Books That Promote Healthy Communities
Grow Engage Read Imagine (GERI) works to prevent domestic and sexual violence using books that promote healthy social norms and protect their readers against violence.
THE COLOR MONSTER
By Anna Llenas
One day, Color Monster wakes up feeling very confused. His emotions are all over the place; he feels angry, happy, calm, sad, and scared all at once! To help him, a little girl shows him what each feeling means through color. As this adorable monster learns to sort and define his mixed up emotions, he gains self-awareness and peace as a result.
Pre-K Or Lower
Feature Book
Book Themes
Don't touch my hair
By Sharee Miller
Just about everywhere Aria goes, someone wants to touch her fluffy, curly hair. Whether she’s in the street, under the sea, in the jungle, or even in space, strangers (and strange creatures) try to touch Aria’s hair. Finally, she has had enough!
KINDERGARTEN - 3RD GRADE
Feature Book
Book Themes
Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You
By Rachel Brian
Readers will learn about boundaries and how to set them, ways to respect themselves and others, what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe, and much more. Along the way, they’ll be encouraged to reflect on (and improve!) their own behavior and to practice consent in their daily lives.
4TH - 6TH GRADE
Feature Book
Book Themes
Tight
By Torrey Maldonado
Lately, Bryan’s been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows what’s right for him in a good way – reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But the drama’s hard to escape where he’s from, and that gets him wound uptight. And now Bryan’s new friend Mike is challenging him to have fun in ways that are crazy risky. At first, it’s a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subways surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never feels right acting wrong. So which way will he go when he understands that drama is so not his style? Fortunately, his favorite comic sheds light on his dilemma, reminding him that he has power – the power to choose his friends and to stand up for what he believes is right.
7TH - 8TH GRADE
Feature Book
Book Themes
The Hate U Give
By Angie Thomas
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death made a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
High School
Feature Book
Book Themes
Resources From The
Online Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers
The Online Tool Kit provides child-appropriate examples and educational content about consent, safe and unsafe touches, handling disclosures (sharing about abuse or harm), healthy relationships, and various related topics. Find tips for having important conversations with kids and teens as well as local resources for other needs and concerns.