It Isn’t Rude to be Nude by Rosie Haine

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. This is where I help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex. That’s why I love reviewing books, because they make these conversations so much easier. I’ve been on the hunt for this particular book for a while now, but since I review so many, I stopped buying them. And to top it off, my local library has this rule where they can’t interlibrary borrow for a whole year. So it took me a bit of time to finally get my hands on this book. Sorry about that! I was really excited when they could finally get it in. It’s called It Isn’t Rude to Be Nude by Rosie Haynes or Rosie Hayne. Rosie is an English author and illustrator, and I love that this book celebrates diversity and teaches kids that it’s okay to be different.

You see, we have these conversations for two important reasons. First, it helps kids accept and love their own bodies. It boosts their self-esteem and body image. For example, if a child has a birthmark on their face and they go to school where no one else has a birthmark, they might feel like something’s wrong with them. But we need to let them know that everyone is unique and these differences are just special traits. The second reason we have these conversations is because we don’t want our kids to become bullies. We want them to be accepting and inclusive of people who look different from them. It’s all about teaching them good values.

Now, let’s talk about the book itself. I really dig the art style, although it’s a bit abstract, making it a little tricky to turn the pages. But hey, that’s no biggie. It covers different body parts, including nipples and Willies (yeah, there’s a bit of slang in there). But don’t worry, you can always change the words to what works for you. The book also talks about different abilities and keeps the illustrations of genitals simple and not overly detailed. They use the word vulva instead of vagina, which is interesting, but they do use slang in other parts. Remember, no book is perfect, so feel free to adapt it to your preferences.

I love that the book also addresses body hair, although I wish they included hairy backs too. It’s important to show that some bodies have lots of hair, and that’s totally normal. The book also talks about different markings on the skin and the different types of hair people can have. And as the body grows up, it changes. The book emphasizes that everyone is different, and that’s totally okay. It reminds kids that it isn’t rude to be nude. But here’s the thing, you’ll want to add your own family rules about nudity when reading this book. Like, it’s okay to be naked at home, but not at school or when you have visitors over. Make sure to have those conversations with your child.

I hope you find this book helpful. I really liked it, and I wish books like this were around when my kids were younger. Cheers!