Another great book for child therapists. There are so many issues that can be addressed. The limited number of words and colorful pictures mean it's likely easier to keep a child's attention too.

I Can Say No by Jenny Simmons is an empowering book about the ability to say the word in various situations or scenarios. This is a important skill that is often overlooked. This book would fit in perfectly in any safety instruction at school or at home. I will feature it in my Erin’s Law lessons this spring. Illustrations were colorful and engaging. The diversity of the characters is appreciated. Tips for educators and parents are included. Thanks National Center of Youth Issues and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review.

This is a very important book for kids and a lot of adults to read and remember. No is such a short word but can have such a major impact on our own decision making. I love that it teaches kids that excuses are not required.

'I can use my words
If someone looks down on me.
For the color of my skin
Or the makeup of my family.
I can say, "No!
There is no room here
For hate, injustice,
Unkindness, or fear."'

Why, what a wholesome, powerful little book about teaching kids to stand up for themselves and others, to show the importance of boundaries and individuality and self-care. Gotta say, for such a short and sweet book, it packs a profound punch. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous, vibrant, rich and detailed. There's excellent diversity and representation. Definitely a fantastic book for kids!

'I can say NO
to the thoughts in my head
that tell me I'm worthless
because I messed up again.'

Um, yes?! Let's be instilling this in everyone. *throws confidence confetti into the air* Say no with gumption, kids! Talk down your demons and embrace your own path!

'My no is my no - there's no need to explain.'

HEAR HEAR

Of course, the author does illustrate the importance of choosing when to say no, or when you can't - like listening to your parents about chores, haha - and thus provides a balanced approach to saying no.

This book was a good read for both parent and child. I appreciated the message it conveys as a mom who is worried about their child as he grows. It is so important to teach life lessons, and to teach them in the correct way. I remember my mom always saying I could "use her as an excuse" if I needed a way out. This book teaches kids and empowers them to stand up for themselves and speak the way they feel. I also enjoy how it includes resources and tips at the end for parents/educators to continue the conversation.

I Can Say No by Jenny Simmons is a wonderful book to teach children assertiveness and autonomy. It's target audience is elementary-school aged children. It gives specific examples of how to decline things you don't want to do, e.g. activities with friends, physical contact with others, situations in which you are uncomfortable. It is a quick book to read, but some of the content is a little nuanced. It encourages children to think about their values, like honesty, integrity, etc. It also encourages children to consider their autonomy as people and encourages boundaries and respect. The last page also includes tips for parents/educators, which is very helpful. This is a truly wonderful resource to discuss autonomy, boundaries, and values with children.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Attractively illustrated book with a great message on how to say no even when it is hard to do. I've ordered a copy for my kids based on his reading!

A very empowering book of how it is ok to say "no". A young girl learns not to be pressured into doing things that she does not want to do and things that are not right. A wonderful lesson to learn. Great for kids of all ages. I highly recommend it. Thanks #netgalley for the early review copy. I loved it.

A great book for kids! It teaches them that saying No can be a great thing. It helps illustrate situations and examples of when to say No and why its okay to say no. Its a helpful book and the art was delightful!

*Thanks Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this book. I think it has valid points not only for children but as the author mentions in the end, for adults too. I related to a lot of what it said.
This is an important book to read to kids. Explains to them when to say no and to take control of their lives, allowing them to grow up without afraid of saying no and making excuses for others and themselves.
I'm not a parent yet but I found important the book including relevant tips for parents and educators in the end. It's always nice to get some extra help explaining these topics.
All illustrations are beautifully done, easy to understand and striking. Also, it's diverse which is always essential.

Raising self-aware children who understand personal boundaries is a noble but challenging endeavor. “I Can Say No” written by Jenny Simmons and illustrated by Kirstin Sorra can help parents and children explore the power of the word “no” together. Simply put, this book is a must-read. Written in rhythmic verse, young readers will easily stay engaged with the cadence of the story. The complex issue of saying “no” is explained with perfect simplicity. Children are presented with various circumstances in which they may feel like saying “no”. The broad concept of consent is presented in an age-appropriate way and encourages children to have the bravery to say “no”, even in difficult situations. Prevalent issues such as peer pressure, bullying, negative self-talk and interactions with strangers are explored. It also distinguishes circumstances when children and adults are not able to say “no” and why this is the case.

“I Can Say No” will certainly spark important conversations about how words can impact children and the way they engage with the world. Clear in its convictions, “I Can Say No” gives children the skills to stand up to injustice and unkindness.

In addition to the important text, the illustrations are beautifully drawn in vivid colors. There are a wide variety of races represented in the characters. Representation matters from a young age and I was pleased to see “I Can Say No” prioritizes this as well. As a parent, it is my goal to raise courageous children who live with integrity and kindness. This book will be a perfect companion to parents looking to do the same.

I truly enjoyed reading this book with my son. He has trouble saying no for the "right" reasons. The author made the concept of "no" easy to understand. The author makes the reader understands that "no" is a powerful word and can be used for good and bad. At first I was hestitate because the auther kept saying that "no" is powerful and should be used proudly but did not put boundaries in place. I really appreciate that there is a section in the book that specifically tells the reader that "no" should not be used in disrespect or to get out of doing tasks such as homework and chores.

I believe that this would be a good classroom book for teachers to have and read to students each year.

This is a great book for children as it addresses an important topic - how to say “no”. Young children often struggle when it comes to saying “no”, as they are taught to always be polite. This book explains that it’s okay to say “no” to many things, but also addresses when saying “no” is not appropriate. I enjoyed the diversity in the book as well as the mention of mental health, which is important to teach at a young age.

This is a very important book! Just like the author mentions at the end, sometimes even adults find it hard to say no. We have gotten so used to making up excuses that we forget that just saying "no" is a path we can take, and that there is nothing wrong about it. I love thinking of the impact this could have on children's lives. It makes them safer, more confident, more willing to stand up for themselves, as youth is a particularly tricky era, and just learning to say "no" might be the best tool to avoid trouble. I love that it is as much a story as a reflection and an important message to all children. That last bit at the end telling parents what they can do to help their children out made this book even better! A five star read, definitely, and one I hope reaches many, many children.

I loved this children's book! It is so important to teach children and young people that they are in control of their own lives. So many adults cannot say no to things, and the sooner we learn that saying no can benefit our happiness, the better!

This book is FANTASTIC. I have been talking with my kids a LOT about the topic of saying no, and the pressure to lie to not hurt someone's feelings, and how that isn't on us to manage others feelings. I love that it has a discussion guide at the end, and ties in respect. The response to the pickle juice and the response to the teacher in the hallway both struck my kids as rude, so I would have preferred those to also be kind. The diversity in the illustrations is also nice to see. Overall, I love this approach and am going to pre-order copies for some friends as well. All kids would benefit from the approach this book takes to no!

Wow. I wish I would have had this book when I was growing up. As a big people pleaser, I have said Yes to many things when I wanted to say No. What a valuable lesson to teach children. I especially appreciated the part where the author says you don't have to give a reason for your No. I always feel like I need to give an excuse, which leads to me saying Yes when I don't want to.
I read this book to my children, ages 11-14. Even though this is a picture book, it's message is for everyone. It prompted great discussion and they are even referencing it when I ask them to watch a movie with me that they don't want to watch - lol!
I love the message of this book. The artwork is beautiful, and I love the diversity. This book is for everyone.

This is a small book with a big message. Learning to say no is something every child should learn how to do. This book would make a great starting point for discussions about setting boundaries and limits for ourselves, and saying no to things that feel wrong. The illustrations are attractive and there is a lot going on in each page. I would buy this book for a friend or family member.

What a great book! And such an important topic.
The author wonderfully touches various situations when it is important for us, to be able to say: NO - but also moments, when unfortunately - we cannot say: NO and rather, have to follow (e.g. doing homework, tidying up the room, etc.).

This book will help children to identify various situations and also learn that saying: NO sometimes, is necessary to protect oneself or to be able to isolate oneself for reflection, allowing yourself to feel sad and angry - before being able to come out & be all happy again.

How I wish this book had been available back then, when I was a little child. But society was not ready for this message yet, all those years ago.

This book does a wonderful job of giving examples of reasons to say no and reasons it is ok to say no. I think it is important or kids to understand that no means no at a young age and that they can say no without dealing with peer pressure.