The Safe Zone: A Kid's Guide to Personal Safety [Paperback]

Donna Chaiet (Author), Francine Russell (Author), Lillian Gee (Photographer)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up

Have you ever had to deal with a stranger who made you feel uncomfortable or been threatened by a bully in the schoolyard? Did you know that there are things you can do now that will help you be better prepared the next time around?

Most people think self-defense means fighting, but the best defense has nothing to do with hitting, kicking, or punching. In this book, written by two prominent personal safety instructors, you will discover how to protect yourself by being aware of your surroundings and by using your body language to let people know you're not an easy target. There are ways to avoid being a victim of violence. This powerful handbook provides nonviolent solutions.

Donna Chaiet is the founder and president of Prepare, Inc., a national self-defense program for children and adults, and Francine Russell is an instructor with IMPACT Personal Safety, Inc., in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up?One in eight children between the ages of 12 and 15?this book's target audience?is the victim of violent crime. Chaiet and Russell present a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to safety issues using four key elements?awareness, body language, self-esteem, and boundaries?to guide readers through any threatening incident. Each of these key elements is well explained and amplified with direct examples both in the general introduction and as it relates to specific situations such as dealing with bullies and strangers, or safety at home when alone. "What If...?" examples set the stage for the authors' discussions. "What If...you are walking home from school and you notice a person following you?" becomes the prompt for advising students how to protect themselves when faced with a similar scenario. The many vignettes of students coping with threatening situations adds a rich context to the overall discussions. A resource bank of toll-free hot lines, Web sites, and print resources for further assistance and information conclude the book. The frank discussions and on-target advice may go a long way toward making young people less vulnerable to those who prey upon them.?Jerry D. Flack, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Chaiet, who previously authored the uneven Get Prepared Library series (1995), does a much better job in this one-volume joint endeavor, written for a younger audience. Noting right up front that "the best self-defense has nothing to do with hitting, kicking or punching," the authors acquaint kids with strategies to increase their ability to handle a wide variety of unpleasant, unexpected situations (including bullying) at home, at school, or in the community. They also set personal boundaries--the physical as well as the emotional kind. The many realistic "what if" scenarios are some of the best features of the book, not only serving to clarify the safety suggestions but also challenging children to increase their own awareness by putting themselves in the situation. The authors don't entirely discount physical response (a closing chapter consists of a cautious roundup of physical maneuvers), but it's definitely downplayed. With few books as wide ranging or as accessible for the target audience, this will be a welcome addition to many libraries. A bibliography and a listing of a few other helpful resources are appended. Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co (P) (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688153089
• ISBN-13: 978-0688153083
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #876,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Safety

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Teaches the prevention aspect of bullying, May 4, 2001

By 

Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Parkton, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Safe Zone: A Kid's Guide to Personal Safety (Library Binding)

This excellent book could either be used as a vehicle for parent-child discussion, or as a part of a school curriculum. It would be good for older elementary school and for middle school students. It covers a wide variety of safety and personal boundary issues. In this regard, it is superior to many books on personal safety. It presents stories of children and adolescents who are each faced with a dilemma which might put them in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. It then discusses the options and the possible outcomes.

I like the fact that it starts by teaching kids how to avoid being bullied in the first place.

Carol E. Watkins, M.D.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical advice, April 20, 2000

By 

Linda Reed (Salt Lake City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Safe Zone: A Kid's Guide to Personal Safety (Paperback)

This book is chock full of very practical advice. It contains story after story written in a way to seem very realistic -- exactly a situation you could imagine would really happen. Then they give very specific and workable solutions. I am buying a copy to use in my kid's self defense classes. Many self defense books carry very unrealistic solutions or advice that seems too distant from the real situation. This book will really empower kids.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent safety skills taught, October 7, 2009

By 

Nancy Stewart (Houston, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Safe Zone: A Kid's Guide to Personal Safety (Paperback)

A great book for teaching kids general safety rules, how to avoid predators, and wise planning.