Every child deserves to know this simple, powerful truth: My Body Is for Myself.
In this beautifully illustrated picture book about body safety, young readers are introduced to body autonomy, consent, boundaries, personal safety, self-respect, and self-advocacy in age-appropriate language they can understand and remember. Through warm, rhythmic verse and relatable examples, My Body Is for Myself helps children learn that their bodies belong to them, their feelings matter, and they can say “No!” to unwanted touch and turn to safe adults for help.
With a message that is clear, compassionate, and affirming, this book helps children recognize what feels safe, what feels uncomfortable, and when it is important to speak up. It introduces essential safety concepts in a way that builds confidence, awareness, and self-trust without shame or fear.
Through the rhyming and rhythmic flow of the book, kids learn simple, practical, memorable truths such as asking before hugging or showing physical affection, respecting boundaries, and understanding that whether someone is a stranger, a relative, or a familiar adult, a child’s body still belongs to that child. The result is a strong, uplifting message that supports healthy development and opens the door to important conversations about bodies, boundaries, safety, and how to identify safe adults.
My Body Is for Myself helps children understand:
- their body belongs to them
- consent matters and boundaries are important
- they can say no to touch they do not want
- they do not owe hugs, kisses, cuddles, tickles, or affection to anyone
- safe adults listen, protect, and help
- speaking up and asking for help is smart, brave, and good
Perfect for reading at
home, in
classrooms, in
counseling or
therapy settings, in children’s
ministry, and other child-centered environments, this book works as both a read-aloud and a conversation starter. Its
inclusive illustrations and
child-centered language make a difficult topic more approachable, while its hopeful tone keeps the focus on
dignity,
confidence, and
safety.
This book is especially helpful for adults who want to teach:
- how to ask before touching
- how to respect a child’s “no”
- how to teach consent to young children
- how to discuss body boundaries in healthy ways
- how to help children identify safe and unsafe situations
- how to build confidence and self-advocacy in kids
My Body Is for Myself is direct without being scary, educational without being clinical, and empowering without shame. It helps children build confidence, language, awareness, and self-trust while encouraging healthy conversations with the safe adults in their lives.
The book also includes a helpful afterword for adults with information, educational context, and resources to help parents, caregivers, educators, counselors, ministry leaders, healthcare professionals, and advocates find help for survivors of abuse and continue the conversations about abuse prevention with wisdom and care both with the children they care for and the adults who serve them.
If you are looking for a body safety picture book, a consent book for young children, a boundaries book for preschoolers, or a children’s book about personal safety and speaking up, My Body Is for Myself is a thoughtful, memorable, and much-needed resource for today’s families.
Give a child language.
Give a child knowledge.
Give a child confidence.
Give a child the empowering message they deserve to hear again and again:
My Body Is for Myself.