touches on how to say no and how to cope if it produces disappointment in the other person. It also touches on times when we might not be able to say no (like homework, shots, and chores).

As a child life specialist, I think this is a great conversation starter with kids about consent, about standing up to bullying, about not doing something you are uncomfortable or scared to do just because someone else wants you to. I think it could be used well in schools, at home, or by other human/social service personnel.

The photos are engaging and beautiful and they illustrate the concepts well. Some words or situations may take more explaining if using with a younger child.

This was such a great read! I would definitely recommend this to both parents and teachers to help the children in their life build this important skillset. Having the strength to say "no" is underrated, and this book does an amazing job of having a whole, complete, inclusive and diverse discussion around a word that is small yet powerful! Even adults could benefit from reading this book, as it is a good reminder about why the act of simply saying no takes strength, builds confidence/self-awareness, and is a healthy habit to practice! I look forward to seeing this book on store shelves!

As a teacher, I LOVE THIS. I will absolutely be buying this for my classroom library & sharing with teachers/counselors in my building. The word no is powerful, and most kids know it. But this book reminds kids that no is a word of respect - it allows you to choose self respect and honor your own needs, as well as do what is right. The book touches on important issues like body ownership, peer pressure, and manners. My favorite part is that the book even takes the time to remind readers that no is for respect - yes for yourself, but also to be used respectfully and kept in check. While it empowers kids, it reminds kids that our “powers” must be used responsibly!

I can say No is a beautifully written and illustrated book by the author Jenny Simmons..
Often kids are forced to say yes( even if they dnt want to) when with friends due to peer pressure. This book shows with multiple examples and situations wherein one can say No if one doesn't wish to do something.. It might hurt the opposite person for a bit but in the long run he would understand and also you will be true to yourself which is the most important thing.
This best part about this book is it also tells when one shouldn't say No to get out of any situation like with parents or teachers where it isn't right..
A must for all kids and even for us adults its a great book.

I Can Say No by Jenny Simmons is a beautifully written and illustrated book that teaches kids how to say "no" and when its ok to say "no". The book gives various scenarios and examples of how and when to say "no" and to not feel guilty when you do say "no". I really like how the book emphasizes that it's ok to say "no" and to do so in a respectful way and not to feel guilty about it. At the end of the book it also has tips and exercises to help teach a child how to say "no". While this book is geared toward kids, I believe that adults could learn from this too! This book would be perfect to read in a classroom setting, library story time, or as a family. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

This is a wonderfully important book for kids of various ages - and would be a perfect addition to classroom health and safety curriculums in elementary grades. Children need to hear that their words have power and that they should feel strong and capable to use that power when needed. The pictures and situations presented in the pages were engaging, age appropriate and relevant and lend themselves well to expanded conversations with children. I liked that varied situations where children could use their NO were presented - including safety situations, social interactions/peer relations as well as individual/intrinsic situations, and that non-examples were discussed too - you don’t get to say no to homework and chores! The caregiver information at the end of the book was also valuable and appreciated. I look forward to adding this book to my home and classroom libraries!

I Can Say No is an empowering Children’s book about the importance of self-advocacy and the word “NO!” It teaches children that their voice matters and empowers them to protect their values, time, and interests by saying “No!”.

Jenny Simmons and Kristin Sorra did a wonderful job weaving in powerful text with vibrant illustrations. The story is set in a fun rhyming pattern and features diverse characters. I loved that they included situations where saying no wouldn’t be appropriate (e.g. with parents, educators). They also included an informational handout for educators/parents at the end of the book.

I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist and would purchase this book for my classroom. I do work with children who have difficulty saying “no” and sometimes trade people-pleasing behaviors for friendship. It is important for children to understand that they have agency and are able to make decisions about how they spend their time. No is an important word and I am grateful for this book!

I love how the author lies out different scenarios where saying “no” is so important, even though it could be uncomfortable. At first I was a bit hesitant about the concept, because I also want my students to be risk-takers and say yes to new challenges- but it turns out that the author also includes situations where saying no isn’t the best thing to do. Recommended more for upper elementary/middle school students.

Working as a children's mental health therapist, I noticed three amazing things about this book. The first one is describing healthy boundaries. It explains how a child can assess their wants/needs and make a final decision on if they are comfortable doing something or not. This skill is often overlooked because children are not made to feel like they can make these boundaries for themselves. Secondly, it describes accountability in two distinct ways.. One is by not making excuses for what we don't want to do and the second is being assertive in our communication but not aggressive. In therapy it's imperative to teach skills utilizing assertive communication and this book does a wonderful job laying the base work for that conversation. The third thing that the book demonstrates is that challenging negative thoughts is something that a child can begin to do. The line that stood out to me was "I can say NO to the thoughts in my head that tell me I'm worthless because I messed up again." That statement is powerful and empowers children to challenge themselves and their thinking.
Truly, I adored this book and will actually be purchasing a hard copy to utilize during sessions.

This is a nicely illustrated picture book that comes with an important message. The theme is the importance of being able to say no in a variety of situations. The book makes the appropriate and timely use of the word empowering for kids. Read this title with a child you know or just leave it somewhere where a child can pick it up. They will learn an important lesson.

While I think that this title will be helpful to both boys and girls, often it seems that girls are more socialized to not make waves. So, this book may be even more helpful for them.

This title ends with a helpful section for adults. It is worth a read and offers good tips for helping children.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Another great book for child therapists. There are so many issues that can be addressed. The limited number of words and colorful pictures mean it's likely easier to keep a child's attention too.

I Can Say No by Jenny Simmons is an empowering book about the ability to say the word in various situations or scenarios. This is a important skill that is often overlooked. This book would fit in perfectly in any safety instruction at school or at home. I will feature it in my Erin’s Law lessons this spring. Illustrations were colorful and engaging. The diversity of the characters is appreciated. Tips for educators and parents are included. Thanks National Center of Youth Issues and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review.

This is a very important book for kids and a lot of adults to read and remember. No is such a short word but can have such a major impact on our own decision making. I love that it teaches kids that excuses are not required.

'I can use my words
If someone looks down on me.
For the color of my skin
Or the makeup of my family.
I can say, "No!
There is no room here
For hate, injustice,
Unkindness, or fear."'

Why, what a wholesome, powerful little book about teaching kids to stand up for themselves and others, to show the importance of boundaries and individuality and self-care. Gotta say, for such a short and sweet book, it packs a profound punch. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous, vibrant, rich and detailed. There's excellent diversity and representation. Definitely a fantastic book for kids!

'I can say NO
to the thoughts in my head
that tell me I'm worthless
because I messed up again.'

Um, yes?! Let's be instilling this in everyone. *throws confidence confetti into the air* Say no with gumption, kids! Talk down your demons and embrace your own path!

'My no is my no - there's no need to explain.'

HEAR HEAR

Of course, the author does illustrate the importance of choosing when to say no, or when you can't - like listening to your parents about chores, haha - and thus provides a balanced approach to saying no.

This book was a good read for both parent and child. I appreciated the message it conveys as a mom who is worried about their child as he grows. It is so important to teach life lessons, and to teach them in the correct way. I remember my mom always saying I could "use her as an excuse" if I needed a way out. This book teaches kids and empowers them to stand up for themselves and speak the way they feel. I also enjoy how it includes resources and tips at the end for parents/educators to continue the conversation.