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

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Summary: WARNING! This book needs supervision
Review: Although this book is informative I do not believe it was meant for the shelves of a school library! Parents or guardians should go over this book with their children/young adults. The drawings are very graphic and do not belong in the hands of the inexperienced without supervision. Our Jr. High School currently has this book on it's shelves because of the high reviews and the "kids" check it out to pass around with their friends. It isn't being read but the pictures get a great deal of exposure. Please check with your school library for this book on it's shelves.

Rating:
Summary: WARNING! This book needs supervision
Review: Although this book is informative I do not believe it was meant for the shelves of a school library! Parents or guardians should go over this book with their children/young adults. The drawings are very graphic and do not belong in the hands of the inexperienced without supervision. Our Jr. High School currently has this book on it's shelves because of the high reviews and the "kids" check it out to pass around with their friends. It isn't being read but the pictures get a great deal of exposure. Please check with your school library for this book on it's shelves.

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Summary: This book is a template for healthy sexuality at all ages!
Review: As a grad student at the University of Pennsylvania in Human Sexuality Education I recognize this book as an essential component for every parent or care-taker's home library!! Superb!

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Summary: My 9 year old and I read the book and both learned a lot!
Review: Having a 9 year-old and not really talking at length about sexual matters, this book helped to ease my uncertainty about what to talk to my child about, and helped her to feel confident and knowing about the changes starting to happen within her. So many topics are discussed open and honestly, it generated some stimulating conversations between us.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent choice!
Review: 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.

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Summary: A middle schoolers piont of veiw
Review: I have to say I haven't completely read this book, but I stumbled across it while doing some research at my school library. Personally, I think it's great that this book is so open...sex shouldn't be hidden away in the closet. In this day and age, it's important to talk about sex, and books like this are helpful. Many kids my age have sexual encounters, but still don't know all the basics. I live in an international community, and some parents leave their children in the dark. Further more, no matter how well a parent educates their child, there are ALWAYS questions, trust me. It's good for anyone, to be able to get answers, because talking about sex with your parents is very rarely comfortable. However, a lot of the illustrations in this book disturbed me. I know at my age it's not nessary to be embarresed, but some of the pictures were...too detailed...too graphic. It's great to be open about sex and love....just make sure it doesn't go too far.

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Summary: Not for preteens...
Review: I personally do not think that I would use this book at all for any age child or teen, but I am very concerned that its "recommended" age range is 9-12. I wouldn't want my 9-year-old child seeing drawings of naked men and women, learning how to put on a condom, and reading about how scientists are "working hard" to make the abortion pill available to the general public. This book treats abortion very lightly, making it appear to be something not serious that people do casually, not the life-altering and painful decision that it is. If you really want to use this book at all, I would wait at least until your children enter high school.

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Summary: Nervous about THE talk with your child? Use this book!
Review: I purchased several books when it was time to talk to my son about sex. I needed a book to illustrate what I wanted to talk about. Many of the books I reviewed were mostly text with very few diagrams. The illustrations and cartoons in this book offer a mix of serious subject material along with the humor needed when talking about sex with your child! The subject matter is compartmentalized so that you can pick which topics that you think your child is ready for, and save the other topics for later. I felt very comfortable using this book to teach my son about love, sex, and the human body.

Rating:
Summary: It's Perfectly Normal
Review: Kids talk about sex A LOT. The problem is they often pass on incorrect information. This book is perfect to make sure that what they learn is correct, accurate and healthy. I read 1/3 of this book to my 9-year-old daughter and despite the late hour, she was mesmerized. The pictures are explicit, but is necessary so that children make no mistake about what is being discussed. It also has funny cartoons that address people's attitudes about sex, and which a kid can relate to. I like the part where it covers the various definitions of sex: gender, desire, reproduction, intercourse and homosexuality. Kids really do get warped concepts of sex and this book covers all the ways people talk about it (silly jokes) and their attitudes about it. The book also covers anatomy, puberty, families and babies, birth control, and staying healthy. It's well organized, well-written and concise. I recommend every parent who hears the word sex uttered from their child's lips, read this book to him/her. Even teenagers can benefit from this information.

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Summary: Good Book for Kids
Review: Most people don't know how to broach the topic of sex with their kids. This book is perfectly suited for that topic. Of course, it would behoove parents to read this book first and see if it's right for you and how you raise your children, AND to discuss the book with your child as they are reading it. Don't just give them this book and walk away. The topic is way too important.

The line drawings are simple, but illustrative. The author is open, forthright, and honest, while maintaining a lighthearted and humourous mannerism. Simply, put, it's one of the best books on the subject for kids.

Kids, by nature are curious. If they don't know something, they will find out for themselves, which could lead to disasterous results. This book truly satisfies their curiousity and can lead to good discussion between parent & child.