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The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families
An illustrated LGBTQ+ inclusive kid's guide to sex, gender and relationships education that includes children and families of all genders and sexual orientations, covering puberty, hormones, consent, sex, pregnancy and safety.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2020
31 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 12, 2021
Ahh! Ok folks. Anyone who teaches, parents, cares for... loves or knows middle grade/ middle school — humans this book is a must. It’s spot on in being: 1. age appropriate (ie: age accesible/interesting) ,2. informative, AND 3. inclusive.
I have not seen those three pieces executed so well before in a health/ sex Ed type resource (and I’ve looked, I’ve taught gloriously awkward health & wellness classes and had to make my own curricula for it). This book is so important and I’m so thrilled that it exists!!!!
It’s pitch perfect too— vocabulary, writing style, tone is great. As an adult I just enjoyed reading this, too. A real win!
5 beautiful inclusive, thoughtful, informative, diverse stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARCin exchange for an honest review.
I have not seen those three pieces executed so well before in a health/ sex Ed type resource (and I’ve looked, I’ve taught gloriously awkward health & wellness classes and had to make my own curricula for it). This book is so important and I’m so thrilled that it exists!!!!
It’s pitch perfect too— vocabulary, writing style, tone is great. As an adult I just enjoyed reading this, too. A real win!
5 beautiful inclusive, thoughtful, informative, diverse stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARCin exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2021
Gosh, it's great to see a book for younger readers that addresses puberty, but recognizes that gender is not binary. The information here is good and factually accurate, and organized into brief chapters and short bites. The illustrations show a diverse cast of characters. Nicely done.
July 27, 2020
| Review on Reader Fox Blog |
With the fact that sex education in this country can often be dismal and useless, I've always found myself somewhat eager to request books that have been written to circumvent the problems this lack of adequate knowledge creates. The truth of the matter is that most schools just don't teach children and teenagers this information and it's an issue. Fortunately, many books exist to combat it. And, hopefully, with the addition of more and more of these, more and more children will be less likely to fall into circumstances of troublesome ignorance.
I know it's a hard thing to achieve, but books like The Every Body Book (The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families) by Rachel E. Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni give me hope.
Inclusivity
I'll be honest, this is probably the most inclusive sex education book I've ever read. To my understanding, the only aspect that didn't make it in and should have was aromantic. As with everything, it's clear that there are still areas in which the subject matter can be improved and that would be the one for this book. For many of the other topics, I was incredibly impressed not only at their inclusion but also how they were handled. This book is wonderfully diverse and is pretty exceptional in terms of addressing topics from gender to sexuality to reproduction to consent.
The artwork is wonderful and inclusive as well.
Science
The best thing about this book is the fact that it addresses everything in very matter of fact tones. It's not really focused on the emotion, but rather providing as much information as possible to provide young readers with an educated view on each subject. It is very focused on the facts and is incredibly accurate. The artwork does include nudity, of course, solely for educational purposes. Honestly, there is a multitude of information to gain from reading this book and I think every child will be better for it.
I have precious little criticism for this book as a whole. For now, until something better comes along, this is the book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to provide their children with facts about their body, sexuality, and the world. We desperately need more books like this one to exist.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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With the fact that sex education in this country can often be dismal and useless, I've always found myself somewhat eager to request books that have been written to circumvent the problems this lack of adequate knowledge creates. The truth of the matter is that most schools just don't teach children and teenagers this information and it's an issue. Fortunately, many books exist to combat it. And, hopefully, with the addition of more and more of these, more and more children will be less likely to fall into circumstances of troublesome ignorance.
I know it's a hard thing to achieve, but books like The Every Body Book (The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families) by Rachel E. Simon and illustrated by Noah Grigni give me hope.
Inclusivity
I'll be honest, this is probably the most inclusive sex education book I've ever read. To my understanding, the only aspect that didn't make it in and should have was aromantic. As with everything, it's clear that there are still areas in which the subject matter can be improved and that would be the one for this book. For many of the other topics, I was incredibly impressed not only at their inclusion but also how they were handled. This book is wonderfully diverse and is pretty exceptional in terms of addressing topics from gender to sexuality to reproduction to consent.
The artwork is wonderful and inclusive as well.
Science
The best thing about this book is the fact that it addresses everything in very matter of fact tones. It's not really focused on the emotion, but rather providing as much information as possible to provide young readers with an educated view on each subject. It is very focused on the facts and is incredibly accurate. The artwork does include nudity, of course, solely for educational purposes. Honestly, there is a multitude of information to gain from reading this book and I think every child will be better for it.
I have precious little criticism for this book as a whole. For now, until something better comes along, this is the book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to provide their children with facts about their body, sexuality, and the world. We desperately need more books like this one to exist.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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October 8, 2022
Content warnings are listed at the end of my review!
I'm on the fence with this one. I think I can confidently say this is stronger than You Be You!: The Kid’s Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family (My Review), but like other books for young audiences covering a multitude of complex topics, I think there's improvements that could be made. I think this one stuck a lot to the basics, which is why I think I prefer it because it helped it to avoid making errors, but because of that I think it mostly functions as an icebreaker which I don't prefer. It's a start, and a solid enough one with a good sex-positive and inclusive (Yes, ace inclusion!) perspective, which makes me lean more towards liking it rather than disliking it, but I hope to see this concept built upon more in the future.
So this book is really a simple LGBTQ+ inclusive sex-ed icebreaker, covering a pretty general scope of what is typically falls under that umbrella. It opens challenging the idea of an adult and a child having "the talk", a one time introduction to sex-ed, but rather encourages an ongoing and developing conversation with time as more questions and experiences come forth. It explains the concept of sex itself is a nuanced idea, involving our bodies, physical and emotional feelings, preferences, and child-bearing, giving us a rough rubric for what will be discussed. It explains sex assignment, gender, anatomy (internal and external with drawn diagrams), anatomical functions, puberty, menstruation, erections, masturbation, hormones, gender dysphoria, conception, pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, family dynamics, consent, and safe sex. All of this in 88 pages, where often large chunks of white space or illustrations are present, we don't get a lot of time to fully explore these ideas entirely.
The topic that gets the most coverage is the actual process of conception, development, and birth, but a lot of the rest gets rather quickly sped through. That's great that it gets such a focus because it is a topic that is dominated by cisgender and heterosexual assumptions, alienating queer birth parents and families from a demanding and difficult experience they could use support through- but I wish it did that for all the topics present. Menstruation is blasted through, opening with periods and not explaining ovulation until much later in a separate section, with no offer aside from the basics, not even explaining symptoms, tracking cycles, how to use menstrual products, what makes periods irregular, and signs that you should speak to a doctor. The gender dysphoria section was genuinely pathetic for an LGBTQ+ book, only acknowledging physical dysphoria, not mentioning how dysphoria can be social based, fluctuate, be alleviated, be triggered, only mentioning puberty blockers and nothing else. With the popular conservative fantasies of Big Pharma trying to groom children into buying medication, the complete lack of acknowledgement for alternative ways to alleviate dysphoria was strange and reckless. As other reviewers mention, how it treats trans topics seems like it was added to the book in post, rather than naturally thinking to include as a central goal of the book, especially when gender dysphoria is labeled "special section".
Luckily there's not a particularly concerning amount of actual errors in the book, but they exist. Nonbinary is defined as "Non-binary is a word to describe genders that are not "boy" or "girl"." It's a rookie mistake, but especially in a book that doesn't describe much more, this definition that leaves out genderfuid, bigender, demigender, and other nonbinary genders that can incorporate seemingly binary identities. Pronouns just has a completely incorrect definition "Pronouns are the words we use when talking about a boy, a girl, or a non-binary person." I can't explain this trend of using the word pronoun instead of gender pronouns as pronouns simply replace nouns, including I, you, we, me, and us. In the consent section it states doctors and family can check your body for health reasons even if it's uncomfortable, completely ignoring that unfortunately families have lied and used this guise to manipulate children into accepting abuse. There's also some bizarre formatting and phrasing choices such as: The correct but unnatural consent dialogue "CAN I KISS YOU?" "NO." "OH OK, I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE AND RESPEC YOUR WISHES INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND OR GUILT YOU INTO FEELING SORRY FOR ME", overemphasis on how the "majority" is not LGBTQ+ when this book is supposed to make vulnerable queer youth feel accepted, and putting sex safety at the very end instead of with discussions of sex and conception early in the book.
That being said, I think it was otherwise strong in other elements of its presentation and information. It does a good job of explaining puberty is a stressful time of emotional challenges and insecurity, and that isn't the same as gender dysphoria. Fluidity is emphasized as something that is possible, that it happens, and it is real. It breaks down "good touch", something that you enjoy and consent to, and "bad touch", something you don't like and/or didn't consent to. It actually names, shows, and explains body parts, even clarifying that what people refer to as the vagina is often actually trying to reference the vulva. I strongly don't believe this is perfect, but when this is a frontier with little available, it's better than the rest so far.
Summary:
Readability: ★★★☆☆, 3.5? It's fast, surface level, but clunky. Things get thrown at you rapid fire with little to no breathing time, elaboration, or examples. It keeps things simple enough to get a vague idea, but also doesn't bother to teach much further to understand anything fully. It's a functional glossary, inclusive, and mostly easygoing and approachable.
Entertainment: ★★☆☆☆, 2.5? For a young audience, the multitude of pages that are side by side, blank white paper with plain black font isn't very exciting. The illustrations are nice, but aside from those, there's no work done to make the book visually engaging. The diagrams by Noah Grigni are great!
Audience: It's a solid introduction to the topics, but it's only and introduction. I'd encourage having this available for young readers.
Content Warnings: abortion, blood, divorce, foster home, graphic nudity, masturbation, menstruation, miscarriage, pregnancy, sex, sexual violence
I'm on the fence with this one. I think I can confidently say this is stronger than You Be You!: The Kid’s Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family (My Review), but like other books for young audiences covering a multitude of complex topics, I think there's improvements that could be made. I think this one stuck a lot to the basics, which is why I think I prefer it because it helped it to avoid making errors, but because of that I think it mostly functions as an icebreaker which I don't prefer. It's a start, and a solid enough one with a good sex-positive and inclusive (Yes, ace inclusion!) perspective, which makes me lean more towards liking it rather than disliking it, but I hope to see this concept built upon more in the future.
So this book is really a simple LGBTQ+ inclusive sex-ed icebreaker, covering a pretty general scope of what is typically falls under that umbrella. It opens challenging the idea of an adult and a child having "the talk", a one time introduction to sex-ed, but rather encourages an ongoing and developing conversation with time as more questions and experiences come forth. It explains the concept of sex itself is a nuanced idea, involving our bodies, physical and emotional feelings, preferences, and child-bearing, giving us a rough rubric for what will be discussed. It explains sex assignment, gender, anatomy (internal and external with drawn diagrams), anatomical functions, puberty, menstruation, erections, masturbation, hormones, gender dysphoria, conception, pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, family dynamics, consent, and safe sex. All of this in 88 pages, where often large chunks of white space or illustrations are present, we don't get a lot of time to fully explore these ideas entirely.
The topic that gets the most coverage is the actual process of conception, development, and birth, but a lot of the rest gets rather quickly sped through. That's great that it gets such a focus because it is a topic that is dominated by cisgender and heterosexual assumptions, alienating queer birth parents and families from a demanding and difficult experience they could use support through- but I wish it did that for all the topics present. Menstruation is blasted through, opening with periods and not explaining ovulation until much later in a separate section, with no offer aside from the basics, not even explaining symptoms, tracking cycles, how to use menstrual products, what makes periods irregular, and signs that you should speak to a doctor. The gender dysphoria section was genuinely pathetic for an LGBTQ+ book, only acknowledging physical dysphoria, not mentioning how dysphoria can be social based, fluctuate, be alleviated, be triggered, only mentioning puberty blockers and nothing else. With the popular conservative fantasies of Big Pharma trying to groom children into buying medication, the complete lack of acknowledgement for alternative ways to alleviate dysphoria was strange and reckless. As other reviewers mention, how it treats trans topics seems like it was added to the book in post, rather than naturally thinking to include as a central goal of the book, especially when gender dysphoria is labeled "special section".
Luckily there's not a particularly concerning amount of actual errors in the book, but they exist. Nonbinary is defined as "Non-binary is a word to describe genders that are not "boy" or "girl"." It's a rookie mistake, but especially in a book that doesn't describe much more, this definition that leaves out genderfuid, bigender, demigender, and other nonbinary genders that can incorporate seemingly binary identities. Pronouns just has a completely incorrect definition "Pronouns are the words we use when talking about a boy, a girl, or a non-binary person." I can't explain this trend of using the word pronoun instead of gender pronouns as pronouns simply replace nouns, including I, you, we, me, and us. In the consent section it states doctors and family can check your body for health reasons even if it's uncomfortable, completely ignoring that unfortunately families have lied and used this guise to manipulate children into accepting abuse. There's also some bizarre formatting and phrasing choices such as: The correct but unnatural consent dialogue "CAN I KISS YOU?" "NO." "OH OK, I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE AND RESPEC YOUR WISHES INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND OR GUILT YOU INTO FEELING SORRY FOR ME", overemphasis on how the "majority" is not LGBTQ+ when this book is supposed to make vulnerable queer youth feel accepted, and putting sex safety at the very end instead of with discussions of sex and conception early in the book.
That being said, I think it was otherwise strong in other elements of its presentation and information. It does a good job of explaining puberty is a stressful time of emotional challenges and insecurity, and that isn't the same as gender dysphoria. Fluidity is emphasized as something that is possible, that it happens, and it is real. It breaks down "good touch", something that you enjoy and consent to, and "bad touch", something you don't like and/or didn't consent to. It actually names, shows, and explains body parts, even clarifying that what people refer to as the vagina is often actually trying to reference the vulva. I strongly don't believe this is perfect, but when this is a frontier with little available, it's better than the rest so far.
Summary:
Readability: ★★★☆☆, 3.5? It's fast, surface level, but clunky. Things get thrown at you rapid fire with little to no breathing time, elaboration, or examples. It keeps things simple enough to get a vague idea, but also doesn't bother to teach much further to understand anything fully. It's a functional glossary, inclusive, and mostly easygoing and approachable.
Entertainment: ★★☆☆☆, 2.5? For a young audience, the multitude of pages that are side by side, blank white paper with plain black font isn't very exciting. The illustrations are nice, but aside from those, there's no work done to make the book visually engaging. The diagrams by Noah Grigni are great!
Audience: It's a solid introduction to the topics, but it's only and introduction. I'd encourage having this available for young readers.
Content Warnings: abortion, blood, divorce, foster home, graphic nudity, masturbation, menstruation, miscarriage, pregnancy, sex, sexual violence
December 15, 2019
This was a truly incredible book--it featured so many different people and bodies and skin tone and abilities! Not only was it incredible for its inclusiveness, however, but for its information as well! I'll certainly say that I didn't know how twins were conceived, nor how they became fraternal or identical! That being said, it's a largely scientific book that's wholly appropriate for children curious about bodies and how they change.
That being said, however, there were two parts that did make me a little uncomfortable. At one point, this book did mention porn in a very neutral way, stating that it's typically for adult pleasure and that it's normal to be curious about it, and to talk to a trusted adult if you accidentally stumble upon it. On one hand,I understand why it's there--it's better to have prefaced it than to go into such layers of the internet unprepared, but I personally find porn so revolting that I just didn't know what to make of that bit, nor how to feel about it.
Another part that made me a little uncomfortable was the topic of hormone blockers. Again, on the one hand, it's good for children to know about this option, for knowledge is certainly power! But for a book so empowering and filled with loving our bodies throughout all their natural changes, it felt a little out of place and bizarre to read something arguing for something so medicinal and unnatural to be done to bodies out of bodily contempt.
Overall though, I did find this book to be helpful and inclusive despite my misgivings, and would definitely purchase it for a young person in my life or for my library. There's some great information in here that I know others would benefit from.
Review cross-listed here!
That being said, however, there were two parts that did make me a little uncomfortable. At one point, this book did mention porn in a very neutral way, stating that it's typically for adult pleasure and that it's normal to be curious about it, and to talk to a trusted adult if you accidentally stumble upon it. On one hand,I understand why it's there--it's better to have prefaced it than to go into such layers of the internet unprepared, but I personally find porn so revolting that I just didn't know what to make of that bit, nor how to feel about it.
Another part that made me a little uncomfortable was the topic of hormone blockers. Again, on the one hand, it's good for children to know about this option, for knowledge is certainly power! But for a book so empowering and filled with loving our bodies throughout all their natural changes, it felt a little out of place and bizarre to read something arguing for something so medicinal and unnatural to be done to bodies out of bodily contempt.
Overall though, I did find this book to be helpful and inclusive despite my misgivings, and would definitely purchase it for a young person in my life or for my library. There's some great information in here that I know others would benefit from.
Review cross-listed here!
June 25, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I’ll post the review upon publication, but I’m posting the stars now! 🙌
Updated 6/25/20
Five stars...six!
This book is fantastic. The language is inclusive, and the topics are covered comprehensively, in terms of the intended audience. I really appreciate the author's note about WHY they are using inclusive language; the focus on this is critical. Also, the author picks up some challenging topics - porn, consent, gender identity versus gender expression, and many more - and addresses them all with age-appropriate language for the audience and a matter-of-fact, responsible viewpoint.
I am so impressed with how this work is constructed. As a person who works in equity, inclusion, compliance, and Title IX in higher ed, I am constantly encountering texts that attempt to and then fail at covering these topics well, even for adult audiences. I have no complaints or concerns here. Even the illustrations reflect inclusive bodies and identities.
This book serves an important purpose, and I hope that many young people - and likely many adults - will learn a great deal about themselves and others through interacting with this content. It'll absolutely have a place in my children's lit class and pre-order status in my Amazon cart!
Updated 6/25/20
Five stars...six!
This book is fantastic. The language is inclusive, and the topics are covered comprehensively, in terms of the intended audience. I really appreciate the author's note about WHY they are using inclusive language; the focus on this is critical. Also, the author picks up some challenging topics - porn, consent, gender identity versus gender expression, and many more - and addresses them all with age-appropriate language for the audience and a matter-of-fact, responsible viewpoint.
I am so impressed with how this work is constructed. As a person who works in equity, inclusion, compliance, and Title IX in higher ed, I am constantly encountering texts that attempt to and then fail at covering these topics well, even for adult audiences. I have no complaints or concerns here. Even the illustrations reflect inclusive bodies and identities.
This book serves an important purpose, and I hope that many young people - and likely many adults - will learn a great deal about themselves and others through interacting with this content. It'll absolutely have a place in my children's lit class and pre-order status in my Amazon cart!
January 10, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
I read every book about sexuality and gender aimed at kids and teens that I can possibly get my hands on. I teach sex ed and I try to stay informed at what information is targeted at my teens. I have no doubts my teens will never read this book, but the fact that it is accessible to them is something I need to know. I need books like this to combat what the kids learn on their own.
I also judge these books very harshly. I am tired of misinformation and just general bad books being made. I will not praise a book just because it is queer inclusive if it isn’t a great book as well. This book is the first non-fiction book about sexuality and gender aimed at kids that I have more positives to say than negatives.
The book is gender inclusive. There is no “mom gets pregnant” or “all people with penises are boys”. Instead the way that babies are produced is talked about with body parts and science. There is even talk about how adoption is a thing that families can do.
There is an accurate representation to what asexuality is! There is no aromantic though. The book assumes that there is a link between sexual desire and romantic desire. So I am a little saddened by this, but I am also really impressed that asexuality was covered in a good way. The information was correct. The talk of being trans and cis was not in the sexuality section which was also perfect! Being trans is not a sexuality, yet it is so often discussed when sexuality is even in books geared towards adults (I just read a book about race that covers being trans in the section about being gay, but had a whole section devoted to gender that did not mention trans people). So this simple concept seems so beyond a lot of people. This book getting is right is not small thing.
The art is not suggestive, but I know people will complain anyway. There are drawings of genitalia from multiple angles. These are not used for shock value, but instead of are for education about the parts and the functions of those parts. Considering how little the teens in my class know, this is incredibly important. I had one teen, he has multiple children, tell me during the “vagina trivia” lesson that the testicles are above the vagina. I know I can’t rely on him to teach his children more, but this book has great information on anatomy. There are some terms in there I don’t even attempt to teach my teens. They don’t care about all the tubing. I do what I can with the external stuff, since it is easier to get their attention with.
This book is pretty fantastic. It even covers consent. It talks about good and bad touch. This book really has everything I would want to talk to a kid about. This is a great book to start kids with and one I would recommend.
I got an ARC of this book.
I read every book about sexuality and gender aimed at kids and teens that I can possibly get my hands on. I teach sex ed and I try to stay informed at what information is targeted at my teens. I have no doubts my teens will never read this book, but the fact that it is accessible to them is something I need to know. I need books like this to combat what the kids learn on their own.
I also judge these books very harshly. I am tired of misinformation and just general bad books being made. I will not praise a book just because it is queer inclusive if it isn’t a great book as well. This book is the first non-fiction book about sexuality and gender aimed at kids that I have more positives to say than negatives.
The book is gender inclusive. There is no “mom gets pregnant” or “all people with penises are boys”. Instead the way that babies are produced is talked about with body parts and science. There is even talk about how adoption is a thing that families can do.
There is an accurate representation to what asexuality is! There is no aromantic though. The book assumes that there is a link between sexual desire and romantic desire. So I am a little saddened by this, but I am also really impressed that asexuality was covered in a good way. The information was correct. The talk of being trans and cis was not in the sexuality section which was also perfect! Being trans is not a sexuality, yet it is so often discussed when sexuality is even in books geared towards adults (I just read a book about race that covers being trans in the section about being gay, but had a whole section devoted to gender that did not mention trans people). So this simple concept seems so beyond a lot of people. This book getting is right is not small thing.
The art is not suggestive, but I know people will complain anyway. There are drawings of genitalia from multiple angles. These are not used for shock value, but instead of are for education about the parts and the functions of those parts. Considering how little the teens in my class know, this is incredibly important. I had one teen, he has multiple children, tell me during the “vagina trivia” lesson that the testicles are above the vagina. I know I can’t rely on him to teach his children more, but this book has great information on anatomy. There are some terms in there I don’t even attempt to teach my teens. They don’t care about all the tubing. I do what I can with the external stuff, since it is easier to get their attention with.
This book is pretty fantastic. It even covers consent. It talks about good and bad touch. This book really has everything I would want to talk to a kid about. This is a great book to start kids with and one I would recommend.
November 26, 2025
Although I think this book is a good starting point for some kids, I'm not sure it's the best resource for all children.
The book tries to explain sex, gender, pregnancy, and puberty through a lens of both biology and psychology, which gives it a good grasp on gender identity. However, it will give statements that could be confusing to young readers by introducing a term and then not defining it. There are also subjects spread across several chapters; for example IVF is covered in the chapter "Different Types of Families" after the chapter on birth. To me, it would make more sense to cover this topic during the chapter about conception.
The back cover says it's for children 8-12, but some of the language feels very juvenile as if it's intended for a younger audience. I can't see a middle schooler reading this book and thinking it's written for their age group. Since some children may begin puberty at a young age, giving this book to a 10-year-old could be too late to explain the changes their body is experiencing.
There will be parents out there who don't want their children knowing about non-vaginal intercourse or masturbation, and both topics are covered in this book.
The book tries to explain sex, gender, pregnancy, and puberty through a lens of both biology and psychology, which gives it a good grasp on gender identity. However, it will give statements that could be confusing to young readers by introducing a term and then not defining it. There are also subjects spread across several chapters; for example IVF is covered in the chapter "Different Types of Families" after the chapter on birth. To me, it would make more sense to cover this topic during the chapter about conception.
The back cover says it's for children 8-12, but some of the language feels very juvenile as if it's intended for a younger audience. I can't see a middle schooler reading this book and thinking it's written for their age group. Since some children may begin puberty at a young age, giving this book to a 10-year-old could be too late to explain the changes their body is experiencing.
There will be parents out there who don't want their children knowing about non-vaginal intercourse or masturbation, and both topics are covered in this book.
March 21, 2025
I'm an adult and already know the information that's in here, but I read it to see if it would be a good one to hang on to for my kiddo when he's ready for books with more words in it. This book covers so much and explains things in easy to understand ways. I love how it talks about trans kids and body dysphoria. It has pictures and diagrams of body parts which is great because let's face it, kids are curious and I'm not about to spread my legs and say "have a good look!" I will definitely be hanging on to this for him
April 16, 2022
As an asexual transgender birth parent to young children, I found this book to be educational, easy to understand, and inclusive. It covers all the important topics and more, such as consent, privacy, masturbation, etc. I love this book, and I recommend it to anyone who is unsure of (or even confident with) discussing bodies, puberty, sex, and gender.
March 4, 2021
While I really wish my parents had used a book like this to talk to me about sex when I was growing up, I am very happy that this book exists NOW and parents can use it to raise the next generation without all the hangups, confusion, misinformation, and mistakes of people in the past.
March 27, 2021
This book is fantastic! It's the most inclusive and informative book of its kind that I've read so far.
July 3, 2020
4.5 Stars
*Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers & NetGalley for this arc*
This is a very well-done book: it seeks to use inclusive language and educate kids about a variety of different topics in informative but non-judgmental ways. Some kids (and adults) might be made to feel uncomfortable with the diagrams but as there is so much misinformation about body parts that I think this is probably a good thing to have even if makes people uncomfortable (calling body parts by their actual names can have abuse made apparent more easily). I was someone who didn't take grade 9 gym so I missed sex-ed and while I got the gist of most things it would have been nice to have a quick thing to read to make sure I was on the right page about things.
Each topic in here is brief but I think does a decent job of covering the main things that everyone should know about their bodies. I just have a few minor things that I would add/on emphasize in a reprint:
- More emphasis on intersex bodies: intersex bodies are covered but I would have liked to have seen more of it when talking about pregnancy, intimacy, and more intersex-specific diagrams. I know that there is a wide variety when it comes to being intersex but I feel that in each chapter there should be a bit about how this is typically the same/different for people who are intersex.
- Have consent be brought up earlier. I think when sex is first mentioned as being between two grown-ups there should be a reference to how an adult and a kid isn't okay. It is implied and it is mentioned later but I would have liked to have seen it mentioned here too.
- Discussion about weight. Kids get fat-shamed from a really young age and weight fluctuation can be a result of hormones so a chapter or even a paragraph on how weight relates to the other topics I think would be beneficial especially when talking about bodily consent.
This was a really well done book-- diagrams had a fair amount of variety and the topics were brief but covered clearly. I would consider this sort of like a junior version of Dr. Gunter's "The Vagina Bible."
While I'm sure this book would result in a fair number of awkward conversations and blushes, the information is solid and critically important for kids to know.
*Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers & NetGalley for this arc*
This is a very well-done book: it seeks to use inclusive language and educate kids about a variety of different topics in informative but non-judgmental ways. Some kids (and adults) might be made to feel uncomfortable with the diagrams but as there is so much misinformation about body parts that I think this is probably a good thing to have even if makes people uncomfortable (calling body parts by their actual names can have abuse made apparent more easily). I was someone who didn't take grade 9 gym so I missed sex-ed and while I got the gist of most things it would have been nice to have a quick thing to read to make sure I was on the right page about things.
Each topic in here is brief but I think does a decent job of covering the main things that everyone should know about their bodies. I just have a few minor things that I would add/on emphasize in a reprint:
- More emphasis on intersex bodies: intersex bodies are covered but I would have liked to have seen more of it when talking about pregnancy, intimacy, and more intersex-specific diagrams. I know that there is a wide variety when it comes to being intersex but I feel that in each chapter there should be a bit about how this is typically the same/different for people who are intersex.
- Have consent be brought up earlier. I think when sex is first mentioned as being between two grown-ups there should be a reference to how an adult and a kid isn't okay. It is implied and it is mentioned later but I would have liked to have seen it mentioned here too.
- Discussion about weight. Kids get fat-shamed from a really young age and weight fluctuation can be a result of hormones so a chapter or even a paragraph on how weight relates to the other topics I think would be beneficial especially when talking about bodily consent.
This was a really well done book-- diagrams had a fair amount of variety and the topics were brief but covered clearly. I would consider this sort of like a junior version of Dr. Gunter's "The Vagina Bible."
While I'm sure this book would result in a fair number of awkward conversations and blushes, the information is solid and critically important for kids to know.
April 15, 2020
This is a great book to start conversations with children about sex and relationships. It promotes open channels of communication between children and their families. Lots of adults are uncomfortable or embarrassed to talk about sex due to the poor quality of sex education they received when they were younger. But for children to be safe, healthy and empowered, they need to feel comfortable asking questions. This book tackles big topics like where babies come from, consent and staying safe online in age-appropriate ways and teaches children to take care of their bodies and make healthy choices.
It's inclusive of trans and queer people from the start which makes a refreshing change from books which just have an LGBT+ chapter tagged on the end. It's very reassuring about what is normal and healthy, and really highlights that everyone is different. It teaches children that if people are different from you and your family, you should be kind first and ask questions later.
In my work in schools, I'm used to sex being reduced to reproduction and seeing a diagram of a penis vs a diagram of a womb. The clitoris and labia are usually completely absent as are any discussions of any kind of sex other than the kind that makes a baby. This book takes a much more holistic approach and talks about the body as a whole, and how to take care of yourself. It explains the differences between being assigned male and being assigned female, but also the similarities. This is so important not just for trans and intersex children, but for their friends and peers too. It's also so important to teach cis girls that their body doesn't just exist to make babies!
The content is suitable for any age, but would be best for 8+. There is a lot of text so younger children will need an adult to read it to them. I really can't recommend this book enough for anyone teaching this topic in a school, or to give to children in their own family!
[Free ARC from NetGalley]
It's inclusive of trans and queer people from the start which makes a refreshing change from books which just have an LGBT+ chapter tagged on the end. It's very reassuring about what is normal and healthy, and really highlights that everyone is different. It teaches children that if people are different from you and your family, you should be kind first and ask questions later.
In my work in schools, I'm used to sex being reduced to reproduction and seeing a diagram of a penis vs a diagram of a womb. The clitoris and labia are usually completely absent as are any discussions of any kind of sex other than the kind that makes a baby. This book takes a much more holistic approach and talks about the body as a whole, and how to take care of yourself. It explains the differences between being assigned male and being assigned female, but also the similarities. This is so important not just for trans and intersex children, but for their friends and peers too. It's also so important to teach cis girls that their body doesn't just exist to make babies!
The content is suitable for any age, but would be best for 8+. There is a lot of text so younger children will need an adult to read it to them. I really can't recommend this book enough for anyone teaching this topic in a school, or to give to children in their own family!
[Free ARC from NetGalley]
July 16, 2020
** I received an ARC of this book from Jessica Kingsley Publishers in return for an honest review.
Rachel Simon provides an extremely comprehensive and current-day guide of human sexuality and topics surrounding it. Factual and easy to understand text includes all sexual orientations and gender identities. Themes of acceptance and healthy body images especially resonated with me as a health professional.
While at times repetitive (which could benefit readers who jump around the text), the extensive topics covered allow for an ongoing conversation and can be referred to at appropriate times. Definitions make clear terms that are often not explained to preteens and teenagers.
The illustrations portrayed diversity and complimented the copy. But some depictions could have shown a warmer or welcoming side of the people in the drawings.
Good hygiene, which is important at this age, was not addressed and the ‘gender dysphoria’ portion didn’t need to be labeled ‘special section.’
Simon included ‘Keeping your body safe’ – a powerful and important topic.
A great resource to educate children about their own changing bodies and what their peers may be going through as well.
Rachel Simon provides an extremely comprehensive and current-day guide of human sexuality and topics surrounding it. Factual and easy to understand text includes all sexual orientations and gender identities. Themes of acceptance and healthy body images especially resonated with me as a health professional.
While at times repetitive (which could benefit readers who jump around the text), the extensive topics covered allow for an ongoing conversation and can be referred to at appropriate times. Definitions make clear terms that are often not explained to preteens and teenagers.
The illustrations portrayed diversity and complimented the copy. But some depictions could have shown a warmer or welcoming side of the people in the drawings.
Good hygiene, which is important at this age, was not addressed and the ‘gender dysphoria’ portion didn’t need to be labeled ‘special section.’
Simon included ‘Keeping your body safe’ – a powerful and important topic.
A great resource to educate children about their own changing bodies and what their peers may be going through as well.
April 21, 2020
I received an advance review copy from Jessica Kingsley Publishers through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
3.5 stars
Overall, I'm really impressed by how comprehensive and intersectional this is! The concepts are explained in a way that is straightforward without oversimplifying, and the illustrations are cute and helpful (and feature diverse people!).
There are a few bits and pieces that I would suggest adding or revising (see below), but it's a good starting resource that helps start filling in the LGBTQ+ sex-ed gap. (To be clear, I don't mean sex ed for LGBTQ+ folks — it's important information for everyone since we live in a society.)
FRTC.
-----------
CONVERSION : 10.5 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 7 / 10
Credibility: 6 / 10
Organization / Structure: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact / Interest: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 4 / 5
3.5 stars
Overall, I'm really impressed by how comprehensive and intersectional this is! The concepts are explained in a way that is straightforward without oversimplifying, and the illustrations are cute and helpful (and feature diverse people!).
There are a few bits and pieces that I would suggest adding or revising (see below), but it's a good starting resource that helps start filling in the LGBTQ+ sex-ed gap. (To be clear, I don't mean sex ed for LGBTQ+ folks — it's important information for everyone since we live in a society.)
FRTC.
-----------
CONVERSION : 10.5 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 7 / 10
Credibility: 6 / 10
Organization / Structure: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact / Interest: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 4 / 5
June 6, 2020
Overall the book seems to be a work in progress because there could be growth in most areas, especially in regards to more pronouns and what they mean. As a whole, I do appreciate the book as a resource and a great starting point for youth to feel more comfortable asking questions. There are a few cartoon drawings inside, so I recommend readers take a look before sharing with children. Some parts are clearly repetitive and could use some editing in those areas. The book is a very short quick read which may be great in a classroom setting. Whenever gender diversity and being transgender is mentioned it seems out of place, would have appreciated if the author wrote this book assuming the reader was very diverse.
August 30, 2021
Pretty comprehensive book about sex, gender, puberty, development, etc. My automatic comparison is to the your body american girl book lol
Lots of good definitions, like that it's not reserved just for girls or boys
Not sure it would be neutral enough for persnickety parents, but maybe that's a bad judge lol
After a quick read, I can't find anything missing from this one, and I wish I had had this when I was a kid
Lots of good definitions, like that it's not reserved just for girls or boys
Not sure it would be neutral enough for persnickety parents, but maybe that's a bad judge lol
After a quick read, I can't find anything missing from this one, and I wish I had had this when I was a kid
August 6, 2020
This short book is PACKED with information for teens about their bodies and identities. Parents and teens alike are certain to learn a thing or two about biological sex versus sexuality and identities. From cis to trans, gay to pansexual and intersex, a wide array of topics are appropriately covered. The author does a great job of preaching respect for all and the importance of maintaining privacy and not “outing” others. The author even goes so far as to explain intercourse, pregnancy, birth contraception and more following the entirety of life.
The Every Body Book is a simple read with illustrated pictures that help to cover or start the hard conversations parents and children are likely to encounter. This all-encompassing guide is a great tool to keep on hand as your child matures. Well compiled and detailed as author, Rachel E Simon, uses her experiences as a clinical psychotherapist and sexuality educator to provide children and families with a one-of-a-kind resource for understanding ourselves and others.
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Every Body Book is a simple read with illustrated pictures that help to cover or start the hard conversations parents and children are likely to encounter. This all-encompassing guide is a great tool to keep on hand as your child matures. Well compiled and detailed as author, Rachel E Simon, uses her experiences as a clinical psychotherapist and sexuality educator to provide children and families with a one-of-a-kind resource for understanding ourselves and others.
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 13, 2021
There are already many thorough reviews here about this wonderfully inclusive and very educational book, but one of my significant takeaways, whether you read this book or not, came from the introduction:
"Talking about sexuality should be something that happens consistently over the course of a child's development. Challenging the notion of "The Talk" and instead opening a path to recurring topics of discussion can be a unique mission. It can be uncomfortable for you or uncomfortable for your child-probably both. But the more comfort you can build into talking about sexuality, the better informed your children will be about their own health, values, and choices. Talking about sex in a way that models healthy attitudes and creates an atmosphere of openness allows your child to grow into a happy, healthy, sexually empowered adult. We want children to internalize those attitudes now, so they later feel prepared and confident. Avoiding talking about sex sends a message of shame, discomfort, and secrecy."
Start your discussions with your children now!
"Talking about sexuality should be something that happens consistently over the course of a child's development. Challenging the notion of "The Talk" and instead opening a path to recurring topics of discussion can be a unique mission. It can be uncomfortable for you or uncomfortable for your child-probably both. But the more comfort you can build into talking about sexuality, the better informed your children will be about their own health, values, and choices. Talking about sex in a way that models healthy attitudes and creates an atmosphere of openness allows your child to grow into a happy, healthy, sexually empowered adult. We want children to internalize those attitudes now, so they later feel prepared and confident. Avoiding talking about sex sends a message of shame, discomfort, and secrecy."
Start your discussions with your children now!
August 30, 2021
I didn't actually read this aloud to my kids (11, 11, 13) but we read in tandem, each reading on our own and then I discussed it with each of them privately. Since preschool, we've done this annually before the start of each new school year with age-appropriate books about bodies, puberty, sex education, consent, etc (as a supplement to ongoing, open conversation about these topics). This was the first time a book felt truly inclusive of all possibilities, which I believe was even more impactful than years of me just trying to mention all the other possibilities after they've read so many very binary takes on the subjects. My goal has always been to let my children know I am accepting of whomever they are and that the line of communication is completely open, but even if none of these other possibilities ever applies to them, they will certainly apply to people they know throughout their lives. And there is value in understanding the terminology, regardless. Highly recommend.
June 27, 2020
The book presents much-needed information for young people and the adults in their lives. The author explains sexuality and gender identity, relationships, consent, and internet safety with a calm, matter-of-fact tone. The cartoon illustrations were anatomically correct and represented many different skin colors. I would have liked to see different shapes and sizes of bodies-- there were no fat bodies shown. Disabled bodies would have illustrated that this information *is* for every body.
The short explanations of fostering and adoption were included to explain how different families are formed, I suspect, but because those systems can be problematic, I found this too cursory to be helpful.
I can see keeping a copy of this book in a library for young people, but it'd best be used by preteens and their parent(s).
#NetGalley, #TheEveryBodyBook
The short explanations of fostering and adoption were included to explain how different families are formed, I suspect, but because those systems can be problematic, I found this too cursory to be helpful.
I can see keeping a copy of this book in a library for young people, but it'd best be used by preteens and their parent(s).
#NetGalley, #TheEveryBodyBook
June 13, 2021
As a queer and trans sex educator, this book is a breath of fresh air. A simple, factual, and truly inclusive approach to sharing information about sexuality, bodies, puberty, relationships, and porn with youth. One area for growth with this book though is the claim that “Sex happens between people who are grown-ups.” Even the most sex positive folx are still so afraid to make space that affirms and celebrates youth being sexual with others. Maybe it’s a hot take, but youth can and do make conscious, informed, and joyous decisions to be sexual with others, and that can be celebrated too. Also, there could be more representation of Black, Brown, and disabled bodies as well as more discussion about diversity in genital appearance. BUT I’m all in for this book and am so thankful that it exists. I hope to see a second, third, fourth edition !!!
Read
April 14, 2021An inclusive guide to sex, gender, and how babies are made designed for kids about to enter puberty.
While the inclusivity is fantastic, I stumbled a few times over some of the phrasing, perhaps because I am so used to seeing these books designed for teenagers rather than younger kids (younger kids need these books too, and this is great for that--but I don't think I had my head in the right reader zone while browsing this one). The illustration on the humans aging page still gets me down--there is quite a jump in body shape and size (and height!) from the 20 to 40 to 80-year-olds (and apparently nothing in between).
My gripes are small and a bit ridiculous--this is a great choice for all library shelves.
While the inclusivity is fantastic, I stumbled a few times over some of the phrasing, perhaps because I am so used to seeing these books designed for teenagers rather than younger kids (younger kids need these books too, and this is great for that--but I don't think I had my head in the right reader zone while browsing this one). The illustration on the humans aging page still gets me down--there is quite a jump in body shape and size (and height!) from the 20 to 40 to 80-year-olds (and apparently nothing in between).
My gripes are small and a bit ridiculous--this is a great choice for all library shelves.
April 16, 2022
Yes. Yes yes yes.
Just, this is the book I wish I had when I was a preteen. It's the book I want to slip into the bags of all my year 6 students that I teach. It's the book that touches on all those things you thought were "taboo" or "uncomfortable" growing up. It's just so freaking important!
If you're a parent, get it. If you can't bring yourself to read it to your kids, just give it to them.
If you're an adult, read it! It's easy to understand language and openness is the direction we need to go in society around all of these topics (and a whole bunch more) but I just cannot express... Just. Yes.
Just, this is the book I wish I had when I was a preteen. It's the book I want to slip into the bags of all my year 6 students that I teach. It's the book that touches on all those things you thought were "taboo" or "uncomfortable" growing up. It's just so freaking important!
If you're a parent, get it. If you can't bring yourself to read it to your kids, just give it to them.
If you're an adult, read it! It's easy to understand language and openness is the direction we need to go in society around all of these topics (and a whole bunch more) but I just cannot express... Just. Yes.
January 15, 2020
This book is a general, kind of "101" book for bodies, puberty, and sex. It is definitely a great book to use for getting into the basics of body changes and development. What was great about this book was how it included ALL types of bodies and inclusive language, such as "people with penises" or "people with periods." I would recommend this book for all families teaching their children about changing bodies, as well as for schools to have in their libraries. And of course, for public libraries as well!
March 20, 2023
I'm torn about this book. It has a lot of good information about people and lifestyles of all kinds (which is great) but what I think I was looking for was a book that was more technical about biology and what kiddo can someday expect while being inclusive. Instead this was heavy on the inclusivity and a lot lighter on the "and then this might happen" details. Still, I'm glad it exists and that I read it. I learned some things and it will probably be useful for him in conjunction with something more technical when the time comes.
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April 29, 2023This is a book that can be used to aid folks in having difficult conversations with your kids. It covers everything in an inclusive and science first perspective that should help keep emotions out of the discussion. It’s a book that you can start using with prepubescent kids and as they age to sex curious older teens. Lots of great information here and I will definitely remember this for my future. But u would say the images are age appropriate for older kids so please avoid sharing with the little ones in your life until it’s time for educating or they are genuinely curious.
May 8, 2023
I literally cried reading this book. This was the book younger me really needed when I was questioning and trying to understand sexuality/gender identity/puberty. It��s great for preteens/younger teenagers, and it has a lot of important information about our bodies and the changes they go through. With the polarized nature of school and sex education nowadays, a lot of kids don’t get this type of education in their health classes. When I have kids, this will for sure be one of the books we use to explain how bodies work for them!
May 6, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette UK for allowing me to read this early. This book is the perfect resource for preteens/teens in understanding consent and how it relates to them. The use of ungendered/inclusive language and illustrations was a lovely change to the usual resources already out there. the different chapters of the book are succinct and full of the essential information that all young people should have the opportunity to know about. I will definitely be getting this for my 11 year old niece when it’s published in physical form!
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