An Essential and Empowering Guide to Body Safety
I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private by Zack and Kimberly King is an essential and empowering book for families. This best-selling guide, now in a new edition with updated text and artwork, is based on co-author Zack's real-life experience.
The book handles the difficult subject of body safety with simple, kid-friendly language. It teaches children to identify their feelings and use a "red flag" and "green flag" system to understand boundaries. The core message is a clear and vital one: to always confide in a trusted adult when they encounter a "red flag".
Praised by experts as "a perfect starting point" for sexual abuse prevention, the book offers a practical, non-graphic approach to a serious topic. It’s a crucial resource that empowers children to understand and assert their personal boundaries, while providing parents with the tools for an open and honest conversation.

I Said No is an important and empowering book that helps children understand how to keep their private parts safe. The book uses real-life examples, simple language, and illustrations that children can relate to, making it easy for them to follow along. This book is definitely better read and discussed together with parents as it opens up space for important conversations. The note to parents gives clear guidance on how to read the book with children and how to approach the sensitive issue of body safety. It provides a wide range of situations children may face, along with practical advice on how to act and what to say in those moments. I would a hundred percent purchase this when it is published later to be read and discussed with my pupils and future children.

I Said No
by Zack & Kimberly King, illustrated by Susan Szecsi
A good book for family liaisons and other resource teachers. The book shows the nature of touch and human interaction that is positive and negative giving the children clear definitions, and responses to appropriate and inappropriate touches. Guidelines of what is appropriate, what is not appropriate, and how to tell a trusted adult to get help. It encourages the child to keep trying if not heard. The definitions are simple language and easy for children to understand, but clearly defines what is correct and what is wrong.

This is a good book that talks about body safety. Like all the books that I've read about body safety, there are things I liked and things I wish were different. I'm someone who has taught body safety and have experience teaching elementary and middle school, so I am pickier about this topic than most.

There is no story line. It's more of a collection of topics to discuss, and it does direct teaching. It's an expository nonfiction book, and it has a decent amount of backmatter.

What I liked:
it's divided into sections, so parents/guardians or other adults can read and discuss a section at a time. There are also talking tips to help facilitate conversations around this issue.
There are sometimes activities to do together, such as making a list of safe adults.
The tricky situations scenarios include asking children what they might think, say, or do. (Adults reading this part can change "should" to "might" to avoid having children feel like they're doing something wrong if they don't have the same thoughts as listed.)
It addresses child-on-child sexual abuse.
There are "doctor words" for private parts.
It mentions that mouths and lips can be private also.
There's an afterward that provides additional information.
There are numerous resources in the back of the book.

What I wish was different:
The book uses both first person and second person perspective, and the switch from one to the other is a bit abrupt at times.
The book assumes the child reader has both a mom and dad, leaving out a bunch of children who don't have that family configuration. Other language could have been used, like "your grownups" or "your caregivers," etc.
Unfortunately, as usual, no woman is portrayed as a potential pedophile. In the situations with adults, only men are depicted. If I had read this book before my upper elementary teacher sexually abused me, I still wouldn't have known it was possible for women to molest children.
The "doctor words" for private parts don't mention a girl's urethra, but do mention a boy's urethra. The clitoris is also not mentioned.

Verdict:
This is a book that covers a wider array of topics than most picture books about body safety. It's one worth reading with a child. It's not one a child is likely to pick up on their own.

I received an electronic ARC from Marble Press through NetGalley.
This is definitely a read together book to help children understand the difference between "green flag" activities and "red flag" actions. Each short chapter offers information and then time to reflect and share with a trusted adult. I appreciate that King even covers what to do when a trusted adult is the one who abuses. The emphasis on keeping telling trusted people until someone believes you can't be stressed enough. Well thought out for families to share together.

As a divorced mom I’ve come to terms with the fact that I will not have control over who my kids spend time with. This book has been instrumental in teaching my kids about all the uncomfortable topics you want to shield them from, and in a very kid friendly way. The updated version is great!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

I truly believe this resource is invaluable when it comes to discussing such a difficult topic with your children. It presents the information in a gentle and relatable way that makes it easier for kids to grasp. I also appreciate how it provides guidance for the adult reading the book, offering thoughtful insights to help navigate this sensitive conversation. This aspect is especially important and shows a deep understanding of both the child’s and the adult’s needs during this time.

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

The lessons in this book are very important. It’s about a child’s private parts. What is good? What’s not a safe touch, not an unsafe touch, etc. It introduces the ideas of green flags and red flags and when to get help. The information in this book is very good. The book even tells you not to read it all at once because this is meant to be taken in parts. The information is well done. However, the illustrations make it feel old and dated. Overall, the book has a spot on Library shelves, and it deserves it. How much would get used is another story.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is important for all kids to read with a trusted adult. It gives good advice with examples on how to say no when someone-even a friend- makes you feel uncomfortable around your body especially your private areas. This book has been updated to deal with modern issues kids are facing.

I think this is a great resource to bring up this difficult topic with your children. It does a good job, in my opinion, of explaining things in a way that is easy for a child to understand. It also gives some information directed to the adult reading the book to the child to help guide them in sharing this information with their child which I think is valuable,

This book was excellent and well written. This is so helpful for parent struggling with explaining to young children how to protect themselves from predators.
I especially liked the tricky situation examples and social media warnings.
I highly recommend this to parents.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

A book that should be read with every young child. It is very clear and concise. It doesn't instill fear but gives the child clear direction of what's normal and what is not. I will buy for my library and share with my children.

Thank you for the ARC.

Book Review: I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private
By Zack and Kimberly King

As an early childhood educator and center owner, I am always looking for books that help children understand important, often difficult topics in a way that is both clear and empowering. I Said No! is one of those books. It addresses the critical issue of body safety and consent, using accurate anatomical terms — a vital component in helping children clearly articulate their experiences and boundaries.

This book stands out for its realistic and relatable scenarios that reflect situations children may actually encounter. It thoughtfully explores red and green flags, helping young readers identify unsafe behavior, even when it comes from someone they know — which, unfortunately, is often the case in instances of abuse.

One of the most powerful aspects of this book is how it encourages children to use their voice, to say "no," and to talk to safe adults about their feelings and experiences. These are essential tools for self-protection and emotional health.

I strongly recommend that parents read the book first to assess whether the content and language are appropriate for their child's age and developmental level. However, I believe the earlier we start these conversations, the better equipped our children will be to stay safe and confident in their boundaries.

This is an excellent resource for families and educators alike — a must-have on every child’s bookshelf.

This book is so insanely important and well-written. In a nutshell, every bit of this book was absolutely perfect. The language used was very age-appropriate and will make sense to a young audience. This allows for nothing to cause confusion, and the author's message lives up to its full potential. Another great thing about this book was the extra material. The first thing that readers are greeted with is a message from the author for caregivers/parents to read, which sets a good foundation. Then, at the back of the book, there are extra anatomy resources and hotlines that readers can access. It was such a smart idea to put these things in! Lastly, I want to say that including a little bit on Zack's personal story was a great addition that helps young readers connect more with this book. Bravo, bravo!!!

As a parent, discussing sensitive topics with my children has always been a priority, but finding the right resources can be challenging. The upcoming newest edition of I Said No! by Zack and Kimberly King has been an invaluable tool in our journey to teach body autonomy and personal boundaries! We have read the previous version, but the updated illustrations and information really helped my oldest (9 years old) comprehend what was being said and how it relates to real life.

The book's approach is both gentle and empowering. Through relatable scenarios and clear language, it helps children understand the importance of saying "no" when something feels wrong. The inclusion of "red flags" and "green flags" provides a visual and conceptual framework that resonates with young readers. What stands out most is the book's ability to address a difficult subject with honesty and care, without inducing fear. It's a resource I feel confident sharing with my child, knowing it opens the door to important conversations about safety and trust.

I highly recommend this book to any parent or caregiver looking to equip their child with the knowledge and confidence to navigate their personal boundaries. Thank you, NetGalley!

What a practical book, perfect for providing kids more safety in a chaotic world. This book will help kids and parents alike as they traverse the challenges of living in modern days. Kids will better understand how to advocate for themselves, speaking up when they note behavior that gives red flags. This book provides a positive and healthy space for kids and adults to feel empowered together, while still providing an entertaining read with engaging imagery. Thank you King family! As a sex ed teacher for the last 15 years, I really appreciate this work you're doing.

As a body safety educator in public schools, I give Kimberly King's book, "I Said No," five stars, and here's why. As I read this book, I kept marveling at how comprehensive it is. King goes over all the topics I feel kids and their parents or caregivers should know about: private parts, consent, safe adults, social media, and more. Not only that, but the book is written in such a way that it will encourage lots of conversations on the topic of body safety. In my opinion, body safety conversations are the best way to keep your kids safe from sexual harm. Well done, Kimberly King. Thank you for writing this book to help kids stay safe.

Kimberly King and her son Zack's updated 2025 edition of I Said No! is a compassionate, practical, and empowering guide for children and their caregivers. Based on Zack’s real-life experience, the book offers age-appropriate, non-graphic scenarios to teach kids how to recognize unsafe situations and respond confidently using the “Think, Say, Do” model.

What sets this book apart is its clarity and approachability. Using “red flag” and “green flag” language simplifies the complex topic of boundaries into something children can understand and remember. Each scenario is followed by thoughtful prompts encouraging meaningful dialogue between children and trusted adults. Adding updated content to address technology and social media makes this edition especially relevant.

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or pediatrician, this book is a vital tool in any prevention toolkit. It helps bridge the gap in difficult conversations and ensures children know how to speak up, even when the person causing harm is someone they know.

This book is a conversation starter, a confidence builder, and a potential lifesaver. Highly recommended.

A great first person book at a children's level to explain consent and bodily autonomy. I hope the re-release garners more attention.

Kimberly provides concrete examples and clear language to make "I Said No" the perfect way to start a hard conversation with kids. The prompts for parents and caregivers allow you to stop and come up with solutions that work for kids, because they are applying what they learn in the moment. Genius!