If you're a parent, this is a public service announcement you won't want to miss. The short film created by Michael Solomon and Josh Franer, based on the children’s book of the same name by Jill Starishevsky, was made with the 'sole intent' of educating children about sexual abuse.
The stats are staggering. According to the press release, one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by their 18th birthday, and 93 per cent of the perpetrators are known to the child.
“The numbers were so shocking, we felt that we had to do something,”says Solomon, who knew more had to be done after he heard Starishevsky, a NYC prosecutor of child sex crimes, speak at his children's elementary school. “We wanted to create a tool for adults who ... may not have the fortitude to talk about [abuse] but understand the importance. Beyond starting this dialogue, we believe it’s equally important for children to understand that reporting abuse is both empowering and smart.”
That's why the boy in the story is depicted as a superhero in the end. The beauty of this project is the simplicity and accessibility in which a difficult subject matter is presented.
The clip is just four minutes' long, and suitable for kids as young as three. Aren't you glad someone did the dirty work for you? All you have to do is sit your child down, and press PLAY...
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