About this item
The Right Touch reaches beyond the usual scope of a children's picture book. It is a parenting book that introduces a very difficult topic--the sexual abuse of young children. This gentle, thoughtful story can be read aloud to a child by any trusted caregiver. In the story, young Jimmy's mom explains the difference between touches that are positive and touches that are secret, deceptive or forced. She tells him how to resist inappropriate touching, affirming that abuse is not the child s fault. The introduction provides valuable information about sexual abuse and guidance on what to do if your child experiences an abusive situation. Jody Bergsma's gentle illustrations soften the impact of this story; yet this portrayal of a dangerous situation is very realistic.
About the Author
Sandra Kleven is a poet, writer, filmmaker, and editor of the literary journal, Cirque. She co-facilitates, Poetry Parley, in Anchorage, Alaska, with the award winning poet, D C McKenzie. She is curator and participant with the performing group, Venus Transit, whose integration of poetry, music and dance, is a central feature of the Spenard JazzFest. Kleven's poetry has been published in Alaska Quarterly Review, Oklahoma Review, Praxilla, F-Magazine, Cirque,Stone Boat, and in the anthology, from University of Alaska Press, Cold Flashes.Kleven brought the arts and the creative process into her work as a clinical social worker, developing a theatrical presentation and a troupe of actors, that worked toward the prevention of child sexual abuse. This group, the SOAPBOX Players, served Northwest Washington with a presentation titled, "The Touching Problem." Kleven won a Seattle Area Emmy Award (as writer) when KVOS TV produced the program as a docudrama.Out of this work came two books for children and families, meant to serve as guides in discussing sexual abuse with a child. The first was published as, Touching, in 1985 and then, in 1999, it was reissued as The Right Touch. Her newest book was released in October of 2012. The setting for Talk About Touch is a an Alaska Native village.Kleven says, "Talking to kids about sexual abuse isn't easy. Parents are afraid they'll say too much or say the wrong thing. My books guide parents through the prevention lesson, offering concrete information in clear but gentle language and at the same time indirectly showing the children that their parents can talk about the problem. If kids are going to tell when something happens, they need to know parents will listen, will believe them and will not turn the tables, blaming the child who tells."The Right Touch has been a helping resource since 1999 when it received a Benjamin Franklin Award as best parenting book. Now, in print for twelve years, it remains the best-selling prevention book in the country.Talk About Touch reshapes the prevention story to the setting and cultures of rural Alaska. This small book will take on a big statistic - as reports of sexual abuse in Alaska occur at a rate six times the national average.Kleven is available for workshops, trainings and conference presentations. She can be reached at talk.about.touch@gmail.com.~~~More about Sandra KlevenTwo of Kleven's poems have been nominated for the 2012 Pushcart Prize. The Celebration Foundation has twice awarded Kleven grants in support of her creative work.Kleven left Washington State, in 1984, arriving in Bethel, Alaska, a town of 5000, located 80 miles from the Bering Sea. This move would forever impact her writing. HOLY LAND, was the first piece so influenced -- a dramatic monologue first performed in Valdez, Alaska, at the Last Frontier Theater Conference. It was later published in ALASKA QUARTERLY REVIEW. HOLY LAND is available on Amazon.&
