Things Tom Likes by Kate E. Reynolds

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Things Tom Likes by Kate E. Reynolds has been written about masturbation for boys with autism and related conditions.

It talks about how masturbation is a private activity, where it should and shouldn’t happen, and general hygiene. A book that you could use with children of all abilities, especially if they have trouble remembering your family rules. It does talk about ejaculation, which usually happens at around 13½ (+/- a few years).

This is a book that can be used with all children, regardless of their ability. I read this with my 9 year old son, several times and he loved it. Plus it started some great conversations about our family rules plus the fact that masturbation changes as kids go through puberty.

Kate E. Reynolds also has other books that you may find helpful.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 10 to 14 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Things Tom Likes by Kate E. Reynolds 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, your go-to channel for all things related to sex education, puberty, and growing up. Today, I want to talk about a book called Things Tom Likes: A Book About Sexuality and Masturbation for Boys and Young Men with Autism and Related Conditions by Katie Reynolds.

Now, I’m not an expert in disabilities, but this book comes highly recommended by some of my peers in the field. And let me tell you, I really like it! It’s a great little book that can be used to talk to boys of all abilities about masturbation.

I have to warn you, though, some of the pictures in the book might be a bit confronting, especially for those with disabilities. But that’s because this book is all about being direct and straightforward. No beating around the bush or being subtle here!

The book starts off by introducing Tom and the things he likes to do. And yes, one of those things is touching his penis. The book explains that this is something that should happen in private. It’s important to understand what private means and that certain behaviors, like touching your penis in public, are a big no-no.

The book also covers the concept of private zones, which are hidden by underwear. It’s not just boys who have private zones, but girls too. Everyone should respect their private zones and not touch them when they’re out and about. The book even points out all the different private zones to make it clear.

Now, there’s a section in the book that talks about Tom feeling excited and wanting to touch his penis when he’s out in public. But the book emphasizes that he knows he must wait until he gets home. It’s all about reinforcing the rule.

I have to mention that the book shows Tom completely naked, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But hey, every book has its imperfections, right? You can always adapt it to your liking. There’s another book I have for later that has images too, but the character doesn’t take off her clothes.

The book also touches on ejaculation and mentions that white liquid called sperm spurts out. Now, this section is more appropriate for children who have gone through puberty, usually around 13 and a half years old. So if you have a younger child who’s masturbating, this part might not be relevant just yet.

After Tom finishes, he gets dressed and washes his hands for hygiene. It’s important to feel happy and relaxed. Then he goes back downstairs to enjoy dinner. The book doesn’t explicitly say if masturbation is okay or not, but it does provide rules and guidelines to follow.

Now, I want to address something important. While some religions and cultures are against masturbation, there’s no medical or health research that says it’s bad for you. It’s mostly a cultural taboo. So, what I really appreciate about this book is that it reinforces the rules around masturbation.

There aren’t many books out there that talk about this topic, so it’s refreshing to find one that focuses on it. I actually read it with my nine-year-old son, and we had a little giggle at some of the pictures. Of course, we didn’t dwell on them, we just started reading and discussing. It sparked a great conversation about masturbation and where it’s appropriate.

I hope this review helps you out. Cheers!

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