Not in Room 204: Breaking the Silence of Abuse - Hardcover

Riggs, Shannon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807557641 ISBN 13: 9780807557648

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2007

Synopsis

At a report card conference, Mrs. Salvador informs Regina's mom that Regina is doing a great job, but she is very quiet. Regina thinks of the secret she keeps so quiet―the one even her mom doesn't know. Will Regina find the courage to tell Mrs. Salvador her terrible secret? This helpful book provides a tool for adults to gently discuss sexual abuse with young children.

About this title

About the Authors

Shannon Riggs is a Salem, Oregon writer. Her work has appeared in many magazines and in several anthologies. Shannon is the author of the picture book, Not in Room 204. For more information, please visit www.shannonriggs.com.

JAIME ZOLLARS has illustrated children’s books, magazines, newspapers, and ad campaigns for clients that include United Airlines, Random House, The American Red Cross, Scholastic, and the L.A. Weekly. Jaime is inspired by fairy tales and Flemish painters, non-fiction books, forgotten paper, found textures, and flea market photographs. She lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland, with her husband and son. To find out more, visit www.jaimezollars.com.

From the Inside Flap

At a report card conference, Mrs. Salvador tells Regina's mom that Regina is doing a great job, but that she is very quiet. Regina thinks of the secret she keeps so quiet--the one even her mom doesn't know, about the secret things her father does.

Reviews

Grade 1–3—After a lesson on stranger danger, Mrs. Salvador tells her students that if someone touches a child "in ways they shouldn't," she knows exactly what to do. Quiet Regina Lillian Hadwig has a secret, and she sits up and takes notice, eventually confiding in her teacher. The illustrations are warm and inviting and provide an imaginative subtext through the other students' antics. The message of the book is a comforting one, that at least some adults can establish a safe environment, be consistent, and always know what to do. However, when the teacher asks Lillian if she has been touched inappropriately, the child nods, and the teacher again promises that she knows "exactly what to do." Leading a child in a disclosure of sexual abuse is a questionable practice and, as any mandated reporter knows, once a report is filed, what follows is out of the teacher's hands entirely. An introductory note reminds readers that prevention "is an adult's job" and provides a link to Darkness to Light, an excellent organization that teaches adults how to prevent and respond to child abuse. The audience for this picture book may well be adults, who will be reassured and hopefully inspired by Mrs. Salvador's example of firm boundaries lovingly enforced. In the right hands, this story could open discussion with children about sexual abuse or let a child know that there are adults who will listen. For slightly younger children, Peter Ledwon's Mia's Secret (Tundra, 2006) encourages telling without leading the child or implying promises that cannot be kept.—Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* Quiet Regina feels comfortable in her classroom, where Mrs. Salvador runs a tight ship and insists on hard work and fair play. When the teacher starts the annual Stranger Danger unit, she departs from the usual script by saying that most often an adult who touches a child inappropriately is not a stranger but someone known to the child. Mrs. Salvador assures her students that "If someone told me this happened to them, I know exactly what to do to help." The next morning, Regina arrives early at Room 204 to confide her secret, which involves her father. The story ends on a hopeful note. This picture book's strength is in the forthrightness of its message and the sensitivity of its presentation: Regina's father's actions are implied but never stated, and Regina's trust in her teacher is firmly in place before the situation unfolds. When the time is right, Regina decides to share something that she has been keeping, even from her mother. The text and digitally enhanced artwork work together well to express the book's message smoothly. The characters, especially Regina, dominate the illustrations, which are notable for their clear lines and interesting and varied textures and colors. This helpful picture book will raise children's awareness of sexual abuse without raising anxiety. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Not in Room 204

By Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars

ALBERT WHITMAN & Company

Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-8075-5764-8

CHAPTER 1

On the first day of school, Mrs. Salvador said, "At home, when your parents tell you to clean your rooms, you might shove dirty socks under the bed and heap toys in the closet, and you might get away with it."

The children in Room 204 smiled secret smiles.

"But not in Room 204. Here we keep our desks neat."

Some of the children fidgeted, but Regina Lillian Hadwig sat up straight.

"In other places, you might get away with less than your best work," Mrs. Salvador said. "But not in Room 204."

Jack Galvin and Trevor Jensen smirked.

"In Room 204, if you turn in work that isn't your best, I'll give it right back to you and you'll have to do it over."

Jack whispered, "I think I'll move my desk into the hall."

Mrs. Salvador heard. "Mr. Galvin, you might get away with whispering wisecracks to your neighbor in other classrooms, but not in Room 204."

"In other places," she continued, "you might get away with name-calling. You might even call someone 'stupid' or 'dumb.' Not in Room 204. In Room 204, no one is stupid. I've seen your report card from last year. I know."

Mrs. Salvador folded her hands neatly behind her back.

In October, in Room 204, Amanda Zadatowski ate Brenda Levitt's Halloween candy without asking.

Mrs. Salvador sent a note home to Amanda's mother.

In November, the class went on a field trip to the aquarium. Just loud enough for everyone to hear, Melanie Dickson said that the tour guide looked like a whale. Regina Lillian Hadwig shook her head with disapproval.

Mrs. Salvador said, "Miss Dickson, children in other classes might get away with making rude remarks, but not the students of Room 204. The students of Room 204 show respect. Please apologize, and then you will be my partner for the rest of the day."

Mrs. Salvador led Melanie to the front of the line.

Report-card conferences were at the end of the term. Regina Lillian Hadwig took a seat beside her mother.

"Regina, I am very pleased with all of your written work. You always do your best. You are a very bright girl," Mrs. Salvador said.

She cocked her head to one side and pursed her lips the way she did when she was grading papers at her desk and thought no one was looking. Regina Lillian Hadwig was always looking.

"Are you quiet at home like you are in school?" Mrs. Salvador asked.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Not in Room 204 by Shannon Riggs, Jaime Zollars. Copyright © 2007 Shannon Riggs. Excerpted by permission of ALBERT WHITMAN & Company.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807557641
• ISBN 13: 9780807557648
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Zollars Jaime
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32