Adults play an important role in protecting the children in their lives. The books listed below exist to help parents, caregivers, and community members recognize the signs of abuse and neglect, keep children safe, understand online risks, and raise awareness about human trafficking in our communities. There are also books for adult survivors of abuse listed below. The listed books may be available at select local libraries.
This book offers advice for having positive conversations with children; beginning when they are young.
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This book offers advice on how to help children view their sexuality positively and how to have on-going conversations about sexuality, and relationships.
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This book is a practical guide that offers parents a way to have on-going conversations about sexuality and dating. It focuses on pre-school to middle-school aged children.
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This book offers information on protecting kids from bullying and abuse as well on advice on talking with kids about sexuality. Dr. Rosenzweig also provides information about how sex offenders manipulate boundaries, and ideas about keeping your children safe in different environments.
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A step-by-step guide for parents and carers on how to protect children from sexual abuse through personal Body Safety Education. This guide contains simple, practical and age-appropriate ideas, as well as important information on how abusers groom and signs that a child may be being sexually abused.
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An easy-to-read toolkit for parents when it comes to preventing childhood sexual abuse. This book gives parents the tools and strategies to understand how predators “groom” children, why many of our trusted institutions cover up abuse, and how to empower children without shame, fear, or inappropriate discussions of sex.
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Empower children and prevent sexual abuse. In today’s world, it’s crucial that we equip our children with the tools they need to stay safe. Yet, many caring adults simply don’t know where to begin. Author Kimberly King takes the fear out of sexual-abuse prevention and makes it child-friendly and approachable, so you can confidently communicate with children and protect them from harm.
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Ages 1-5
Friendly fish and underwater scenes are used to give a simple message about private body parts and safe touch.
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Ages 3-7
An interactive book which uses rhythm to engage the reader. Defines body boundaries, sexual abuse and emphasizes the importance of telling
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Ages 5-10
Explains what private body parts are, good and bad touching, scenarios of what someone may say, what to do if you feel uncomfortable.
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Age 3 to 7
Written from a children’s point of view, this fun, cute, and entertaining illustrated book teaches kids about body safety, personal boundaries, inappropriate/appropriate touching, and how to respond if someone makes them feel unsafe/uncomfortable.
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Age 7 and up
Teaching young children about body boundaries, both theirs and others, is crucial to a child's growing sense of self, their confidence and how they should expect to be treated by others. This book explores these concepts with children in a child-friendly and easily understood manner, providing familiar scenarios for children to engage with and discuss.
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Age 4 to 7
Written to provide children with essential skills in self-protection and encourage them to always speak up through the story of Sir Alfred. His mother’s boss, Lord Henry, touches Sir Alfred inappropriately and tells him to keep it a secret or Sir Alfred’s mother will lose her job. Sir Alfred struggles with whether it is wrong to tell and if he would be believed. Includes a for parents with discussion questions.
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Age 3 to 12
Helps children identify trusted and safe people they can talk to when they have a problem or about their emotions. Helps validate a child’s emotions while providing tools to safely express them. Helps children learn different coping skills to process their trauma.
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Age 4 to 7
This is a 6-book series includes 3 books for children and 3 parent guidebooks. They are presented in a cartoon format telling a simple story that teaches young children how to protect themselves from sexual abuse in a way that is easy for them to understand.
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Ages 7-12
This is a read-aloud story about a mom and dad who explain what pornography is, why it’s dangerous, and how to reject it. It also includes discussion questions for parents at the end of each chapter and tips for parents/caregivers.
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Age 5 to 10
Milly loves to explore and learn. One day at school, someone shows Milly a movie on a phone that makes her feel sick. Milly was lucky to have a safe adult help her through this experience and now she teaches children that some adult behaviors can be harmful for kids to see. The book teaches young kids that coming across these images is not their fault and they can always seek help from an adult when they see things that are not meant for kids’ eyes.
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Ages 2-6
This book teaches children about privacy, personal safety, and healthy communication. It uses clear, age-appropriate language and expressive illustrations, to encourage children to talk openly about secrets, ease anxiety and shame, and help build a foundation for safe, confident decision-making.
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In this book, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity.
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This book explains how inherited family trauma from past generations impacts the health, emotions, and experiences of current generations and how. These emotional legacies are often hidden, encoded in everything from gene expression to everyday language, and they play a far greater role in our emotional and physical health than has ever before been understood.
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This book provides scientific and emotional insights into the behavioral patterns so many of us struggle to understand. In this book, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry focus on understanding people, behavior, and ourselves. It’s a subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future, opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.
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In this book, clinical psychologist Lindsay Gibson exposes the destructive nature of parents who are emotionally immature or unavailable. You will see how these parents create a sense of neglect and discover ways to heal from the pain and confusion caused by your childhood. Finally, you’ll learn how to create positive, new relationships so you can build a better life.
Buy BookWhen extra support is needed, these trusted organizations are here to help children, families, and our community.
24/7 access to speak with a mental health professional
269-934-0747 (9am-9pm) | 269-925-0585 (Outside of 9am-9pm)
Learn MoreServices for survivors of domestic and sexual violence
Learn MoreSexual assault exams and treatment 24/7 at St. Joseph, Niles and Watervliet emergency rooms by Corewell Health’s team of certified SANE and advocates.
Learn MoreBuilding a world where everyone can live with safety, health, and economic opportunity
Learn MoreResources and education for the online exploitation of children.
Learn MoreNational resource for reporting sexual abuse/assault
Learn MoreNational report number for cyber bullying or inappropriate pictures of a child
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