The Great Big Book of Life by Mary Hoffman

Book Review

A short overview of this book

The Great Big Book of Life by Mary Hoffman is a lovely book that explains life from the very start to the very end. It provides information about how life starts, and how we grow from a baby to a child, to a teenager, to a young adult, through middle age, old age and death.

This isn’t a book that focuses on where babies come from, but it does discuss it, as this is how life starts for us all. So it explains that we are made when the male and female cell join together.

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 5 to 8 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of The Great Big Book of Life by Mary Hoffman from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, I’m Cath Hak, your friendly sex educator. On my YouTube channel and website, I review books that help with sex education and show parents a better way to talk to their kids about sex. Today, I want to talk about a book from Europe that I recently got my hands on.

Now, this book caused a bit of controversy because it’s a little explicit. But hey, every book is different, right? The artwork is pretty simple, not my favorite, but it gets the job done. It starts off by explaining that there’s a baby, and then it dives into the question we all wonder about: how do we make a baby?

What’s cool about this book is that it doesn’t just focus on the man and woman aspect. It talks about the things that happen before sex, like love. Making a baby begins with love, and there are many different kinds of love. I really appreciate that inclusivity.

Now, here’s where some people might get a bit uncomfortable. There are some pages that some might find crude or lewd, while others might find them funny. It talks about sex, also known as making love or having intercourse. It explains what you need to make a baby – a sperm and an egg. It shows where the testicles and ovaries are, and how the sperm finds the egg. It also mentions that sometimes it doesn’t happen right away, and that’s okay.

The book goes on to talk about other ways a baby can be made, not just through sex. It emphasizes that it can take many tries before it happens. It shows the changes that happen as the baby grows inside the uterus, with pictures of what the baby looks like at different stages. It covers pregnancy, labor, and even mentions the possibility of having an operation to deliver the baby.

Overall, it’s a thick book with a direct and straightforward approach, which is typical of European books. It has a bit of humor too, which I personally enjoy. However, I must admit that it’s a bit on the expensive side and there are more affordable options out there. Personally, I prefer books with a gentle approach that make parents feel more comfortable.

But here’s the thing, my twelve-year-old found it highly amusing and actually sat down to read it. Sometimes, a book with a different angle or a bit of a slant can really engage kids with the content. So, that’s why I like this book. It’s frank, it talks about love, and it’s a great resource for explaining how babies are made.

I hope this review helps you make an informed decision. Cheers!

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