Book Review
A short overview of this book
Inside Out: Your body is amazing inside and out and only belongs to you by Dr Mary Jo Podgurski is an interactive body safety book for kids and parents.
This is one of the many books in the Nonnie Series, which is a collection of books that approach tough conversations with kindness and respect. She has also written:
- Nonnie Talks About Sex
- Nonnie Talks About Puberty
- Nonnie Talks About Gender
- Nonnie Talks About Trauma
- Nonnie Talks About Pregnancy and Birth
- Inside Out: Your body is amazing inside and out and only belongs to you.
- Nonnie Talks About Consent
- Nonnie Talks about Relationships
I am a huge fan of these books as they are the sort of book that you can sit down and read together with your child, and complete the activities at the end of each chapter. Plus they lead into the topic very gently in a non-confronting way. These books are all based around the story of 2 children and a grandmother who helps them to understand tough topics.
This book is an interactive colouring-in book that helps parents to empower kids with the knowledge and skills to prevent (and disclose) sexual abuse. It is based around 7 important lessons that are designed to keep kids safe as well as to empower them in regards to responding to unwanted touch and sexual abuse.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Inside Out by Dr Mary Jo Podgurski from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, and I’m here to tell you about an awesome interactive colouring activity book called Inside Out: Your body is amazing inside and out and belongs only to you. It’s all about body safety, and I think it’s a fantastic resource for parents and kids.
Sex Ed Rescue is not just a YouTube channel where I review books and talk about sex education, but it’s also a website packed with loads of information to help parents have open and honest conversations with their kids about puberty, growing up, love, sex, relationships, and everything in between. It’s like a one-stop shop for all your needs!
Now, let’s dive into this little gem written by Mary Jo Podgurski. It’s an activity book that covers the principles of body safety, specifically aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. The book starts off by celebrating the uniqueness of our bodies and encourages kids to draw a picture of themselves. It’s all about embracing our differences and normalizing the fact that we’re all a little bit different.
The book then goes on to talk about the different parts inside our bodies and how they all have different jobs. It’s a great way to introduce kids to the names of their body parts, including the private ones. But don’t worry, it’s done in a non-confronting and safe way. Kids can even draw on the private parts if they want to, using silly names or whatever makes them comfortable.
Next, the book explores the idea of our best inside parts and best outside parts, encouraging kids to think about what they like about themselves. It’s a fun and positive way to explore self-acceptance.
Family is also an important topic in the book. It emphasizes that every family is special and encourages kids to draw their own family. It’s a great way to celebrate the diversity of families and the love that binds them together.
The book then dives into seven big lessons. Lesson one teaches kids that some parts of their bodies are private and belong to them. Lesson two focuses on trusted adults and the importance of having someone to talk to. Lesson three explores different feelings, while lesson four talks about rules and why they’re important for keeping us safe. Lesson five tackles the topic of secrets and how they can be tricky. And finally, lesson six emphasizes that if something happens that feels wrong, it’s not the child’s fault and they should seek help.
I really love this book because it breaks down complex topics into simple concepts that kids can understand. It’s a great starting point for discussing body safety with your children. However, it’s important to note that this book was published in 2014, so it may not cover all the topics found in the Australian curriculum or reflect the most up-to-date information. But overall, it’s a fantastic resource to get the conversation started.
I hope this review helps you understand what this book is all about. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out. Cheers!
