What Does It Mean to Be Safe?

by Rana DiOrio, Zhen Liu (Illustrator)

Overview

You have the power to protect yourself and others!

What does it mean to be safe? Does it mean beating a throw to home plate? Does it mean never taking risks? No! Being safe is about feeling secure, feeling protected and being responsive—no matter the environment or situation.

You can be safe in so many simple ways. From being aware of your limits to creating healthy boundaries. By not giving in to peer pressure and by standing up to bullies. And by being safe on the Internet, or knowing the right time to get a caring adult's help.

This revised and updated addition to the award-winning What Does It Mean to Be...? series is the perfect book to spark meaningful dialogue and ensure every child knows what it means to be safe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492680833
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Series:	What Does It Mean to Be Series?
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Rana DiOrio is an intrepid force for empowerment and positive change. Her purpose is to help people maximize their potential, and she continues to expound and expand upon that mission across her diverse and highly successful career.

As a corporate and securities attorney, tech-sector investment banker, investor, and advisory board member, Rana has catalyzed the financial, operational, and cultural growth of organizations for almost three decades. As an award-winning author and children’s media entrepreneur, she has sparked meaningful conversations between children and their caring adults and is focused on fostering kindness in the next generation by helping creatives who make this possible realize the full potential of their work through her company, Creative Mint, Inc. She lives in San Francisco, CA with her three children. Follow Rana on Twitter @ranadiorio and on Instagram @ranedear.

As a kid growing up in China, Zhen enjoyed telling stories to her childhood friends more than anything. Today, she’s still passionate about storytelling, particularly through her drawings. Aside from illustration, she loves nature and animals. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please visit her online at www.zhenLzhen.com.

Editorial Reviews

"This book should be required reading. Not only is this message great for kids, but it’s also a powerful reminder of how caring adults can help children feel safer." — Lanna Davis, director of children’s programs, Futures Without Violence

"This wise story about the word ‘safe’ is told through charming drawings and compelling words." — Irene van der Zande, founder and executive director of Kidpower International

"There was a time when not taking candy from strangers and 'stop, drop and roll' were all anyone had to worry about. In our world today, safety means so much more. Rana DiOrio's books need to be in every classroom and home library—and most importantly in the hands of every child." — Van Overton, Executive Director #SpreadLoveABQ

"What Does It Mean To Be Safe? puts everything on an empowering basis. It isn’t about staying safe, it’s about making yourself and others safe… A diverse cast of characters, beautiful illustrations and the use of green technology to produce a superior product are also plusses." — Marian Allen, author

"Rana DiOrio’s book tackles all these safety issues that kids face growing up in suburbia. She does it in a calm and gentle way, raising the right points but without making it scary. I like how she touches on listening to your inner voice and standing up to bullies. This is the kind of book that reinforces the messages that we parents give. It allows for dialogue should an issue come up, but it can also just be an gentle reminder of how to stay safe. And that’s exactly the message that I want to impart to my kids." — Pragmatic Mom

"What Does it Mean to be Safe is a wonderful exploration of how to recognize and appreciate what it means to maintain healthy and flexible limits across contexts and time. It is important to encourage young people to articulate what they are comfortable with and what feels safe. Whether it is taking on a new challenge, being open to understanding individual differences, or navigating difficult and sometimes confusing social interactions or relationships feeling safe comes from a place of trusting in yourself and others, even if something doesn't always make sense at first. This book serves as a way to begin these conversations which can support young people to recognize what comes up for them at different times, while also being open to trusting in others and their environment." — Alexis Reid, Educational Consultant & Director of Learning-Based Therapies, Boston Child Study Center

From the Publisher

10/25/2019

K-Gr 2-In this addition to the series, DiOrio explains safety in the context of a variety of scenarios regularly encountered by children. She includes both physical and esoteric definitions of safety, such as freedom from fears of injury, abuse, bullying, and discrimination. Much of the book unfolds in one sentence that begins "Being safe means…" Liu's illustrations show children encountering unsafe situations and overcoming them, often with the help of a caring adult. In one example, a woman hugs a young girl while a nearby boy apprehensively anticipates a hug that he does not want. When the woman reaches to hug him, he steps back and offers her a high-five instead. She returns it with a smile. The accompanying text reads, "…understanding that yes means yes, and that silence is not yes." Expressive faces and body postures reinforce concepts. Children and adults in "safe" situations smile broadly and exude positivity and hopefulness. Two specific scenes are noteworthy. In one, a boy builds a toy wall, blocking two girls of color. In another, a joyous congregation holds signs and flags that promote acceptance. To a child without preconceived notions, these are simple black-and-white concepts of exclusivity and inclusivity. However, some adults may find them heavy-handed. VERDICT The message that all children deserve a safe, caring environment is one that transcends politics and deserves sharing.-Lisa Taylor, Florida State College, Jacksonville

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