Book Review
A short overview of this book
You-ology. A puberty guide for every body is an inclusive puberty book for tweens. By inclusive, I mean that this book will also be suitable for transgender and non-binary children.
The books by these authors are a little different to most other puberty books, as the authors tell the story of a group of children as they explain the changes that will happen, and how to care for their changing body. The social and emotional changes of puberty are also discussed.
Circumcised penises are normalised throughout this book, and there is one page where they show a circumcised and “uncircumcised” penis. I really do wish more authors would refer to a penis with a foreskin as intact, as “uncircumcised” is problematic language.
This book DOES NOT talk about sexual intercourse.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 9 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of You-ology. A puberty guide for every body from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. On my website, I help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex. I also review books because I truly believe they can make sex education easier. Today, I want to talk about a fantastic book called You-Ology: A Puberty Guide for Everybody by Melissa Holmes, Trish Hutchinson, and Kathryn Lowe.
Melissa and Trish have been running Girl-ology for a long time, so I was thrilled to see that they’ve created a book that’s inclusive and goes beyond the traditional boy-girl binary. This book is for everyone, regardless of their gender identity. It’s all about puberty and the changes that happen during this time.
You-Ology covers a lot of important topics. It explains what puberty is, why it happens, and what it all means. It also talks about feelings, making friends, staying safe, body hair, body odor, skin changes, breasts and chests, periods, testosterone, and the changes that come with it. The book even addresses what to do if puberty doesn’t feel quite right, especially for kids experiencing body dysphoria.
Now, let’s talk about the artwork. The illustrations have a unique style with big heads, which is pretty cool. While they may not look super realistic, they do show diversity in body shapes and skin colors. However, I do wish they would normalize natural bodies more, especially when it comes to penises. But hey, that’s just my personal opinion.
What’s really exciting about this book is that it’s inclusive for all kids, regardless of their gender identity. Even if your own kids aren’t gender diverse, it’s still a great resource to have because they might have friends who are. It’s all about empowering our kids with information and teaching them to be inclusive of everyone’s bodies.
I think You-Ology is a refreshing and helpful book. It’s about time we had a puberty guide that caters to all kids and ensures that no one feels excluded. So, if you’re looking for a resource that promotes inclusivity and provides valuable information about puberty, I highly recommend checking out this book.
I hope you found this review helpful. Cheers!
