Most children art taught at home and at school not to talk to strangers. In Who Is A Stranger And What Should I Do?, Linda Girard takes the idea further by explaining about "kind" strangers, the stranger who is not a child's friend, strangers in public places, "doorbell" strangers, and others. Girard's practical, well presented text is illustrated with the artwork of Helen Cogancherry to provide young readers ages 6 to 12 with visual reinforcement of sound and sensible narrative. Who Is A Stranger And What Should I Do? is enhanced for the reader with ten "what if" situations and topics for discussion with parents, teachers, and caregivers. Highly recommended for personal, school, and community library child safety collections.

A very pretty and sensitive book about pregnancy and birth (does not deal with conception). It is told from a second person point of view, as though the child being read to was the infant. The author focuses on the feelings of the mother while she was carrying her baby: what it felt like when the infant kicked, how the infant was fed, etc. Includes good in utero descriptions and drawings. Lacks multicultural drawings.

This adorable book on how we all came about, is one of my favorites when it comes to children's books. My kids never get tired of hearing the story, I think partly because they love to be talked about, and because the author and artist really convey those special moments of pregnancy and birth that "speak" to children-(as well as the adults!) The first time I read it to my boys, ages 2 & 5, I had to make a real effort not to cry! It's a beautiful-TRUE story, and makes a wonderful gift for an older sibling-when there's a new addition to the family! It brings back wonderful emotions for Mom and Dad, and helps the older child realize that the love Mommy and Daddy have for the new baby is exactly the same as it is for them. Great book!!!

I like the gentle nature of this story: a conversation between a mother and her daughter. The illustrations are very nicely done although they are not as detailed or done in color as on the cover (just so you know what to expect).

All the important issues are discussed in a non-frightening yet serious manner and without providing too much detail about what can happen during a sexual abuse encounter. My goal is to educate my male children about prevention of sexual abuse without enlightening them with details about what actually can and does happen during a sexual abuse encounter; there is an element of innocence I wish to protect at their young ages of two and five.

This is the sequence of the content of this story:
Privacy is defined and several examples are given, and private body parts are described as those covered by a bathing suit. The body parts for both girls and boys are named here using the proper terminology for both male and female genitals and the term "bottom" for the buttocks and anal area. The girl states she already knows that no one can touch her in any way she doesn't like, whether it involves her private parts or any other part of her body, such as not wanting to sit on her uncle's lap. Examples of touching that are enjoyed are given such as cuddling with a dog and dancing with Dad. Tickling is described as fun but that sometimes it can go too far and no longer be fun. The girl is encouraged to say "no" to anyone at any time if she doesn't want them touching her (in sexual or non-sexual ways without using the term "sexual"). The mother explains that it is the feelings of the girl that are most important, not the person who she is asking to stop or saying no to, because the girl worried that if she said no she would hurt the feelings of the other person. The mother warns the girl not to allow anyone to touch her private parts or take photos of them, and she should not touch the private parts of another person. The offending person is said to possibly be a stranger or someone she knows such as a friend or relative. The girl is told to shout "no" and to run the other way, then to tell the parent or caregiver or teacher what happened.

The only thing that I think would make this a more perfect book would be if the parent were talking to a brother and sister at the same time and if the example of touching that the child didn't like was not the stereotypical and common example of adult male with young girl. I'd prefer more examples to illustrate that a boy can be abused as well as a girl. I am amazed that children's books about prevention of sexual abuse never give the example that a boy can be a victim, or that both males and females can be an abuser. Lastly, the mother warns against older children inappropriately touching her and I think it should simply say "other children" as abuse can happen with both younger and same-aged peers. Despite these few issues, this is the best book that I have found to read aloud to my children and I do highly recommend it. Regarding my complaints, I realize that I can address these issues in conversations with my boys.

Teach your children well. This book saved my eight-year old daughter from further assault.

A couple years years ago I bought this book for a friend and just decided to by one for our family. My daughter was six at the time.

Recently we moved and the company-hired workers arrived. That afternoon as I was watching my children play together, I thought how cute they are - precious six-year old brother and eight-year old daughter side-by-side. I ran upstairs to the kitchen although the door was open between us and 6 other people were within earshot including their father and and an on-site manager.

My daughter came upstairs and told me that a worker put his hands in her pants. He began to lead her to a closed area. She lied to him; got away from him; and came to me. "Mommy, I remembered what that book, "My Body Is Private" said. I remembered that you told me anything inside my underwear is private.

Teach your chldren well. Buying this non-threatening book with a happy ending saved my daughter from ... who knows.

THANK YOU Linda Walvoord Girard. Although my daughter was tricked and hurt within seconds in her own home, you have saved a child.

Just as you teach a child to walk safely across the street without instilling fear of streets or cars, you can keep your child safe without instilling fear. My daughter was never afraid until she needed to be -- AND SHE ACTED. No secrets, no further abuse, no threats........ she saved herself through the knowledge she gathered through our reading this book together.

I am forever grateful to the author.

I bought this book, after learning that my 3 and four year old children were molested. I thought it is a superb book to prevent child sexual abuse but, was inappropriate for a child who had already been abused.

I am currently in the process of adopting two four year olds and thought the book would be helpful. Although it may be helpful to older children, I found it a bit depressing. I would worry after reading it my younger children they would start having some of the thoughts or symptoms described in the book just from hearing them.

We found this book a great way to introduce the idea of what being adopted really means to our almost-4-year-old daughter. Although some of the story line is above her level of understanding, she loves the book (as evidenced by its' dog-eared appearance). This is definitely her favorite for bedtime reading, and she will repeat phrases or concepts from the book at other times. We know she will have questions in the future that aren't addressed here, but this was a great place to start.

I read this book with my 9 year old adopted son. Even though he didn't comment, I felt it helped him feel alone in his feelings and questions about his adoption. The story is very realistic and discusses many of the questions he has had recently. I highly recommend this book for any adopted family, especially for those children adopted at birth. I think it would be a bit above the heads of some younger children.

As the parent of a boy adopted from Korea, I find this story follows ours quite closely. The process and the issues are the same for many adoptive families. The only thing missing from this book is any mention of a birth father. The birth mother's role is handled well, but there is no reference to a birth father. This book starts when Benjamin is nine years old. That's when the real questions about adoption can begin.

This book really kept me interested. It made me think about slavery and how wrong it was. I really enjoyed finding out about Frederick Douglass and how he learned to read. This is a wonderful book. The illustrations are just as wonderful. I would recommend this book to all educators to use in their classroom.

Every child will relate to something different. The children for whom I bought this book didn't relate. It was too boring and they lost interest in hearing it read. I loved all the ideas, but would recommend reading it at a library to your child first to see if they respond to the style of writing. I would highly recommend "The Unwedding" as an alternative. Written in a child's humor with a child's perspective, my children ask to read it again and again.

I love Most of Linda Girard's books, but this is the worst children's book I ever touched. It deserves a TURKEY instead of a star. It makes fun of children with AIDS. It says in this book that Alex got AIDS from a transfusion. It is no longer possible to get AIDS from blood transfusions because all donated blood is tested for HIV and AIDS. Don't waste your money on this piece of junk. Insteas buy the CD "For Our Children."

I really enjoyed the way the author handled this issue with regards to the boy Alex, a fourth grader with AIDS. The only part of the book I found disturbing was that of how the teacher reacted to the poem that was written about her. I did not think it was right that she would not enter it into the contest because she did not like it.