Book Review
A short overview of this book
Healthy for Life: Sex and Relationships by Anna Claybourne is a fantastic book that will help tweens and young teens to understand the many complexities of sex and relationships.
I really like this book as it is one of the few books for tweens and early teens about sex and relationships. It is really hard to find books for kids of this age about sex. There are picture books for younger kids that are too basic. And then super detailed books for teens. But not many books for tweens and early teens.
So this book excites me as it provides them with just enough information without overwhelming them with lots of unnecessary details.
This book is styled like a factual book, similar to those kids books that you get, that might be like a whole book filled with facts about dogs or cars.
This books covers a lot of different topics – how to prevent pregnancy, contraception, preventing pregnancy, sexuality, identity, crushes, dating, different relationships and consent. Healthy relationships are discussed so that kids will recognise what an unhealthy relationship might look like. It also talks about crushes, having sex, being ready for sex, getting over heartbreak and how to cope with sexual pressure. The negative aspects of sex are also discussed ie rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse. Online porn, sexting and staying safe online is also in there
As you can see, this book is very comprehensive and I would have to say that it is one of the better books that I have seen on this topic for kids of this age! It’ll be an invaluable resource for parents who are unsure about what to talk about.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 9 to 13 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Healthy for Life: Sex and Relationships by Anna Claybourne from Amazon.
Transcription of the video
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. I’ve got something really cool to share with you today—a book about sex and relationships! Now, finding books for tweens that talk about sex can be tough. We’ve got picture books for the little ones, puberty books for teens, but that in-between age often gets overlooked. That’s why I got super excited when I found this book!
This book, called Sex and Relationships by Anita S. Clayborn, is a bit different. It’s more like a factual book with an index and a glossary. So yeah, there are quite a few words, but don’t worry, it’s packed with lots of helpful information too.
Now, I have to mention that this book came out in 2016, so it’s a little outdated. It uses some terms that we don’t really use anymore, like transsexual instead of transgender. But hey, no book is perfect, right? You can always adapt it to fit your needs. Plus, it’s got some really nice illustrations, and guess what? The penises in this book have foreskins! It doesn’t assume circumcision is the norm.
Inside, you’ll find discussions on preventing pregnancy, different types of contraception, sexuality and identity, homophobia, coming out, and various types of sexual attraction. It even covers crushes, dating, and different types of relationships. And here’s something cool—it talks about consent! Back in 2016, consent wasn’t as big of a deal, but this book addresses it nicely.
The book also dives into what makes a healthy relationship and why it’s important to understand that. By having these conversations with kids early on, we can help prevent domestic violence and ensure they know what a healthy relationship looks like. It also tackles problems in relationships and how to handle them, as well as when to have sex and what it’s really like.
But wait, there’s more! The book also addresses some serious topics like rape, sexual assault, and sexual abuse. It provides guidance on what to do if you or someone you know experiences these things. And guess what? It even talks about staying safe online, because let’s face it, kids these days are exposed to all sorts of stuff on the internet.
At the back of the book, you’ll find some quick facts and tips on staying healthy in general. Now, I have to admit, this book is on the smaller side, and some of the information may be a little outdated. But honestly, most books out there aren’t completely up to date when it comes to gender and diversity. So don’t let that stop you from considering this book. I actually think it’s one of the better ones out there for tweens and early teens, as it covers more than just puberty.
So, if you’re looking for a book that answers a lot of the questions your tween might have about sex and relationships, I definitely recommend giving this one a shot. And hey, if you have any questions, just ask me! I’m here to help.
