Who Will Teach Missy the Difference Between Good Touches and Bad Touches?

Sandy West-Smith
American Literary Press (2006)
ISBN 1561679135
Reviewed by Stephanie and Parish (age 3) Rollins for Reader Views (3/07)

Sandy West-Smith wrote “Who Will Teach Missy the Difference Between Good Touches and Bad Touches” after her 3-year-old daughter was molested.  West-Smith has made such a difficult topic simple to discuss.  She does not discuss sex or go into a lot of detail in the book.  This is geared for preschoolers who should not even know of sex, yet. 

Parish carried this book around for two days before allowing me to read it to her.  This was her new book, and she did not want to share yet.  I was a bit surprised that she took to the book so quickly.  The drawings are simple; they are not bright and attention-grabbing.  They show Missy and her mother in situations that all children can relate to.  Missy sits on her mother’s lap, she takes a bath, and she goes to the doctor. 

Missy’s mother explains that no one besides Mommy, Daddy, and the doctor should touch her where her bathing suit covers.  This general rule of thumb is right on the preschool level.  She also explains that Mommy and Daddy can only touch her bottom when cleaning and putting on medicine. 

Parish has “Who Will Teach Missy” in her backpack that she carries with her when we run errands.  She “reads” it in the car.  I had to wait until she fell asleep to get the book away from her long enough to write this review.   I think it is the simplicity of the illustrations and the small size of the book that has attracted her to it.  In 19 pages (only 9 have text) Sandy West-Smith has effectively mastered the art of explaining such a horrendous problem to such innocent children. 

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