Friday, July 19, 2019

Book Review: It's Perfectly Normal

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


Summary

A non-fiction, illustrated book about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. Sitting on the band books list for quite some time, Robie Harris’ book about puberty and sexual health for kids and teens is said to be read by all. 

Geared for ages 10 and up, this book has some pretty graphic pictures within it. Penises, vaginas, breasts, kids masturbating , and parents having sex name a few of the illustrations within the book. While not overly graphic and detailed, the pictures show a clear visual of what Harris is trying to teach these young adults.


Abortion, laws in ruling of abortion, how to put on a condom, condoms for males and females, birth control, what happens to genitals during sex, the different ways to share love, masturbation, and many other intense subjects fill the lines. 


The book is written in a very straightforward nonsubjective, for the most part, way. Solely based on scientific observations and reasoning, Harris doesn’t leave much room for questions that could arise. She does mention religion very sparsely, mainly hitting on the points of disagreement that the church holds against individuals, such that as masturbation. 


Overall, the illustrated book is a well written, engaging, and fact forward informational guide to a young adults changing body in the ideas and questions they may have in their mind. While this book is for ages 10 and up, I could potentially see this being used for all age groups, ethnicities, and countries because of a lack of discussion on sexual education and growing up.

Book Trailer

I was unable to find any video on a book trailer. The only videos available were read aloud, discussions, and kids' rights to read. Videos also forwarded me to videos on the changing body, but not of an overall video of the book.

Themes

Sex, Sex Education, Coming of Age, Puberty, and Growing Up.

Similar Themed Books

The What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents and Daughters by Lynda Madaras and Deal With It! A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain, and Life as a gURL by Esther Drill.

Other Books by Robie Harris

Harris has written 29 other children's books. Harris is in the process of producing two new children's books to come out this next year along with a non-fiction book.

Teaching Ideas

I would actually have a teaching lesson for parents rather than students. Students cover this material in the fifth grade in their special introductory class. In middle school, they are introduced to health class, physical education classes, sexual education, and the miracle of birth video in science class. Students have had their fill and would like to read a book on their own without teachers and educators throwing things down their throat.

The lesson for parents would go over the main ideas of the book: sex, masturbation, love, changing bodies, one's sexuality, and puberty, to name a few.

Parents would come to the book talk with the book being read and discuss the main topics with ideas on how to talk to their kids about it. Parents would be allowed to discuss what ways they think would work best for their child while also getting new ideas to share.

Middle school is a difficult age group and going through puberty doesn't help to the chaotic mess of tweens. If parents had a way to see things through a different perspective and with ideas to present it in a non-awkward and condescending way, it could ease the way the sex talk goes.

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