Connor Kissed Me

K-Gr 3–In an age-appropriate introduction to the concept of consent, Miriam, a brown-haired girl with tan skin, is shocked when Connor, also tan-skinned, kisses her on the playground. As Miriam tells others repeatedly that “Connor kissed me,” everyone has a different response to her news. Her mom is the first to ask Miriam if she wanted to be kissed by Connor. As Miriam heads back out to express her feelings about Connor’s behavior, she is able to stand up for her right to choose. The school children and staff represent a diverse group of people, and the different scenes represent a typical school day. The cartoonlike images are digitally rendered in muted primary colors and pair well with the simplicity of the language where each sentence is structured to create a rhythm and repetition that help younger learners. Although a simple and straightforward example of consent, this could be used as part of a social-emotional lesson or with adult introduction.