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My body belongs to me

Jill Starishevsky - Author

A gentle, rhyming introduction to body boundaries: children are told their private parts belong to them, and to tell a parent, teacher or another safe adult if someone touches them.

More about this book

"Without being taught about body boundaries, a child may be too young to understand when abuse is happening--or that it's wrong. This straightforward, gentle book offers a tool parents, teachers, and counselors can use to help children feel, be, and stay safe. The rhyming story and simple, friendly illustrations provide a way to sensitively share and discuss the topic, guiding young children to understand that their private parts belong to them alone. The overriding message of My Body Belongs to Me is that if someone touches your private parts, tell your mom, your dad, your teacher, or another safe adult"-- "This book offers a tool parents, teachers, and counselors can use to help children feel, be, and stay safe. The rhyming story and simple illustrations provide a way to sensitively share and discuss the topic of body boundaries and child sexual abuse"--

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Body safety· ExplainedPersonal boundaries· ExplainedTrusted adults· Explained

Consider

Violence and harmViolence

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

body safetypersonal boundariestrusted adults

Non-fictionPicture book

Themes in Context

Body boundaries and asking for help

The book tells children that their private parts belong to them and advises telling a parent, teacher or another safe adult if someone touches them.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: It presents body-safety guidance directly, through a gentle rhyming story and simple illustrations, as material for adults and children to discuss.

Talk about: Who could you tell if you wanted help with a body-safety concern?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

Its clear, repeated safety message can give adults and children a starting point for talking about personal boundaries and seeking help from a trusted adult.

What Deserves Attention

The subject includes child sexual abuse and unwanted touching of private parts. Its gentle style may help introduce this sensitive material, but the topic itself may prompt questions.

A Conversation Worth Having

Who would you feel comfortable telling if something about your body made you uncomfortable, and what could you do if that person were not available?

Reading Approach

Read together at a calm pace, pausing to explain unfamiliar words and let the child ask questions. Reassure them they can talk with you about body-safety concerns.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Body boundaries and asking for help: The precise scenes and how the advice is developed across the story are unclear.

My Body Belongs to Me: A Book about Body Safety - Jill Starishevsky - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Body boundaries and asking for help

My body belongs to me by Jill Starishevsky | Open Library