Ella’s Choice

Ella’s Choice is a picture book that helps children understand how to communicate their consent and boundaries to others. This self-published book helps young children understand these concepts through the eyes of a vibrant young girl named Ella.

Ella loves her Mommy and Daddy. She hugs them and shares kisses with them. She shares her lunch with her best friend Lexi. She cuddles her brother and her Panda toy. But Ella also knows that, if she doesn’t want to hug someone, she should say “NO” with confidence. Her parents encourage her to know her limits and realize that her body is her own. She must ask her parents for help if she needs it.

Ella’s Choice addresses an important issue in our society – consent and boundaries for young children. In her introduction to the picture book, Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan, a psychiatrist, urges all society members to “commit to raising children who have a strong awareness of their body and who know how to communicate their own boundaries.” (p. 7) She warns adults that child abuse is a constant threat in our society. The writer’s clinical practice includes expertise with trauma in marginalized communities in Ontario.

The text is accessible to young readers who are just starting to read books independently. At times, the rhyming text can be simplistic, “Mommy gets kisses in a bunch/ And her bestie Lexi gets to share Ella’s lunch.” (p. 12) The storyline includes various people in Ella’s life and describes how she relates to them. It also addresses Ella’s power to set boundaries for personal contact and give her consent.

The illustrations are colourful and vibrant and will give readers visual information about Ella’s likes and dislikes, as well as her family, friends, and pets. Ella is an energetic character who loves to share her joy with the people she loves. Perhaps the most obvious visual portrayal of her strength of character is displayed on the front cover. This picture of Ella is reminiscent of the famous Rosie the Riveter poster from World War II which proclaimed “We Can Do It.” This poster illustrated the contributions to the Allied war effort made by the women who were working in factories to supply the troops with vital armaments.

Ella’s Choice promotes empowering youth and validates the experiences of young children. The introduction gives teachers and caregivers context about the story. Important issues raised in this book include: consent, empowerment, children’s boundaries, freedom, adult helpers, friendship, and family relationships. This picture book is easy to read for young readers, but it can also be used as a read-aloud.

In addition to the useful introduction, there is also a “Reader’s Guide” which provides discussion starters to use with young children. Ella’s Choice has a powerful message for readers. Every human being, no matter how young or old, has to right to set their personal boundaries. “Boundary setting is an essential skill that children need to develop to protect themselves and become healthy adults.” (p. 7)