Overview

An honest and funny book for children aged 8 and up who really want to know about bodies, sex and emotions –and aren’t afraid to ask. How much sex education do children need? As much as they ask for, says leading sex educationist Katharina von der Gathen in this book about navigating puberty. And exactly what do children want to know? Ask them! What is so important about the body? Why do bodies grow hair? Why do people kiss? Is it embarrassing to have sex? Why do breasts hang down? What does it feel like to be in love? Can a grandmother have children? What is a hormone? Can a child fart when it’s inside a mother’s body? What is sexy? Expert Katharina von der Gathen collects 99 questions asked anonymously by children in the classroom about the human body, love and sexuality –the questions are real and the answers are both inclusive, respectful and direct. Funny images help give children the information they really want to know in a form they can relate to without feeling embarrassed, making this a perfect sex education book for children and teenagers, parents and teachers. “Children should be familiar with their bodies from an early age. They need words for the various parts of a body, they should learn to name their feelings, to stand up for themselves, to feel strong in their bodies and to keep boundaries without feeling bad.” Katharina von der Gathen Designed to be read with spine on top, this age-appropriate book is a handy resource for every family and school classroom discussing puberty, consent and sexuality from ages 8 and up.    

Full Product Details

9781776572328

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Reviews

As the subtitle indicates, this German import answers a whole host of questions kids curious about sex want the answers to. There are 99 in all, covering anatomy, puberty, reproduction, sexual and gender identity, and, of course, sex. The book opens vertically, with the page below the gutter displaying both the handwritten question and a cartoon drawing, frequently humorous. The second question, 'Are there different penises, ' is illustrated with a double lineup of 10 unengorged penises complete with hair and scrota, some circumcised, some not, all verifiably different. Its placement so early in the book ensures readers know what they're getting into in terms of both tone and frankness. Sex educator von der Gathen's answers appear on the flip side; all employ appropriate vocabulary that's respectful of the capabilities of their audience and are calmly inclusive of variations in human and cultural experience. While the book early on establishes the fact that there are 'people who identify as a different gender than the one they are born with, ' it often uses gendered language to describe experiences: 'Girls get their periods for the first time and boys have their first ejaculation' during puberty, for instance. When discussing sexual intimacy, the importance of consent is ever present. Kuhl's cartoons depict adults and children of different racial presentations and include several same-sex couples. Funny and frank, this will be an important resource for many kids. --Kirkus Reviews --Journal

(Tell Me) employs appropriate vocabulary that's respectful of the capabilities of their audience and calmly inclusive of variations in human and cultural experience....Funny and frank, this will be an important resource for many kids. * Kirkus Reviews * This is a great book of questions and answers that will spur discussion and help start or continue essential conversations about growing up. * San Francisco Book Review * One of the best books on the topics of bodies, sex, and emotions that I've encountered. * School Library Journal *

Author Information

Katharina von der Gathen was born in 1972. She works in the area of sex education with children and adolescents from a wide range of backgrounds. She lives in Bonn with her husband and four children. Anke Kuhl, born in 1970, is one of Germany’s leading children’s book illustrators, whose awards include the German Youth Literature Award in 2011. She lives in Frankfurt with her husband and two children.

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