I'm Not Scared...I'm Prepared!: A Picture Book to Help Kids Navigate School Safety Threats

by Julia Cook, Michelle Hazelwood Hyde (Illustrations)

When Faced with Danger You Must DO Something

The teacher at the Ant Hill School wants her students to be prepared – for everything! One day, she teaches her students what to do if a “dangerous someone” is in their school.

Class, my teacher said to us, we need to learn a new drill.
It’s called The Sheep, The Shepherd and the Wolf, so get ready…here’s the deal!
I’ll be your shepherd, and you’re all my sheep, so you must do what I say.
Pretend there’s a wolf in our building, and we MUST stay out of his way!
We need a great plan of action in case we start to get scared.
The A.L.I.C.E. Plan will work the best, to help us be prepared.

Unfortunately, in the world we now live in, we must ask ourselves the essential question: What options do I have for survival, if I ever find myself in a violent intruder event? I’m Not Scared…I’m Prepared! will enhance the concepts taught by the ALICE Training Institute, and make them applicable to children of all ages in a non-fearful way. By using this book, children can develop a better understanding of what needs to be done if they ever encounter a “dangerous someone.”

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

"In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world."
~ Julia Cook

JULIA COOK, M.S. is a national award winning children’s author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools across the country and abroad, regularly speaks at national education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook’s work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it”.

Reviews

[Rickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried when I read this book. I read this book because I went to ALICE training. I work at a community college and I worry about active incidents every day. I got this book because the local law enforcement that did the training recommended it. Now, I need to convince my husband that we need to read this to our 8 and 10-year olds.

[Carly MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not think this is the best book for kindergarteners. There is a lot going on in this book and they talk about sheep but yet use ants as the students... I do like how the "intruder" is a wolf- the kids seem to understand that. I had to skip some stuff in this book, it might be a better read for older children.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good information for kids in the respect of what to do if there is an intruder at the school or other places. The author does a good job of putting this information in an easy way that kids can understand.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good message but a bit too wordy

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and great for the intended audience. Informative while being fun. But I hate that such a book needs to exist.

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a PERFECT topic of a book by Julia Cook! So glad she covered this topic, as many kids do get nervous and upset around the topic of an intruder in a school. I guess this book would work best if your school uses the ALICE plan/method, but even if your school doesn't, it's a great idea to start the conversation, and have a book that makes it approachable for kids. Once again, thank you Julia Cook!

[Stacey Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

helpful at the elementary level