i love this book! it’s such an important book for our younger generations. i have two daughters that will be reading and learning about consent and using their voice at a young age.

A cute illustrations book which reminding us that’s okay for us to say NO .

As we are all different from each other , saying NO doesn’t mean that we are hurting the other person request . But, it more to reminded that not every one have the same interest as you.

But, this book also explain that we can say NO with a good words , gesture and courtesy.

The National Center on Youth Issues has been a great resource as a therapy serving children from hard places. I was delighted to read their newest release, "I Can Say No!" Jenny Simmons has written a book that is sure to be a resource in many, many families and clinical settings. This book affirms a child's right to body autonomy, social boundaries, and standing up to injustices. I particularly like that the book's text rhymes, creating many memorable mantras that can be practiced and committed to memory. Kristin Sorra's illustrations are bright, engaging, and depict a diverse cast of characters.

As always, I’m grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. The words and opinions are all my own

This is a simple book that introduces the concept of being able to set boundaries to children. This is a book that I wish was available when I was a kid. The only thing that I wish was that it was available in hardcover.

Another adorable book I'll be adding to our school library. Loved the gentle way this one teaches consent language, boundaries, and the positive ways we can use the word no.

First off, this book is too long. The author tries to rhyme, but many are harsh and they frequently drop the cadence pattern. The message is a nice one, it’s okay to say no. Maybe not at 2 or 3, but by the time you hit school age it is okay to say, no I don’t want to do this thing, join this group, etc. The message is needed but it’s not as good as it could be.

I Can Say No by Jenny Simmons is a book that everyone needs to read. This book hit the mark on so many levels and can help all ages (kids AND adults). As a kindergarten teacher, I could easily see integrating this into classroom lessons. So many people view the word 'no' in a negative way, but it is actually one of the most freeing things we can do for ourselves and others. This book explains this controversial word is an easy-to-understand, relatable, and practical way. Highly recommend for parents, teachers, and adults who need some encouragement on saying no and setting boundaries.

In a world that values business or teaches children to be polite at all costs, this book is a breath of fresh air. It is important to teach children to say "No" not only when something feels inappropriate, but also that they can say no to other situations. That it is ok to say no to playing a certain game if they would prefer to do something else, to say no to making plans if they feel tired and would rather stay home. That there does not need to be a reason or an excuese, a simple and polite "no" is enough of a reason. "No" is a complete sentence.

This book also does an excellent job of explaining how and when to say no. For instance, you can't just say no when your parents ask you to do your chores, or if a teacher tells you class is starting.

It also does a good job being visually inclusive. The story depicts children of all ethnicities, and includes children with different abilities.

The story is on the longer side, with some long blocks of text, which might make this harder to read to younger children, or perhaps something you build up to. However most pages are complete in themselves, so if you can only read a few at a time to a younger (or wigglier) child, the point would still be clear.

I am so glad i got to read this book. This children's book talks about a lot of things. A simple NO that we can't say easily to people. We should really learn to say NO to things, people, events that we don't want to attend to or do. We should not feel bad about saying NO to a certain thing that we really dont want. As the girl said, she's protecting her energy and time. We should also protect ours. The writing was so good, even me as a teenager got excited reading it (no joking). I would love to buy a physical copy of the book to remind me every time. To wrap it up, it was really good. The message was clear, and i am going to keep the message in my mind. LEARN TO SAY NO.


Thank you for the author for writing this book, and for the publisher, for accepting my request to read it.

The theme in this book is accessible and important for all ages, especially young folks. The illustrations for beautiful and colorful. In addition, the message about being able to advocate for one's self is very powerful and clearly stated in the book. Great picture book!

This book is a wonderful reminder for everyone that they have there right to say “no.” I am a people pleaser and it is very very difficult for me to remember that I can say “no” without providing an excuse. It’s actually been a goal of mine to say “no” more this year and I’ve found it very empowering. This book provides examples of things you can say no to, and reminds readers that “no” can even be a tool for kindness. The illustrations in this book are beautiful and include illustrations of people from different races, cultures, and physical abilities. The also book includes tips for teaching children how to say “no.” I would highly recommend this book to anybody.

Thank you to NetGalley and National Center for Youth Issues for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! My daughter’s name is also Zuri so would love to buy this for her when it’s released. I love the illustrations and inclusiveness and the themes of taking ownership of and being assertive! Highly recommended

This is a good book with a great message. The illustrations were bright and bold and immediately captured my son's interest. The story did so equally. We both enjoyed it and it let to further discussions. It would be a great read aloud in a classroom setting as well.
I did feel that the book would have benefitted from better editing, however. The text read a little... clunky at times and some rhymes felt rather forced. Rhyming wasn't used consistently throughout the story anyway, so there was no need to force it where it didn't come naturally. Overall the story could have been a little tighter, more compact, as it felt a bit repetitive here and there... but really this is me nit-picking.
Still a great title to have in your school library, classroom or at home!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing access to this book in exchange for an honest review.*

I’m so glad that this book exists! It has many examples of common situations that kids face, such as choosing a school club to join, a movie to watch, or facing a bully. Also important were examples of when it’s not ok to say no, such as when it’s time to go to school or the doctor. The vivid illustrations brought this story to life and included many diverse characters, rounding out this important lesson for children and adults alike. I faced strong pressure as a child to say yes to things, sometimes internal pressure and sometimes external, and I think being clearly told that it was ok to say “no” would have been beneficial for me. I highly recommend it!

You can always tell a good children's book if it is fun to read as an adult. Jenny Simmons' book contains beautiful pictures and powerful lessons in the art of saying NO. She addresses many situations and reasons to say no, including danger, personal feelings of wanting to be alone instead of out with friends, and not teasing a classmate. She includes tips for parents and educators at the back of the book. Highly recommend for classroom or home libraries.

Gosh, what can I say? I wish I had this book when I was younger. Learning that it is ok and that it's not a bad thing to say "No" is so important for children. There was so many things that I did because I didn't know or felt guilty about saying no. This book acts as a guide to empower children to understand that they can say "No" and in ways that are not hurtful to others.

As a child who struggled to say no to other kids, I could have used a book like this. For 30 something pages, this touches on a lot of topics, from bullying to stranger danger. It was a lot, but it didn't feel overwhelming. I could easily see this being the kind of book thats read during story time at libraries

This book would be an excellent tool to help your children know that it’s okay to say No! The illustrations in this book were vibrant, and excellent in detail!

Some of the "nos' in this book are a little harsh, I think, and could be said in nicer ways, but I totally have felt all of these different "nos" and have wanted to say them at different times in my life. I do like that this is teaching kids that they can say no if they don't feel like doing something or if it makes them uncomfortable, but no seems to be some kids' favorite word just because they can say it, so this should definitely be a talking point while reading this book.

What a great, great resource for parents - or anyone.

Saying No is somehow a nuanced thing. Adults struggle to say "no." We struggle to disappoint others, to stay true to what we believe or feel is right, and that trickles right down to our children. We've grown up being taught to not disappoint, it's hardwired in us and we have to work on it in order to help our kids. For example, the other day, my neice wanted to play with one of my son's stuffed animals. I could tell my mom's inclination was to say "it's okay if she plays with this, make sure you share" to my son. And while that seems harmless, it's also not my son's job to be responsible for someone else's happiness. It's his toy and if he doesn't want to share it, he doesn't have to. I quickly interjected and let him know he could take it up to his room if he didn't feel like sharing that toy today and that that was alright. Reading through this children's book after that interaction was incredibly affirming. I am eager to read through this with my 4 year old.

It's hard to explain the different ways you can say "no" and the ways you shouldn't. I loved that while the main premise of the book was to demonstrate healthy and important ways to say no, it also made sure to note respect and that sometimes you DO have to do things you don't want to, like chores or going to school.

Great note for parents and adults in the back of the book for further help and explanation.

This is going to a book I gift to my friends, no doubt in my mind!