Stop the Silence: : How Children Can Tell the Difference Between a Predator and a Friend - Children's Edition

"Silence is not protection. It is a trap." In this powerful and emotionally honest children's edition, Canadian author and educator Garrick D. Pattenden brings forward the story many adults are afraid to tell-yet every child deserves to hear. Stop the Silence is not merely a book; it's a lifeline written for young readers with clarity, safety, and a determination to protect them from those who exploit trust. This book empowers children to recognize the difference between someone who is truly a friend-and someone who only pretends to be. Through realistic storytelling and age-appropriate language, it reveals how predators operate: by grooming, manipulating, promising, and isolating. But instead of fear, this story teaches courage. Instead of silence, it gives children the words they need to speak. Readers follow characters their own age-boys and girls learning to trust their instincts and understand what secrets are okay and which are not. Some speak up. Some are still learning how. All of them show that survival begins with awareness, and awareness begins with truth. This book teaches: The difference between safe and unsafe adults How to spot red flags in communication and behaviour What grooming looks like in real life That it's okay to say "No," even to someone you trust That your voice matters-and silence should never be forced Perfect for: Parents who want to start real conversations about safety Teachers and school staff seeking protective tools Counsellors, social workers, and child advocates Community centres and safe school programs ⚠️ Important Content Advisory for Adults: This book is written for children-but not to comfort adults. It is written to protect. The content may bring discomfort. That discomfort is necessary. It includes: Child-level depictions of grooming, manipulation, and sexual abuse Non-vulgar terms to help children describe their bodies: Boyhood (penis) Girlhood (vagina) Exit-only (anus/rectum) Scenarios where children confront predators, speak out, and begin to heal Predators are not always strangers. They may be family members, older teens, coaches, teachers, or neighbours. They use secrecy, charm, promises, and isolation. This book teaches children to recognize those patterns-even when the predator seems kind. If your child discloses something after reading this book: Listen - without disbelief or interruption Report - call your local police immediately Protect - seek medical care from a licensed doctor Act - apply the law. No delay. No excuses. Children may not have perfect words-but when they say something felt wrong, believe them. The lie is the one told by adults who dismiss their story as "imagined" or "attention-seeking." That lie causes harm. This book does not promote fear. It promotes awareness. It does not contain graphic detail, but it speaks plainly-so children know they are not alone, not dirty, and never to blame. If this warning makes you uncomfortable, read the book anyway. Your discomfort proves its value. Sit down with your child. Read it aloud, together. Let the silence break. Because if your child tells you they've been touched inappropriately, groomed, or harmed-and you do nothing-you are not neutral. You are complicit. Your silence protects the predator, not the child. Let this book help you do the right thing. Let it protect the ones who trust you most. This is not about shame. It is about survival.