Not in Room 204: Breaking the Silence of Abuse

by Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars (Illustrator)

Overview

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book 2007
Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children's Literature, 2007 Oregon Book Awards

STARRED REVIEW! "This picture book's strength is in the forthrightness of its message and the sensitivity of its presentation: Regina's father's actions are implied but never stated, and Regina’s trust in her teacher is firmly in place before the situation unfolds...The text and digitally enhanced artwork work together well to express the book’s message smoothly. The characters, especially Regina, dominate the illustrations, which are notable for their clear lines and interesting and varied textures and colors. This helpful picture book will raise children’s awareness of sexual abuse without raising anxiety."—Booklist starred review

Mrs. Salvador is one tough teacher. But Regina Lillian Hadwig, a very quiet student, doesn't mind. She likes the order and discipline Mrs. Salvador expects. At a report card conference, Mrs. Salvador tells Regina’s mom that Regina is doing a great job, but that she is very quiet. "Are you quiet at home, like you are in school?" Mrs. Salvador asks Regina. And Regina thinks of the secret she keeps so quiet—the one even her mom doesn’t know, about the secret things her father does. "Yes, I’m quiet at home, too," says Regina. "Maybe we can work on that," says Mrs. Salvador. When Mrs. Salvador reads a book about Stranger Danger, she emphasizes one thing—that the person doing the inappropriate touching might not be a stranger at all. It might be someone a child knows very well. Will Regina find the courage to tell Mrs. Salvador her terrible secret?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807557655
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shannon Riggs grew up in New York. Not in Room 204 is her first book. Shannon is a member of Willamette Writers and SCBWI. She organizes a monthly children's writers' workshop in Oregon where she now lives with her husband, a retired US Navy officer.

Jaime Zollars began making art at a young age. She got her BFA in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design. Jaime has illustrated children's books, magazines, newspapers, and ad campaigns. She lives in Maryland with her husband and son.

Read an Excerpt

Not in Room 204

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By Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8075-5764-8

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CHAPTER 1

On the first day of school, Mrs. Salvador said, "At home, when your parents tell you to clean your rooms, you might shove dirty socks under the bed and heap toys in the closet, and you might get away with it."

The children in Room 204 smiled secret smiles.

"But not in Room 204. Here we keep our desks neat."

Some of the children fidgeted, but Regina Lillian Hadwig sat up straight.

"In other places, you might get away with less than your best work," Mrs. Salvador said. "But not in Room 204."

Jack Galvin and Trevor Jensen smirked.

"In Room 204, if you turn in work that isn't your best, I'll give it right back to you and you'll have to do it over."

Jack whispered, "I think I'll move my desk into the hall."

Mrs. Salvador heard. "Mr. Galvin, you might get away with whispering wisecracks to your neighbor in other classrooms, but not in Room 204."

"In other places," she continued, "you might get away with name-calling. You might even call someone 'stupid' or 'dumb.' Not in Room 204. In Room 204, no one is stupid. I've seen your report card from last year. I know."

Mrs. Salvador folded her hands neatly behind her back.

In October, in Room 204, Amanda Zadatowski ate Brenda Levitt's Halloween candy without asking.

Mrs. Salvador sent a note home to Amanda's mother.

In November, the class went on a field trip to the aquarium. Just loud enough for everyone to hear, Melanie Dickson said that the tour guide looked like a whale. Regina Lillian Hadwig shook her head with disapproval.

Mrs. Salvador said, "Miss Dickson, children in other classes might get away with making rude remarks, but not the students of Room 204. The students of Room 204 show respect. Please apologize, and then you will be my partner for the rest of the day."

Mrs. Salvador led Melanie to the front of the line.

Report-card conferences were at the end of the term. Regina Lillian Hadwig took a seat beside her mother.

"Regina, I am very pleased with all of your written work. You always do your best. You are a very bright girl," Mrs. Salvador said.

She cocked her head to one side and pursed her lips the way she did when she was grading papers at her desk and thought no one was looking. Regina Lillian Hadwig was always looking.

"Are you quiet at home like you are in school?" Mrs. Salvador asked.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Not in Room 204 by Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars. Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

Gr 1-3
After a lesson on stranger danger, Mrs. Salvador tells her students that if someone touches a child "in ways they shouldn't," she knows exactly what to do. Quiet Regina Lillian Hadwig has a secret, and she sits up and takes notice, eventually confiding in her teacher. The illustrations are warm and inviting and provide an imaginative subtext through the other students' antics. The message of the book is a comforting one, that at least some adults can establish a safe environment, be consistent, and always know what to do. However, when the teacher asks Lillian if she has been touched inappropriately, the child nods, and the teacher again promises that she knows "exactly what to do." Leading a child in a disclosure of sexual abuse is a questionable practice and, as any mandated reporter knows, once a report is filed, what follows is out of the teacher's hands entirely. An introductory note reminds readers that prevention "is an adult's job" and provides a link to Darkness to Light, an excellent organization that teaches adults how to prevent and respond to child abuse. The audience for this picture book may well be adults, who will be reassured and hopefully inspired by Mrs. Salvador's example of firm boundaries lovingly enforced. In the right hands, this story could open discussion with children about sexual abuse or let a child know that there are adults who will listen. For slightly younger children, Peter Ledwon's Mia's Secret (Tundra, 2006) encourages telling without leading the child or implying promises that cannot be kept.
—Carolyn LehmanCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Regina Lillian Hadwig loves Room 204. Her teacher, Mrs. Salvador, makes sure that all of the children follow the rules. Desks are kept neat, wisecracks are not allowed and there is no fighting. "In Room 204, we keep our bodies to ourselves," Mrs. Salvador says. When the class does a unit on Stranger Danger, Mrs. Salvador mentions that it's not only strangers who touch children in ways they shouldn't be touched, and tells the class in no uncertain terms that she knows exactly how to help if any of them has such a problem. When Regina comes in early the next morning and reveals that her father has been touching her inappropriately, Mrs. Salvador repeats that she knows exactly what to do, and unburdened and relaxed, Regina is now ready for a new day at school. Overall, the text is strong and graceful, the story manages to avoid proselytizing and appealing illustrations grace the pages. If the ending is pat, it may serve a purpose: comforting readers. A good choice for parents and teachers who plan to address safety and molestation with children. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book 2007
Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children's Literature, 2007 Oregon Book Awards

STARRED REVIEW! "This picture book's strength is in the forthrightness of its message and the sensitivity of its presentation: Regina’s father’s actions are implied but never stated, and Regina’s trust in her teacher is firmly in place before the situation unfolds...The text and digitally enhanced artwork work together well to express the book’s message smoothly. The characters, especially Regina, dominate the illustrations, which are notable for their clear lines and interesting and varied textures and colors. This helpful picture book will raise children’s awareness of sexual abuse without raising anxiety."—Booklist starred review

"Overall, the text is strong and graceful, the story manages to avoid proselytizing and appealing illustrations grace the pages...A good choice for parents and teachers who plan to address safety and molestation with children."—Kirkus Reviews

"This picture book addresses the topic of sexual abuse directly and thoughtfully...Zollar's expressive pictures capture the warm, bright classroom as well as Regina's worry and isolation. In the portrayal of the upright and caring teacher, the book provides a surprisingly natural voice for the central lesson while modeling how to create a safe space for a child with a terrifying secret."—The Horn Book Magazine

"The illustrations are warm and inviting and provide an imaginative subtext through the other students' antics. The message of the book is a comforting one, that at least some adults can establish a safe environment, be consistent, and always know what to do...This story could open discussion with children about sexual abuse or let a child know that there are adults who will listen."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher