Child Abuse Education & Prevention Resources

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect.

Online Resources

Prevention Resources

NO MORE SECRETS: PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT by Caren Adams and Jennifer Fay (1981)

THE SAFE CHILD BOOK: A COMMONSENSE APPROACH TO PROTECTING CHILDREN AND TEACHING CHILDREN TO PROTECT THEMSELVES by Sherryll Kraizer (1996) Gives parents effective and nonthreatening techniques for teaching children how to protect themselves without making them afraid

STRANGER DANGER: HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE by Carol Soret Cope (1997)

WHO IS A STRANGER AND WHAT SHOULD I DO? by Linda Walvoord Girard (1993)
How to deal with strangers in public places, on the telephone, and in cars, emphasizing situations in which the best thing to do is run away or talk to another adult

PLAY IT SAFE by Kathleen Sharar Kyte (1983)
Advice for protecting your home, property, and body from robbery, assault, and other crimes

I SAID “NO!”: A KID TO KID GUIDE TO KEEPING YOUR PRIVATE PARTS PRIVATE by Sue Rama (2008)

MY VERY OWN BOOK ABOUT ME: A PERSONAL SAFETY BOOK by Mary Dietzel (2000)
Teaches kids personal safety and how to better protect themselves

SO WHAT’S IT TO ME by Gayle M. Stringer (1989)
Practical examples of how to prevent assault

Literary Resources

NO-NO THE LITTLE SEAL by Judith Feldman (1986)
A young seal is upset when his uncle starts touching his body in private places, until he finds the courage to tell Wise Whale Reading level: baby-preschool

SOMETHING HAPPENED AND I’M SCARED TO TELL: A BOOK FOR YOUNG VICTIMS OF ABUSE by Patricia Kehoe (1987)
Helps shift the blame from the victim to the perpetrator which is a crucial message. Available in English and Spanish.

LOVING TOUCHES by Lory Freeman (1986)
Tool to reach young children about the need for loving, nurturing touches as well as the prevention of harmful touches Reading level: ages 4-8

TELLING ISN’T TATTLING By Kathryn M. Hammerseng (1995)
Encourages kids to think about how they might handle both minor irritations and potentially dangerous situations Reading level: ages 4-8

THE TROUBLE WITH SECRETS by Karen Johnson (1986)
Helps young children understand the difference between secrets to be kept and those that are not. Available in English and Spanish

A BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY BOOK: A FAMILY GUIDE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION by Sol Gordon and Judith Gordon (1992)
Discusses the sexual assault of children and how it can be prevented or survived Reading level: ages 4-8

MY BODY IS PRIVATE by Linda W. Girard (1984)
Introduces the topic of sexual abuse and ways to keep one’s body private Reading level: ages 4-8

IT’S MY BODY by Lory Freeman (1983)
Written especially for the preschool child Reading level: ages 4-8 IT HAPPENS TO BOYS, TOO by Jane Satullo & Russell Bradway (1987) Reading level: ages 6-13

NO MORE SECRETS FOR ME by Oralee Wachter (2002)
Helps parents talk with their children about the sensitive subject of sexual abuse Reading level: ages 9-12

PLEASE TELL!: A CHILD’S STORY ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE by Jessie Ottenweller (1991)
A simple book with a profoundly important message for children who have been sexually abused: the abuse wasn’t their fault Reading level: ages 9-12

IT HAPPENED TO ME: A TEEN’S GUIDE TO OVERCOMING SEXUAL ABUSE by William Lee Carter (2002)

HOW LONG DOES IT HURT: A GUIDE TO RECOVERING FROM INCEST AND SEXUAL ABUSE FOR TEENAGERS, THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES by Cynthia Mather and Kristina Debye (2004)
Speaks directly to victims of sexual abuse to help them come to grips with what is happening to them and overcome their feelings of isolation, confusion and self-doubt

THE ME NOBODY KNOWS: A GUIDE FOR TEEN SURVIVORS by Barbara Bean and Shari Bennett (1997)
Offers simple, concrete advice about reporting abuse and how to seek counseling

THE MOTHER’S BOOK: HOW TO SURVIVE THE MOLESTATION OF YOUR CHILD by Carolyn M. Byerly

WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN MOLESTED: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO HEALING AND RECOVERY by Kathryn B. Hagans, Case Joyce, and Kathryn Brohl (1998)
Provides information, comfort and advice for families on how to put the pieces back together again after a child has been sexually molested

HELPING YOUR CHILD RECOVER FROM SEXUAL ABUSE by Caren Adams (1992)

DO YOU HAVE A SECRET?: HOW TO GET HELP FOR SCARY SECRETS by Pamela Russell and Beth Stone (1986) Discusses, in simple text and illustrations, good and bad secrets, how to differentiate between them, and how not to keep bad secrets to oneself

HELPING KIDS BREAK THE SILENCE OF SEXUAL ABUSE by Linda Lee Foltz (2003)

Grandparenting Book List

RAISING OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN by Deborah Doucette-Dudman (1997)
Examines reasons a birthparent does not raise his or her child, the choices grandparents must make, and the far-reaching consequences of those choices, the ongoing relationships with birthparents, and dealing with the legal system

THE GRANDPARENTS’ BOOK by Anastazia Little (1988) GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS by Traci Truly (2005)

GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS: WHAT EVERY GRANDPARENT NEEDS TO KNOW by Patricia Slorah (2003)

GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS with FORMS by Traci Truly (1995)

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION’S LEGAL GUIDE FOR AMERICANS OVER 50 (2006)

GRANDPARENTS ARE FOREVER: YOUR LEGAL GUIDE TO PROTECTING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GRANDCHILDREN by Traci Truly (2005)

NO GREATER LOSS: THE GUIDEBOOK TO TODAY’S GRANDPARENTS’ RIGHTS by Neil Taft (2010)

Suicide Book Resources