Book Review: Sam’s Story | By: Committee for Children By Molly Anderson A Committee for Children Production Reading Level: Preschool–Grade 1 Using the simplest of narratives, Sam's Story demonstrates to children, parents, and educators that personal safety does not have to be daunting. Sam is a little girl who learns the Touching Rule from her mother after a grown-up friend gives her a hug she doesn't like. Sam and her mother have a snack and a chat, in which her mother reminds her that: 1. She should say No! to a touch she doesn't want, like too much tickling 2. She should say No! if an older person wants to touch her private body parts They sing a song called “When I Say No” to practice. Later, at the park, Sam's knowledge of the Touching Rule is put to the test when an older boy wants to play a touching game with Sam and her friend Jesse. Jesse freezes, but Sam speaks up, quietly at first, then firmly. After the older boy leaves, Jesse is afraid to tell anyone, but Sam tells her mother right away. Her mother models a positive adult response to disclosure: she is proud of her daughter for reporting what happened and tells the children that it was not their fault. The Sam's Story booklet includes a CD of three lively, original songs: “I Like Myself,” “When I Say No,” and “Keep on Telling.” The songs and the story are reassuring yet clear in establishing rules about personal safety. Personal Safety Rules for Young Children Child sexual abuse is most often committed by someone a child knows, and rather than being a single incident is usually an ongoing cycle of exploitation. Although Sam's Story is a fictional account, it is a very accurate representation of how children can apply simple rules in a range of circumstances, from too much tickling or wrestling to someone trying to touch a child's private body parts. Even very young children can—and should—learn simple rules about personal safety, whether it's about traffic, guns, fire, or unsafe touches. Research shows that teaching younger children personal safety rules is more effective than teaching them to trust their gut reaction (that “uh-oh” feeling). Reading Sam's Story in the classroom in conjunction with teaching the Talking About Touching program, singing the songs together, providing multiple opportunities to practice skills, and even giving children copies of the book and CD to take home to share with their families are all effective ways to help children develop the skills they need to recognize, resist, and report unsafe situations. Buy Sam's Story Booklet and CD Set in our online store.