A Children’s Picture Book
Learning Courage. Recognizing Safe & Unsafe Secrets.
“✓ GET IT”
Verdict from Kirkus Reviews’ Awards & Accolades.
Secrets That Sparkle (and Secrets That Sting) by
Joy Stephenson-Laws
Secrets That Sparkle (and Secrets That Sting) is a rhyming, read-aloud picture book that gently empowers young children to tell the difference between "fun secrets" (like surprise parties and hidden cupcakes) and unsafe ones that make them feel scared, confused, or uncomfortable. With playful language, clear contrasts, and emotionally safe storytelling, this book teaches children how to recognize secrets that should never be kept-and how to speak up with courage.
Written with 5-year-olds in mind, this book supports conversations around body autonomy, unsafe touch, and emotional trust. Ideal for parents, educators, therapists, and school counselors, it has a fully lyrical narrative and emotionally uplifting tone.
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What People Are Saying…
With perfect balance of delicacy, protectiveness, and encouragement, the author not only helps the readers understand the types of secrets, she wisely teaches our kids how to trust their instincts. This is the validation children need to not carry the burden of inappropriate secrets while knowing it’s healthy to participate in certain secrets. This book makes it easy for a child to discern between types of secrets as well as informs parents, educators, and anyone else who love children how to approach the topic.
— Asher I. Johnson, PhD, Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
“A thoughtful primer for children that comfortingly and articulately explains a delicate topic.”
— Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
I didn't write this book because I'm an expert in child safety. I'm not.
I wrote it because my child kept a secret for twenty-five years, and I never knew.
I was there the whole time. I asked questions. I thought we talked about everything. And for twenty-five years my child carried something alone — not because he didn't know the rules, but because nobody had ever given him the words for what he was feeling, or told him that a feeling that stings is a feeling you're allowed to bring to me.
That's what this book does. It's not about fear. It doesn't teach children that the world is dangerous. It teaches them one small, usable thing: some secrets sparkle, and some sting. And if it stings, you say so.
Rules only work if a child can recognize the moment they apply to. And even a child who follows every rule can end up carrying it alone afterward, because nobody taught them that the feeling itself was worth saying out loud.
This book is about the part that comes after.
Secrets That Sparkle (and Secrets That Sting) is written for children five and up, and just as much for the adult reading it aloud.
Endorsed by Asher I. Johnson, PhD, Clinical & Forensic Psychologist. "GET IT" — Kirkus Reviews. Joy Stephenson-Laws is the founder of Proactive Health Labs, a national health education nonprofit, and a healthcare attorney of forty years.