So…I bet you’re all wondering…what’s this book about in the first place?
Before I answer that, let’s get a little backstory first.
You see, as a mom of two, I care about my children’s safety, just like any parent does. But one day, my husband told me a story that made a light bulb go off in my head. While walking home from school with his older sister, a woman in a station wagon pulled up and asked them if they wanted some candy.
He headed towards the car, but his sister pulled him away and shouted, “Let’s get out of here!” and the woman quickly drove off. While it’s great nothing worse happened to them, the thing that always stuck out in my mind was, what if his sister wasn’t there that day? I’ve heard similar stories from others, who have had similar close calls themselves.
When he told me that story, I suddenly realized something: there really aren’t any children books about keeping kids safe around strangers (or dangerous situations). We all tell our children general safety tips, such as not to take gifts from a complete stranger, or to always make noise if someone tries to grab them, but sometimes, these conversations need a little more nuance. And what perfect way to convey this message than a picture book?
It’s often hard for kids to understand who’s a stranger, and more importantly, teaching them only to avoid people they don’t know doesn’t help them avoid the dangerous situations with people they do know.
I set out to write a book that teaches kids how to interact safely with strangers and recognize dangerous situations, since suspicious, inappropriate situations can happen with both people our kids know or don’t. Moreover, there needed to be a book that educated and entertained children, and didn’t scare them as well.
If you’ve always wanted to approach this topic with your child, but didn’t know how, this book is great for you. Or, maybe this message would be a good reminder for your little one, especially before they begin walking to school by themselves or start to go more places on their own.
So, who are the characters? What does it look like? What’s the title?!
All in time, all in time. Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing more details.
For now, here’s an adorable video of a girl learning how to be cautious around strangers that make her feel uneasy. 🙂
