Jun and the Octopus

Shortlisted for Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award 2020

In May 2019, Singapore Children’s Society launched a children’s picture book on body safety to help caregivers and educators broach the topic of child sexual abuse.

Authored by Mr Goh Eck Kheng and illustrated by Ms Lim An-ling, ‘Jun and the Octopus’ follows the story of Jun, a boy who confronts his fears and finds the courage to tell his parents about a sexual abuse incident.

Sexual abuse is usually a topic that most adults find challenging to discuss with children. It is not uncommon to hear educators or caregivers struggle with where and how to start. Creating an environment where children are able to learn about sexuality and sexual abuse in an open and honest manner is the first step towards protecting them from harm, and stories are a powerful medium for children to learn about topics that are not easy to talk about.

‘Jun and the Octopus’ has a distinct Asian folklore flavour, which sets it apart from more Western-oriented books that deal with the subject matter. The book will help kick start meaningful conversations about body safety skills.