POWERFUL YOU

A round-headed human with skin the white of the page and their anthropomorphic animal friends traverse a world of options opened up by yes and no . Pops of color, especially present in spread-spanning words like powerful and massive , illustrate how those two words can help “look…after your heart.” Straightforward text explains that “You can say yes to trying new things,” “to making new friends,” and to “help[ing] others,” with the characters dancing and steeling themselves before climbing mountains. Saying no is an equally positive response: “ No can help keep you safe” and establish boundaries, even though “it can take courage to say no ,” and it might make your “ insides feel wiggly .” (The only unsafe situation presented involves a ball in the middle of a road.) This tame, spare, and direct read-aloud offers open-ended examples, making it a potentially useful primer for teachers, parents, and caregivers to introduce children to some of the fundamentals of consent. A combination of thick black lines, generous use of white space, and frothy bursts of color work to make this visually appealing as well. (This book was reviewed digitally.)