Book an Adventure in Social-Emotional Learning during Book Week 2025

For the past 80 years, The Children’s Book Council of Australia has hosted Children’s Book Week, during which children in schools across Australia are brought together to enjoy themed activities, storytelling and connections to literature.

This year, Positive Pieces invites you to embrace the 2025 theme of “Book and Adventure”, as we lead you on a journey exploring some of the literature that supports the skills taught in our evidence-based social-emotional learning program, Second Step.

Each day during 2025 Children’s Book Week, we’ll highlight one of the themes of our program and some of the books that can support children’s learning of the concepts and skills within that theme. Follow along on our Facebook page.

Monday 18th August: Skills for Learning

Tuesday 19th August: Empathy

Wednesday 20th August: Emotion Management

Thursday 21st August: Problem-Solving

Friday 22nd August: Bullying Prevention

But let’s start today by highlighting some books that support the ever-important theme of child safety.

Did you know our Second Step Early Learning program now includes resources to teach children skills in safety and child protection?  Here are some of the books that can support children’s learning in that area:

Know and Follow Rules by Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., illustrated by Meredith Johnson

This book, by the same author as Be Careful and Stay Safe, explains in simple, clear stories why rules exist and why it’s important to follow them.

Little BIG Chats series, Body Safety titles: Consent, My Safety Network; Private Parts are Private, and Secrets and Surprises

Author: Jayneen Sanders

Illustrator: Cherie Zamazing (2021)

Short stories with accompanying Discussion Questions to help educators and families unpack these topics with the children in their lives. The Body Safety titles are presented in the recommended order.

ABC of Body Safety and Consent

Author: Jayneen Sanders

Illustrator: Courtney Dawson (2020)

From the author of the Little BIG Chats series, this book uses elegant illustrations and the alphabet to promote the learning of 26 key body safety skills. This is more of a reference book than story book, intended for ages 4 to 10.

My Underpants Rule

Author: Rod Power

Illustrator: Kate Power (2015)

With rhymes and whimsical illustrations, this book guides children to learn and recite the “underpants rule.”

My Body! What I Say Goes!

Author: Jayneen Sanders

Illustrator: Farimah Khavarinezhad (2nd, edition 2022)

This is an engaging, age-appropriate book that covers many topics, including body safety, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, consent, respect, and secrets and surprises.

Keep an eye out for our book recommendations throughout Book Week. We'd love to hear which books you use in your classrooms to support children's learning in each of these areas as well!

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Positive Pieces Education is the Australian and New Zealand publisher of the Second Step social-emotional learning program. Learn more