About the Author

Jayneen Sanders (aka Jay Dale) is an experienced Australian early years educator, children’s book author and publisher.

She began her teaching career in the 1980s as a primary school teacher in rural Queensland, Australia. She then moved to Melbourne, Victoria, and taught at several inner-city schools. 

In 1985, Jayneen had a change of career and became an educational editor and publisher.

In the early 90s, Jayneen and her partner moved to Japan to work as English teachers. They lived and worked in Japan for over three and a half years. In fact, Jayneen's first daughter was born there.

On returning to Australia, Jayneen began working as an educational author/packager. Since then, she has authored and produced numerous award-winning titles for the educational publishing industry. Jayneen is also an accomplished children's book author, writing titles for literacy series such as ZigZags, Totally Kidz, Deadly and Incredible, and a children's picture book series for Penguin.

Jayneen is currently the lead author of the literacy series ‘Engage Literacy’ published by Capstone. She has written over 150 titles for that series.

Jayneen is a mother of three daughters and was a school councillor at her local school for over seven years. This time spent in schools both as a teacher and a parent inspired her to ask the question of her community: 'What are we doing in schools to protect our children from inappropriate touch?' When she realised very little was being done, she decided to use her authoring and publishing skills to write 'Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept' to help parents, carers and teachers to broach this subject and encourage children to speak up.

After the encouraging response to 'Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept', Jayneen realised there was a need to further build upon the idea of prevention education. Jayneen participated in Protective Behaviours professional development and attended numerous conferences on the topic to educate herself in how to keep children safe and provide them with age-appropriate and empowering body safety and consent education. 

Jayneen then went on to develop and publish a comprehensive Body Safety and Respectful Relationship Teacher's Resource Kit as well as writing many more children's books on the topics of body safety, consent, respect, gender equality, social and emotional intelligence, and diversity and inclusion.

Jayneen currently works with her partner, Mark Sanders to run Educate2Empower Publishing. Her ongoing passion for the safety and empowerment of children continues today, with new manuscripts and free-to-download resources always in the wings.

Reviews

"There are books that come along that are a 'must read' for your kids, and this is one of them." ... "it's really important to own this book for you and your family. It handles a very difficult (and uncomfortable) subject in a sensitive and age appropriate way and provides a chance to discuss it with your children." --tacklenappy.com/features/reviews/item/327-tacklenappy-book-review ... "there is a children's book that you MUST get if you have any children in your life. Whether they are your children or someone else's, please help make the topic of childhood sexual abuse just ever so slightly easier to broach with them by using this remarkable tool." "GET the book, READ the book and most importantly, TALK about the book WITH your children." "Anything that might help protect your children from the hands of a sexual predator is a priceless investment." --togetherweheal.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/some-secrets-should-never-be-kept/ "This is a skilfully written and beautifully illustrated book which covers the subject of keeping young children safe from sexual abuse. Written as a tool to help parents, caregivers and teachers broach the subject in a non-threatening way, it sensitively weaves the important facts into a story that young children will find accessible." --littleparachutes.com/book.php?id=571 "Our family has felt more empowered to address the issue of sexual abuse through having this resource, "... --momentsaday.com/protecting-children-against-sexual-abuse/ "I'm often asked for resources for children to help them protect them from possible sexual abuse. There has been nothing I could recommend. Until now." "Melbourne author, primary school teacher and mother, Jayneen Sanders, has filled the gap by publishing a picture book for children titled 'Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept'." --melindatankardreist.com/2012/04/some-secrets-should-never-be-kept-new-book-to-help-parents-and-kids-discuss-inappropriate-touch/