Book Review
A short overview of this book
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Puberty – And Shouldn’t Be Googling: For Curious Boys by Morris Katz is a little different to the usual puberty books. This one has references to the characters from DC Comics and takes the tone of a big brother giving advice to his little brother.
This might be a good book to try with those kids who are reluctant to read a book about puberty.
I quite liked this book, as it has a nice casual tone and normalises the changes that happen during puberty. It also emphasises diversity and that bodies look different and change at different times and rates. I appreciate that they talk about penis size, as this is something that worries a lot of boys who expect to have porn-sized penises by the age of 13. Pornography and the sending of nudes is discussed, along with consent, toxic masculinity, sexual feelings and having a crush on someone.
One thing I did notice is that it didn’t have many images of naked bodies, especially penises. There is one line drawing of a circumcised penis.
The book is inclusive in regards to sexual diversity (same-sex and bisexual relationships) and gender diversity (transgender and nonbinary people). But they explain that they are referring to boys throughout the book (instead of person with a penis) as they wanted to keep the tone conversational.
This book only shows a circumcised penis ie where the foreskin has been removed. It does not show an intact penis (with a foreskin).
Sexual intercourse is NOT discussed in this book.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 10 years and older.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Puberty – And Shouldn’t Be Googling: For Curious Boys by Morris Katz from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. I’m all about helping parents have those important conversations with their kids about sex, puberty, and growing up. You can find me on my website and YouTube channel, where I share book reviews. Speaking of which, I recently came across a book that caught my attention because it’s published by one of the arms of DC Comics.
This book is a bit different from the usual ones. The artwork and structure have a unique vibe, with references to DC and Marvel. It’s like a cool comic book. Now, let’s dive into what this book is all about: puberty.
I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with it. It covers a lot of ground and has some funny moments too. For example, the author mentions that he wanted to include a picture of his own penis, but was told that’s not allowed. So they used other illustrations instead. There’s even a diagram of a penis, but it doesn’t show a foreskin. That’s one area where I think the book could have done better, as it’s important not to normalize circumcision since not all penises are born that way.
While the book doesn’t talk much about sex itself, it does touch on masturbation. The author describes it as sex with your hand, which is an interesting way to put it. However, I wish they had provided more information about sex itself. They do mention a few things, but it’s not the main focus.
What I really appreciate about this book is how it covers a wide range of topics. It talks about the physical changes that come with puberty and emphasizes the diversity of experiences. Some kids will have more facial hair, while others might have less pubic hair. It also normalizes penis growth and reminds readers that size doesn’t matter. It’s all about how it functions. The book even addresses concerns like man boobs and explains that it’s a normal part of puberty for some boys.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that this mainstream book touches on inclusiveness. It acknowledges that boys can fall in love with boys, girls, both, or neither. It also mentions that gender identity isn’t solely determined by the body you’re born with. However, since the book aims to be conversational, it primarily uses the term boys. Just something to keep in mind.
The book does a good job of explaining sexual feelings and emphasizes that it’s okay to like someone or not. It also delves into topics like pornography, moods, sexting, and healthy relationships. While it doesn’t explicitly mention consent, it does address toxic masculinity, which is really important.
Oh, and did I mention that the book is laid out like a comic? It’s pretty cool! There are references to comics throughout, and it’s visually engaging. I must admit, I had a hard time finding the penis page when flipping through the book. But don’t worry, it’s there! They use fruit on a snake to illustrate differences in size. It’s a bit quirky, but it gets the point across. Plus, the book celebrates diversity in body shapes and sizes.
I don’t recall seeing anything about disability in the book, but it does have a great section on erections and how to manage them. Overall, I really liked this book because it normalizes the changes that come with puberty. I’ve been on the lookout for books like this because getting kids to read at this age can be a challenge.
So, if you’re looking for something different from the typical puberty books, give this one a try. Your child might just enjoy it! It’s packed with valuable information, even though it could have included more illustrations of genitals. But hey, publishers make their own decisions. Regardless, it’s still a solid book.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. Cheers!
