It's perfectly normal Changing bodies, growing up, sex, gender, and sexual health

Robie H. Harris

Book - 2021

Introduces human sexuality, describes the changes brought about by puberty, and discusses sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and pregnancy, and safe Internet practices. Two cartoon characters, a curious bird and a squeamish bee have, often humorous, questions of their own. This version includes new and updated information, including more about gender, that has become known and verified to make sure kids and teens have the information they need to stay healthy and safe as they go through puberty and adolescence.

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Children's Room j612.661/Harris Due Nov 26, 2024
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Subjects
Published
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press 2021.
Language
English
Main Author
Robie H. Harris (author)
Other Authors
Michael Emberley (illustrator)
Edition
Fifth edition 2021.
Item Description
Includes index.
Earlier editions were published with a different subtitle: It's perfectly normal : a book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health.
"Million-copy bestseller--Newly revised and updated"--Cover.
Physical Description
116 pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm
Audience
For age 10 and up.
ISBN
9781536207200
9781536207217
  • Lots of questions. Changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health
  • Part one: What is sex?. Babies, kids, preteens, teens, grown ups: sex and gender ; Making babies: sexual reproduction ; Strong feelings: sexual desire ; Making love: sexual intercourse ; Who we are: straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, +
  • Part two: Our bodies. The human body: all kinds of bodies ; Outside and inside: our sex organs ; Words: talking about bodies and sex
  • Part three: Puberty. Changes and messages: puberty and hormones ; The travels of the egg: eggs and puberty ; The travels of the sperm: sperm and puberty ; Not all at once!: growing and changing bodies ; More changes!: taking care of your body ; Back and forth, up and down: new and changing feelings ; Perfectly normal: masturbation
  • Part four: Families and babies. All sorts of families: taking care of babies and kids ; Instructions-Information: the cell- genes and chromosomes ; A kind of sharing: cuddling, kissing, touching, and sexual intercourse ; Before birth: pregnancy ; What a trip!: birth ; Other arrivals: more ways to have a baby and family
  • Part five: Decisions. Planning ahead: delay, postpone, abstain, prevent, control ; Laws and rulings: abortion
  • Part six: Staying healthy. Helpful
  • fun
  • creepy
  • dangerous: the internet and you ; Talk about it: sexual abuse ; Getting a checkup: sexually transmitted diseases ; Scientists working day and night: HIV and AIDS ; Staying healthy: responsible choices.
Review by Horn Book Review

This fifth edition of the classic sex-ed compendium for tweens and young teens updates the 2014 edition, most notably revising the text throughout to use more gender-inclusive language and less binary thinking. Harris lays the groundwork in the first chapter, e.g., providing definitions for sex and gender and acknowledging that for some people the labels assigned at birth "do not describe who they are." Many pages have been redesigned to accommodate added text and reconfigured chapters. The addition of new illustrations better reflects diversity in all its forms. A welcome -- and welcoming -- edition. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A groundbreaking text gets updated. Harris and Emberley's title has been a controversial staple of the sex-ed genre since its first edition in 1994. This iteration will look familiar in structure and language, and Emberley's spot illustrations throughout still show various bodies, often naked, sometimes engaging in discreetly covered sexual activity. In this outing, readers will find more information about the internet, an update on legal developments around abortion access, and more inclusive language around gender identity and sexuality. Of especial note are new illustrations highlighting same-sex relationships, both in and out of bed. As has been a feature since the beginning, a bee and a bird pipe up throughout; the bird is interested in everything about sexuality and puberty, and the bee expresses more discomfort and disinterest, mirroring how different readers might respond. While Harris continues to deliver accessible yet clinical messaging around the realities of puberty and the risks and rewards of sexual activity, this book falters significantly in its attempts to include intersex, trans, and nonbinary readers. It switches confusingly between "a pregnant person" and "pregnant women," acknowledges gender-neutral pronouns but resorts occasionally to "his or her," and labels bodies as "female" and "male" without referencing the limitations of or any reasoning behind that usage. The illustrations of human beings similarly fail to include any medically gender-transitioned bodies in an otherwise diverse array erroneously titled "All Kinds of Bodies." Still a useful resource, but it doesn't meet the needs of many readers. (index) (Nonfiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.