What it is
You Can Say No, Jo! is a 45-paged illustrated storybook, for children aged 7-11, designed for co-reading.
Every chapter ends with Jo needing advice from the reader, with a ‘Pause and Talk’ section on its next page (a discussion guide peer reviewed by a child educator), an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s choices throughout the story.
What it’s about
The book was created out of the sentiment that every child deserves to know their voice matters.
It covers the themes of boundaries, body autonomy and building respectful relationships. These are the core foundations of consent education that is age-appropriate to introduce to your child.
What we learned
Based on surveys with 152 parents and young adults, alongside interviews with parents and a child educator, one message remained consistent: parents play a huge role in helping children learn about boundaries, body autonomy, and respectful relationships.
What We Found
Only 25.5% of young adults reported receiving formal consent education from their parents during childhood
Meanwhile, 70% of parents reported teaching consent at home, suggesting that these conversations aren’t always perceived the same way.
A majority of 75.5% reported they learned from sources outside of parental involvement
They reported learning through self-learning, personal experiences, the internet, or pop culture.
These conversations can be clearer and more intentional, that’s why we created You Can Say No, Jo!
A Note from the Author
Hi, I’m Julienne, writer and illustrator of You Can Say No, Jo! I’m a Multimedia Arts student from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
A little tidbit on Jo: I named her after one of the most prominent women in literature, Jo March of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and much like Alcott’s approach, Jo is meant to be a representation of its writer. So, her Jo is fierce, ambitious and independent, quick to let everyone know how she’s feeling, not one to let people sway her. My Jo is almost entirely the opposite—though just as ambitious— she’s shy, and reserved. A bit of a people pleaser even if it displeases her. Has a hard time saying ‘no’ to people. (Has a hard time saying anything, actually.)
In a way, You Can Say No, Jo! is the story I wish someone had given me growing up. It isn’t about teaching children to be loud or confrontational, it’s simply about helping them understand that their voice matters. If Jo can learn to speak up, perhaps a child reading beside their parent will begin to believe they can, too.
A Note from the Author
Hi, I’m Julienne, writer and illustrator of You Can Say No, Jo! I’m a Multimedia Arts student from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
A little tidbit on Jo: I named her after one of the most prominent women in literature, Jo March of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and much like Alcott’s approach, Jo is meant to be a representation of its writer. So, her Jo is fierce, ambitious and independent, quick to let everyone know how she’s feeling, not one to let people sway her. My Jo is almost entirely the opposite—though just as ambitious— she’s shy, and reserved. A bit of a people pleaser even if it displeases her. Has a hard time saying ‘no’ to people. (Has a hard time saying anything, actually.)
In a way, You Can Say No, Jo! is the story I wish someone had given me growing up. It isn’t about teaching children to be loud or confrontational, it’s simply about helping them understand that their voice matters. If Jo can learn to speak up, perhaps a child reading beside their parent will begin to believe they can, too.
