Book Review: Shaan and the Thief of Smiles
By Nirmala Ganesh
Published by Kids On Alert
In today’s world, where uncertainty prevails, we all seek ways to educate and protect our children, but often struggle with where to begin. Shaan and the Thief of Smiles addresses an important yet sensitive issue: child grooming. Child predators frequently test a child's boundaries to gauge how they might react to abuse, and one of their common tactics is asking a child to keep a secret.
While we may view secret-keeping as harmless, it is crucial to understand that there are no "good" or "bad" secrets, as the author's note thoughtfully explains. Any secret that a child is asked to keep should be discussed with a trusted individual within the child's safety circle.
This book does an excellent job of simplifying this critical concept for young readers. By using the metaphor of "someone stealing a child’s smiles," the author effectively communicates this lesson in a way younger children can understand. For older children, parents can leverage the story to foster more in-depth discussions on the topic.
The author’s note is particularly valuable, offering practical tips and strategies to help parents first educate themselves, and then approach this sensitive subject with their children.
Suitable for children aged 3 and above, this book serves as a helpful starting point for parents to initiate important conversations about safety and boundaries.
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