We Accept No

Jamin is disappointed when his classmate Zakiya says no to the big, squeezy hug he wants to give her at the end of the day. With guidance from his teacher, Ms. H, he learns why a refusal deserves respect, what to do with the sadness and anger that come up, and what other choices he has when someone turns down a hug.

This fourth title in the We Say What's Okay series is built to strengthen young children's social and emotional skills around consent, including asking permission, honoring a refusal, and coping with rejection. Read aloud, it lets educators and families repeat the language Ms. H uses to support Jamin as he learns to respect personal boundaries. Additional activities appear in the back. The author leads workshops and trainings on boundaries and consent for families and early childhood educators across the country.

The series follows a preschool class, and each book takes up a different consent theme, such as noticing the physical sensations that emotions create, reading body language, asking for and listening to others' choices, and understanding that our bodies have value. The everyday situations and diverse characters let children see themselves and their classmates in the stories while building a vocabulary for consent and feelings. Every book comes with a song from Peaceful Schools, available as downloadable audio and sheet music.