Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent

K-Gr 2–Colorful illustrations and simple questions to discuss offer a lighthearted path into a serious topic. The concept of consent is explained in simple, direct terms: “If someone says YES, it means you have their consent. But if they don’t say YES, the answer is NO.” Familiar examples such as hugging and tickling are used to illustrate the topic, as well as various ways, verbal and nonverbal, in which someone might communicate a “No.” There are explicit words and illustrations for various body parts (examples include “butt” and “nipples”) and these are entirely appropriate in context. The book includes a mix of characters of varying skin tones and ethnicities. Though this has been published as a board book, the pages are far more text-heavy than one usually encounters in this format, making the text accessible only to an adult or older reader. Includes an author’s note and four pages of back matter which include explanations of such topics as Bodily Autonomy, Power and Adultism, and Affirmative Consent.