Friends Rāwiri and Ruby are learning about body safety, and how special their bodies are.

There are special ways to keep themselves safe, and they discover what privacy, instincts and unsafe behaviour is. Lots of examples of unsafe behaviour are suggested, and they learn the tools of how to protect themselves against it.

Some of the tools are having adults around them that they can trust and talk to, knowing what unsafe behaviour or words could be, and what to do if it ever happens to them, or they see it happening to someone else.

After writing for Mindfood magazine and different newspapers, Rosalind Harrison has built this toolkit in the shape of a picture book, for kids to keep themselves safe.

Learning of a friend’s childhood sexual abuse, Rosalind liased with other abuse survivors, and experts in child development, to publish My Body, My Taonga.

Teaming up with illustrator Suzanne Simpson, this bright, positive picture book asks the reader questions, gives answers and also possible scenarios of precursors to abuse. It also advises where and how to get help if something has already happened. Te reo is interwoven throughout this picture book under the the guidance of a Māori education consultant, also making My Body, My Taonga a must for all families in Aotearoa, NZ.

In the rear of the book is a te reo Māori Glossary and a list of related services, resources and support.

An easy to understand body safety toolkit for kids. Excellent!

Author – Rosalind Harrison

Illustrator – Suzanne Simpson

Picture Book

Age – 4+

(2023, Copy Press, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Friends, Bodies, Body safety, Strategies, Strategy, Trusted Adults, Instincts, Unsafe, Behaviour, Bribes, Threats, Lies, Secrets, Getting help, Asking for help, Stranger Danger)