SO, YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT!: A CHILD'S GUIDE TO TESTIFYING AS A WITNESS IN CHILD ABUSE CASES. Harvey, Wendy and Anne Watson-Russell. Toronto, Butterworths, c1986. 41pp, paper, $6.95, ISBN 0-409-80519-X. CIP Pre-School and up Reviewed by Brenda Watson Volume 15 Number 3 1987 May The subtitle, "A Child's Guide to Testifying As a Witness in Child Abuse Cases," describes the subject of this book. It is particularly addressed to children who may have been victims of sexual abuse. It begins by suggesting that they saw or heard something wrong, but also suggests that something wrong may have been done to them. The book is written on two levels. Bold-face print separates material to be read aloud to five to eight-year-olds from the rest of the text. The entire text can be read by nine to twelve-year-olds. The guide covers everything that may happen to a child in a court case: preliminary questioning, the day in court, and the aftermath. The book deals with some very complex concepts, such as truth, secrets, the roles of the prosecutor and the defense lawyer, guilt, and oaths. It emphasizes the seriousness of the legal process. It explores the feelings children may have at various times throughout the case, saying it is okay to have those feelings and explains the response and level of acceptance the adults involved will have to those feelings. Older children may be able to read and understand this book on their own. For younger children, even the vocabulary and concepts in bold face will be complex. The book will be most useful put into the hands of parents and other adults, involved in preparing a child for court. With a knowledge of the individual child and case they can use parts of the book at appropriate times, either reading them aloud or paraphrasing to meet the child's vocabulary and conceptual level. The text alternates with full-page cartoon-like illustrations with captions taken from the text. While the drawing is cartoon like, the depiction of the judge, courtroom, and other scenes is realistic and accurate. The illustrations will be as informative and reassuring as the text for some children. Brenda Watson, Dunsmuir J.S.S., Victoria, B.C.