I Can Say No

Raising self-aware children who understand personal boundaries is a noble but challenging endeavor. “I Can Say No” written by Jenny Simmons and illustrated by Kirstin Sorra can help parents and children explore the power of the word “no” together. Simply put, this book is a must-read. Written in rhythmic verse, young readers will easily stay engaged with the cadence of the story. The complex issue of saying “no” is explained with perfect simplicity. Children are presented with various circumstances in which they may feel like saying “no”. The broad concept of consent is presented in an age-appropriate way and encourages children to have the bravery to say “no”, even in difficult situations. Prevalent issues such as peer pressure, bullying, negative self-talk and interactions with strangers are explored. It also distinguishes circumstances when children and adults are not able to say “no” and why this is the case.

“I Can Say No” will certainly spark important conversations about how words can impact children and the way they engage with the world. Clear in its convictions, “I Can Say No” gives children the skills to stand up to injustice and unkindness.

In addition to the important text, the illustrations are beautifully drawn in vivid colors. There are a wide variety of races represented in the characters. Representation matters from a young age and I was pleased to see “I Can Say No” prioritizes this as well. As a parent, it is my goal to raise courageous children who live with integrity and kindness. This book will be a perfect companion to parents looking to do the same.

This book is FANTASTIC. I have been talking with my kids a LOT about the topic of saying no, and the pressure to lie to not hurt someone's feelings, and how that isn't on us to manage others feelings. I love that it has a discussion guide at the end, and ties in respect. The response to the pickle juice and the response to the teacher in the hallway both struck my kids as rude, so I would have preferred those to also be kind. The diversity in the illustrations is also nice to see. Overall, I love this approach and am going to pre-order copies for some friends as well. All kids would benefit from the approach this book takes to no!

In a world that values business or teaches children to be polite at all costs, this book is a breath of fresh air. It is important to teach children to say "No" not only when something feels inappropriate, but also that they can say no to other situations. That it is ok to say no to playing a certain game if they would prefer to do something else, to say no to making plans if they feel tired and would rather stay home. That there does not need to be a reason or an excuese, a simple and polite "no" is enough of a reason. "No" is a complete sentence.

This book also does an excellent job of explaining how and when to say no. For instance, you can't just say no when your parents ask you to do your chores, or if a teacher tells you class is starting.

It also does a good job being visually inclusive. The story depicts children of all ethnicities, and includes children with different abilities.

The story is on the longer side, with some long blocks of text, which might make this harder to read to younger children, or perhaps something you build up to. However most pages are complete in themselves, so if you can only read a few at a time to a younger (or wigglier) child, the point would still be clear.