Book Review
An overview of the book
Secret Boys’ Business by Rose Stewart, Fay Angelo and Heather Anderson is a book for boys that provides them with simple and age-appropriate information about puberty.
This book was published in 2006 but, despite being over ten years old, it has not dated. The authors come from a very hands-on background. Fay comes from a teaching background, Heather is a Sexual Health Nurse/ Sex Educator and Rose is a teacher and School Psychologist. So they are dealing with this stuff every day.
There is also a girl’s version. One for younger girls, Secret Girl’s Business, and one for older girls, More Secret Girl’s Business. They have also published the next step in books, The Secret Business of Relationships, Love and Sex.
Secret Boys’ Business is a great first book for talking to boys about puberty. Personally, I think you could use it from about the age of 9 or 10, possibly even at an earlier age. My 10 year old read it to her younger brother when he was about 6. He was totally uninterested in puberty but he did sit and listen to her, and by the end, he did understand that one day his body would change. I wouldn’t use it for kid’s over 11-12 maybe, just because girls and boys that age are starting to want to know a little bit more than what this book can provide them with. It all depends on how mature your child is and how curious they are about puberty.
This book covers a wide range of topics that are relevant for boys who are first learning about puberty.
It starts off by providing boys with a simple description of the changes, both physical and emotional, that happen at puberty. It starts off by talking about the fact that we all grow and change. We grow from being a baby all the way up to being an older person. It then explains what puberty is, why it happens, how it happens, and some of the changes that will happen.
The changes include growing taller, body hair, pimples, body odour, voice changes, penises, erections, and testicles. Information is given about the changes but also advice on how to manage these changes.
Secret Boys’ Business talks about the fact that penises are all in different sizes, and what you can do with them. Then it talks about the foreskin, showing you the difference between a penis with a foreskin and one without a foreskin. Talks about how to look after them, which I think is pretty important as well. Talks about erections and that sometimes they just happen for no reason at all.
It talks about testicles and sperm. What sperm means and how to look after your testicles. Also talks about semen and ejaculation and wet dreams as well, which is pretty important because boys need to know about this stuff (preferably before it starts to happen).
Secret Boys’ Business also talks about masturbation and the fact that it’s normal and that some boys do and some don’t (and both is normal).
The emotional changes are also talked about. It talks about mood swings, how to manage some of your emotional changes, sexual feelings and that puberty can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for a little while, which gives kids permission to feel that way. At the back, it has hints for parents on how to talk to their boys.
Secret Boys’ Business is a great little first book on puberty. The information is simple and very age-appropriate. It tells boys what they need to know and doesn’t overwhelm them with too much information. It uses lots of illustrations and the reading level seems quite appropriate for this age group – not too many big words! It is the book that I recommend that parents use when they first start talking to boys about puberty.
This book shows penises with a foreskin (intact) as well as penises with a foreskin (circumcised).
This book DOES talk about sexual intercourse.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Secret Boys’ Business by Rose Stewart, Fay Angelo and Heather Anderson from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Alright, let’s dive into this awesome book called Secret Boys Business! It’s written by Fay Angelo, who is not only a principal but also a sexual and reproductive health nurse and educator. She’s out there in the trenches, doing this important work every day.
And guess what? Rose Pritchard, a teacher and school psychologist, also contributed to this book. It’s pretty cool because they update it regularly. There’s even a version for girls too! Sorry about the glare on the back cover, by the way.
I think this book is perfect for starting conversations about puberty with your kids. You can start using it when they’re around nine or ten, maybe even as young as eight. I wouldn’t recommend using it for kids older than eleven, though, because they might be looking for more detailed information by then.
At the beginning, the book talks about how we all grow and change from being babies to older folks. It covers everything about puberty – what it is, why it happens, and how it happens. It also talks about the changes that occur during this time.
The book covers all sorts of boys stuff like testosterone and the fact that everyone’s body is unique. It talks about hair growth in different places, pimples, body odor, hygiene, and voice changes. And then it gets down to the nitty-gritty, discussing the changes happening below the belt. It’s interesting because it explains that penises come in different sizes and talks about what you can do with them, in a simple and straightforward way. It also touches on foreskin, showing the difference between a penis with and without it. Taking care of your penis is important too, and the book covers that. It even talks about erections and how they can happen at unexpected times.
I love that the book uses some slang because that’s what kids hear and understand. It also addresses masturbation and the fact that it’s normal. It acknowledges that some kids do it and some don’t.
The book also busts some myths because there are still a lot of misconceptions out there. It briefly touches on thoughts and feelings but focuses more on the physical changes. It talks about mood swings and how to manage the emotional rollercoaster. It acknowledges that it can be embarrassing and uncomfortable at times, giving kids permission to feel that way. But it also emphasizes that going through puberty is a great milestone and congratulates them on it.
Towards the end, there are some helpful hints. While the girls’ version has more content about secret girls’ business, for boys, there’s a section on the secret business of relationships, love, and sex. This builds on the puberty information and covers important topics that kids need to know about as they grow older.
To sum it up, Secret Boys Business is an excellent book to introduce your kids to the topic of puberty. I personally recommend it, as I use it with my own kids. I hope this review helps you make an informed decision. Cheers!
