Book Review
A short overview of this book
You Be You! The Kid’s Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family by Jonathan Branfman and illustrated by Julie Benbassat is a lovely book that will help parents to guide their children to understand, accept and (hopefully) celebrate diversity.
Books like this are really important for both kids and their parents.
For kids, it helps them to understand that there are many kinds of people in the world and that diversity should be celebrated. So it explains the different types of diversity and what it can mean. The language is child-friendly and easy to understand.
For parents, it gives you a resource that can make it easier to explain topics that they may struggle to talk about. Topics like biological sex and gender, gender identity, love & attraction, who can have kids, discrimination, privilege, intersectionality and being an ally. Plus it will help you to reinforce the message that everyone is different and that’s okay.
The book is divided into small sections, with each topic simply explained (with lots of great examples). This means that you can either read the whole book at once or by the chapter.
So if you’re a parent who wants to grow up kids that will help to make the world a better place, then this book is a great way to get started!
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 6 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of You Be You! The Kid’s Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family by Jonathan Branfman 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. On my YouTube channel, I review all sorts of books and talk about sex education. And on my website, I help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex. Today, I want to tell you about a fantastic book called YouBe You: The Kids Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family by Jonathan Branfman and illustrated by Julie Ben.
Now, this book is really special. It’s not your typical sex education book, but it covers all the important stuff. It’s inclusive and covers a wide range of topics. The examples in the book are based in America, so keep that in mind. For instance, it talks about the fact that same-sex marriage is not allowed in some states in America.
The book is divided into chapters that cover everything from understanding biological sex to gender identity, love and attraction, discrimination, privilege, intersectionality, and being an ally. It’s really comprehensive!
One thing I love about this book is that it’s inclusive of everyone. No matter who you are, you’ll find yourself represented in these pages. It talks about different genders, different sexual orientations, and different family structures. It challenges stereotypes and expectations, encouraging kids to embrace their uniqueness.
The book explains the concept of gender and how it doesn’t always align with biological sex. It talks about chromosomes, intersex individuals, and the diversity within gender and race. It even introduces some jargon, but don’t worry, they provide clear examples to make it easier to understand.
The book also explores different forms of attraction, from romantic to asexual or aromantic. It emphasizes that it’s okay to be different and reassures kids that their feelings are valid. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and diverse, representing people with disabilities, different skin tones, and various ethnic backgrounds.
It also touches on topics like being gay or straight, what it means to have a family, and the importance of fighting discrimination. It discusses privilege and intersectionality, helping kids understand that everyone has multiple identities and experiences different forms of discrimination.
The book ends on a positive note, reminding kids to be true to themselves and accepting of others. It encourages them to be good people and stand up for their friends. After all, we want our kids to grow up to be kind and accepting adults, right?
I really recommend this book for parents who want to raise open-minded and inclusive kids. It’s not just about sex, but about teaching important values and promoting diversity. So go ahead and check it out!
I hope this review was helpful. Cheers!
