Politicians behaving badly, #MeToo and a shift you can feel in the ether means that we are all talking about consent. Having these conversations in a developmentally appropriate way with children, however, can be tricky and it can be hard to know where to start. Books are a great gateway into these discussions and the following list might help you on your way. Whether you are looking for a picture book to share with a child, a book to teach a specific topic in a school setting, something a child can read by themselves and discuss with you later or a book to leave casually in the path of a teenager in the hope they pick it up and read it, we have some suggestions for you.

Just a heads-up, though: please make sure that before you give a book to a child, you read it yourself and decide whether or not it is right for them. We have chosen these books for their quality, but not every book suits every child and circumstance.

Browse the complete list on our online store.

Younger Kids – Consent, boundaries and self-advocacy about your body

There is a rich array of picture books with themes of consent, boundaries and self-advocacy about your body. Many of them focus on choosing whether or not to hug and on respecting people’s preferred ways of interacting. When you need to talk to young children directly about the particularly serious topics of sexual abuse, the two titles by Jayneen Sanders that we have listed give you a clear, developmentally appropriate base from which to start.

Picture Books

How to Say Hello – Sophie Beer

Australian. A beautifully illustrated, inclusive book, How to Say Hello is a book about consent for young children that focuses on saying hello without hugging.

The Rabbit Listened – Cori Doerrfeld

A beautifully illustrated, ‘quiet’ book, The Rabbit Listened, explores the theme of not pushing your preferred form of help on someone.

Don’t Touch My Hair – Sharee Miller

Don’t Touch My Hair reminds us that consent is not just about overtly sexualised touching and attention. It also models asking to touch and choosing whether to say yes or no.

Will Ladybug Hug? – Hilary Leung

Will Ladybug Hug? is a board book aimed at babies and toddlers that starts conversation about body boundaries and consent. It’s useful in teaching children to speak up about whether they wish to be touched or not and encourages them to ask permission before touching anyone else.

Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It) – Carrie Finison

A funny, engagingly illustrated read-aloud about a child who (as a general rule) doesn’t like hugs even though some other people do. The story shows that it’s okay to sometimes say yes and sometimes say no. It models asking for permission and granting it or not. It highlights that the most important thing is that you should ask for permission and then take notice of the answer.
Coming August 2021

Rissy No Kisses – Katey Howes & Jess Engle

A lovebird who doesn’t like kisses? Similar message to Don’t Hug Doug, this also centres the child’s experience, feelings and wishes, except the child is a bird.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is a classic, hilarious book that will have the audience screaming at it with glee. Pigeon is persistent in trying to gain the reader’s permission to do something that he really wants to do but shouldn’t. It shows children that even if someone is incredibly persistent and manipulative, it’s still okay to say no.

ABC of Body Safety and Consent —Jayneen Sanders

Covers topics of consent, respect, body boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, early warning signs, safety network, private parts, and the difference between secrets and surprises. It has beautiful, inclusive illustrations and is appropriate for children ages 4-10.

Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept – Jayneen Sanders Illustrated by Craig Smith

An engaging narrative about a prince in a castle that is very useful to help frame conversations about sexual abuse with children.

This is MY Body: A Children’s book about body autonomy and consent – Lil Carlé & Liuba Syrotiuk

A beautifully present, thoughtful picture book about consent by a local team.

Older Kids – Consent, sexual assault, respectful relationships

Middle Primary

This is a tricky age to find books about consent or even books that model consent well, but one great option is:

Eliza Vanda’s Button Box—Emily Rodda

Australian. Hidden behind its fairy tale influences, this story has some clear messages about consent. The plot builds to a non-consensual marriage between a princess and a frog-prince. Neither of them want to marry the other but feel they must because of a sense of duty. To compound the problem, the princess must kiss the frog-prince to turn him back into a human. She doesn’t want to kiss him, and he doesn’t want to be kissed. They both communicate this in their own ways, but it is not until they sit down and talk about it that they realise each other’s feelings. The protagonist then works with the kingdom to have the laws changed therefore preventing anyone else ever having to marry against their will.

Middle Primary/Lower Secondary Non-Fiction

There are a number of non-fiction books that deal with consent and growing up, but there are two current stand-outs that have both great content and are appealing to kids.

Welcome to Consent – Yumi Steins and Melissa Kang

Australian. Welcome to Consent is inclusive, appealingly presented book that covers consent issues for 11 – 14 year old children who are on the cusp of or newly dealing with consent in their relationships.

Respect: Consent Boundaries and Being in Charge of You – Rachel Brian

This covers a wide range of consent issues in a simple, but comprehensive manner. It’s graphic novel style helps make it entertaining and compelling.

Upper Primary/Lower Secondary

Fiction can be a great vehicle for exploring issues of relationships and consent and can provide a prompt and framework for conversations.

Pet – Akwaeke Emezi

Pet is set in a dystopian world in which Jam and Redemption must seek out the evil in Redemption’s house with the help of the monster, Pet. It has a diverse cast including a transgender protagonist and deals with the theme of sexual assault in families. It is suitable for advanced Year 6 readers up to senior secondary for a short read. LGBTQI+

Maybe He Just Likes You – Barbara Dee

Mila is uncomfortable about the lingering, unwanted hugs that she’s receiving from boys at school. Her friends dismiss it as ‘flirting’ or ‘being friendly’, but Mila doesn’t like it and has to work out how to stand up for herself. Suitable for advanced Year 6 readers and above.

Young Adult – Sexual Assault, Consent, Respectful Relationships

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

Australian. LGBTQI+. Indigenous. The Boy from the Mish contains a number of scenes where the characters sound each other out, requesting, granting and denying consent in natural, sweet and non-didactic ways. There is a scene where one of the characters is almost outed without his consent, highlighting the fact that this is an important consent issue too.

Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal – Anna Whatley

Australian. LGBTQI+ The neurodiverse main character deals with an uncomfortable sexual advance without consent that is perfect for raising a conversation about the topic.

Wildlife – Fiona Wood

Australian. Whilst Wildlife deals with the big issues of grief and friendship, there is also an interesting thread that deals with consent, particularly in regards to the impact of peer pressure on consent. Early in the book there is a scene that models the positive impact of communication on early romantic relationships.

The Music of What Happens – Bill Konigsberg

LGBTQI+ Over a summer Max and Jordan work together in a food truck. Max has to deal with his confusion and discomfort over an experience of sexual assault in which lack of consent was a central issue before he can properly turn his attention to his growing attraction to Jordan.

Heartstopper (Volume 1) – Alice Oseman

Graphic Novel. LGBTQI+.

Charlie starts off the story in a relationship where consent is an issue for him, and Nick helps him deal with it. After weeks of flirting and longing, Charlie and Nick’s relationship begins with a scene that models consent beautifully.

Moxie – Jennifer Mathieu

Girls standing up to sexual harassment and discussions of sexual assault.

Explores a range of consent issues including who controls images posted online and the difficulties of providing enthusiastic consent when there are significant power differentials.

Young Adult – consent modelled well in the narrative

Many books that deal with consent issues focus on dealing with the consequences of a lack of consent. They are cautionary tales as opposed to showing the positive results of consent. The following books show consent being modelled well as a matter of course in the narrative and show the characters having good experiences as a result.

After the Lights Go Out – Lili Wilkinson

Australian. Set in a dystopian present in the Australian outback, two teenagers act on their growing attraction discussing the physical and emotional steps as they go. The conflict in their romance revolves around keeping life-or-death secrets rather than about inadequate communication within their relationship.

Graceling — Kristin Cashore

Even though much of the consent in this YA fantasy takes place as a form of telepathy, it’s genuine and active. The romance arc is respectful and positive which is often not the case in this genre.

Young Adult – Non Fiction

Suitable for ages 14+

Children’s Books About Consent, Boundaries and Respectful Relationships