Asking About Sex and Growing Up: A Question-and-Answer Book for Boys and Girls [Paperback]

Joanna Cole (Author), Alan Tiegreen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Today's children hear about sex all the time-on television, in the movies, and from their friends. But what they hear and see does not always give a healthy or even an accurate view of sexuality.

This unique book, the only one of its kind for preteens, uses a question-and-answer format to offer straightforward information on a wide variety of subjects that often concern and mystify young people.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joanna Cole is the author of the popular Magic School Bus series, I'm a Big Brother, I'm a Big Sister, and many other award-winning books. In Asking About Sex & Growing Up, she provides a reassuring blend of practical guidance and scientific fact for the audience that needs it most.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (May 20, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688069282
• ISBN-13: 978-0688069285
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Sexuality

More About the Author

Joanna Cole s a former elementary school teacher and librarian and a frequent contributor to Parents magazine. Joanna Cole lives in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 122 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best choice., February 10, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asking About Sex and Growing Up: A Question-and-Answer Book for Boys and Girls (Paperback)

I bought this, along with several similar books, for my 11 year-old son. The Q&A format of this book made it easy to read, but many topics were handled in a clinical, vague manner and spent way too much time on trivial subjects (e.g., a whole chapter on "Crushes.") I actually checked the copyright, to see if it was written in the '50's. (It's 1988.) I was very troubled by the section, "What Happens if a Young Girl Gets Pregnant?" It ignored the boy's role & responsibility, and glossed over the topic with vague statements such as: "Her whole life will change, and not usually for the better." And, "She may feel upset for a long time afterward." There's even a section, "Why Would a Girl Let Herself Get Pregnant?" which suggests "Sometimes a girl secretly wants to get pregnant..." The section ends with: "The surest way to prevent pregnancy is not to have intercourse." I found a much better book for my son: "What's Going on Down There." Silly title, but much more thorough, balanced and practical.

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple, well written but best for adolescents..., November 15, 2000

By 

Amy T. Ruder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asking About Sex and Growing Up: A Question-and-Answer Book for Boys and Girls (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping to have an early broad conversation about sexuality with my 9 year old boy and found this book to be too detailed for someone that young. The illustrations are over-simplified and may be good for younger kids, but it doesn't jibe with the text which is more complex and biologically, fact-based. A great book- but I found I have to leave it on the shelf for another year or so. I don't think most 9-year olds will get this stuff yet so I'd advise you to hold off buying this unless you have an exceptionally mature child of this age. I'm sure it will be an excellent reference at 10 or 11.

92 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great questions., October 16, 1999

By 

Maggi Rohde "librarian and mom" (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Asking about Sex and Growing Up: A Question-And-Answer Book for Boys and Girls (Hardcover)

This is a question-and-answer book which covers much of the same ground "It's Perfectly Normal" and other books for pre-teens, and would be unexceptional if the questions weren't so good. The authors assume their readers know the basics about pregnancy and doesn't bother with much detail; it focuses instead on puberty in boys and girls, masturbation, having crushes, pregnancy, homosexuality, and one chapter entitled "The Most Important Thing to Know About Sex" (to respect yourself and others). There's an excellent chapter on teen pregnancy. This quiet, unassuming book with non-graphic pictures is an excellent choice for kids who don't ask many questions about sex - and for parents who are uncertain how to answer them (also look see "Sex is More Than A Plumbing Lesson"). An added bonus - your kids may recognize the illustrator from Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby books.