It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

Kids start to ask questions about sex at a young age. A great book for the littler kids is "Hair in Funny Places." When they are ready for the next level up, you can't find a better book than It's Perfectly Normal. Some reviews think this book is inappropriate unless your kids are teens. Did you know that studies show 13% of females and 15% of males aged 15-19 in 2002 had already had intercourse for the first time before age 15? An NBC News poll reports 14% of 13 to 14 year-olds are already sexually active. Not my kid, you say? Better safe than sorry, experts reply. Waiting until your kids are teens could be too late. My child is 8. He's started asking questions that go beyond how babies are made. This book is an outstanding resource. I don't just hand it to him, it's a supervised, interactive conversation and he only reads what he's drawn to - I never push more information than he wants and he always puts it down when he's had enough. When sticky subjects come up, this book is where I go to have a conversation with him...it reduces my embarrassment and helps him understand what I'm saying w/o opportunity for miscommunication. If you live in the real world, you need this book for your kids. Or you can hide your head in the sand...and wait for a Juno situation in your family.

I hardly know where to start in praising this book! The writing is very frank, and may provide more than some parents wish their kids to know at this stage. The drawings are cartoonish, but still realistic enough to make sense and appeal to kids. Two friends, a bird and a bee, appear on every page to make comments on the text, and provide every reader with someone to identify with - the bird is excited about growing up, while the bee is embarrassed and not as interested. Boys and girls will appreciate knowing that they are learning the same stuff (there aren't two copies for either gender). Just about every topic is addressed, if briefly: reproduction, homosexuality, physiology, menstruation, erections and ejaculation, changes in body shape and smell, changes in emotions, masturbation, families and pregnancy, birth control/family planning, sexual abuse, STD's and AIDS - everything! The best part, though, is the two page spread of drawings of different types of naked bodies: fat, thin, tall, all colors, all ages, even people in wheelchairs. These two pages alone are worth the price of the book.

This is a great book for parents and can be for children. Its specific information that will make an awkward time easier, however, the text is very dry and may require some translation for younger children. I bought it for my 9 year old and was really impressed, but it needs to be screened because not all the sections are appropriate for any age. As always - work with your child, explain it to them and use this book as your guide.

89 pages. Also published as "Let's Talk about Sex" in the UK.This is the best sexuality education book for children I've seen (I have been looking at many). Visually, the book presents extremely well -- it's in color throughout, has enjoyable pictures (colored pencil drawings), and is not afraid of using nudity in pictures. It contains some great cartoons animating the processes of menstruation ("The Travels of the Egg"), ejaculation ("The Travels of the Sperm"), pregnancy ("The Further Adventures of the Egg and Sperm"), and birth ("What a Trip!").The attitudes expressed are excellent, beginning with the bird and bee characters expressing different feelings about learning about sexuality -- the bird finds everything facinating and is very positive towards learning more; the bee feels more hesitant, wanting time to feel ready. The positive attitude towards nudity I've mentioned already; the attitudes towards (for example) homosexuality, non-nuclear families, race, and masturbation demonstrate an acceptance of difference, a respect for others, and a positive attitude to it all.If you are going to get only one book about sexuality, growing up and adolescence, this is the book to buy. If you're going to get several books, this is the first book to get!