Uncle Willy's Tickles

Uncle Willy's Tickles, by Marcie Aboff

When I was searching for a picture of the cover to include in my blog, I couldn't seem to find the same cover that is on the copy of this book that I read. I chose to include this version because although the picture and title are the same, something that I noticed which was different is the big, blackened all caps letters that say "A CHILD'S RIGHT TO SAY NO." I think this was something that really enhanced the cover page and the purpose of the book more.

This story is about a little boy who LOVES his Uncle Willy, but sometimes he tickles too hard. After the little boy confronts his sister about what is going on and she says it's normal, he starts to devise ideas about how to avoid Uncle Willy the next time he comes over to the house. Eventually, he tells his mother and his mother models the solution to her son for the next time that Uncle Willy comes over.

The point of this book is to show children that there are right and wrong ways to touch and be touched. There is an introductory page all about touching and what a child should do if he/she is being touched inappropriately, and then it is actually modeled at the end of the story so that children and parents alike can understand the proper way to handle a frustrating situation like that. I think it is important for parents to read this book to their children when discussing a similar occurrence, so children will understand that they can speak up about something like this.