Book Review
A short overview of this book
What’s Going on Down There by Karen Gravelle is a book for older boys that tells them everything they need to know about puberty and growing up.
This book for older boys tells them everything they need to know about puberty and growing up. It was updated mid 2017, and now includes extra information on pornography, sexting and social media. It provides really good age-appropriate information on love, sex, relationships, consent, STIs, contraception and much more.
This book shows penises with a foreskin (intact) as well as penises with a foreskin (circumcised).
Sexual intercourse is talked about in this book.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 10 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of What’s Going on Down There by Karen Gravelle from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Alright, let’s talk about this awesome book called What’s Going On Down There? A Boy’s Guide Growing Up by Karen Gravelle. It’s the latest edition from 2017, and she had an older version too.
I can’t remember the color of the old cover, but check this out – the new one looks fantastic! It’s a little book packed with information, about 130 pages. Don’t worry, it’s not a novel. Kids at this age don’t need an overwhelming amount of information.
Inside, you’ll find cool illustrations and lots of useful stuff. And guess what? It also covers some of the changes that girls go through. Pretty neat, huh?
I really like this book. It’s perfect for boys aged ten to twelve, maybe not ten exactly, as boys tend to hit puberty a little later, around 12 or 13. It talks about the changes that happen in your body, and the fact that everyone’s body is different. Of course, it also covers the obvious stuff, like what’s going on down there in your pants.
It talks about how testicles get hairy, the penis gets bigger, and all that stuff about erections. And hey, it also talks about how girls change too. It even touches on the topic of sex, but don’t worry, it keeps it age-appropriate. It also addresses important issues like sexual harassment and consent, which are really relevant for kids and teens these days.
Oh, and it doesn’t forget about the online world either. It talks about how things are different now with the internet and all. It covers topics like how babies are made, how to protect yourself from STIs, what’s considered normal in relationships, and even dives into emotions and all that good stuff.
So, yeah, it’s a great little book. You can give it to your kid and say, Hey, here’s a book about puberty. If you want to talk about it, we can. Or we can read it together, whatever works for you. And the best part is, you can always bring up conversations later on. Like, if you hear something on the radio about kids watching porn, you can refer back to the book and discuss it.
Overall, I’m really glad I have the latest version of this book. It’s one of those books that my kids will be reading as they grow older, when it’s more appropriate and when they’re ready for it. Hope that helps! Cheers!
