Amina Yaqoob – illustratör

You Can Say No is an age-appropriate children's book that supports social-emotional learning by teaching body autonomy, personal boundaries, and self-advocacy. Rather than relying on fear-based "stranger danger" messaging, this book helps children recognize unsafe or confusing behaviors and encourages them to seek support from trusted adults.

Written by a Licensed Independent Social Worker, You Can Say No is well-suited for elementary classrooms, counseling settings, libraries, and home reading, and supports healthy communication between children and caregivers.

Often kids-and some adults-feel children have no choice when it comes to who touches them and when. However, it''s important to empower children from a very young age that they are in charge of their own bodies. In "You Can Say No", the characters in the book learn that they don''t have to do something they are uncomfortable with just because an adult says so.

Ashonda Underwood, LSW, is a first-time author who holds a Master''s degree in Social Work. "You Can Say No" illustrates different scenarios that show children when it''s ok to say "No" to an adult, specifically when it comes to their bodies. This book equips children with a tool in the form of a catchy slogan..."Even though you''re an adult, I''m allowed to say No. My body is mine, leave it alone!"... that empower them to say "No" when their body feels threatened.