It's NOT the Stork - review
A unique, important book for children: But with caution!
It's NOT the Stork is for preschool, kindergarten and early primary levels - but you'll want parents' consent before you decide to read it to your grandchildren.
Title: It's NOT the Stork published by Candlewick Press
Author: Robie H. Harris
Illustrator: Michael Emberley
Pages: 60, full color
Price: $16.99
ISBN: 076360047-4
It's about time for a book this filled with accurate, factual, real information presented in an understandable and non-threatening way. However, as a grandparent, you'll want to be particularly sensitive to your grandchildren's parents' feelings and style. This is sex education.
Sub-titled A book about Girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends, this well constructed volume is just that. It's specific, dealing with genitals, self-pleasuring, sex, reproduction, and appropriate/inappropriate touching, to name a few.
The language is lively and comfortable. The words are real words for real body parts and functions. The characters leading readers through the book are perfect. One is a delightful green bird with a matter-of-fact attitude. The other is a shy little bee who isn't sure he really wants to get to the bottom of the question, "Where did I come from."
But get to the bottom he does, and so will you and your little ones. For me, it's an appropriate way to deal with questions that will start coming from kids at this age, and before. The illustrations are clear, true, and quite ok to share with anyone.
You can read it to your grands, or gift their parents with a copy and get permission to talk frankly with the kids when they ask you stuff. The book is a tool. It can be read in sections, as the kids want to know more detail, or read all at once.
Author Harris is an award winner (New York Times Best Book, American Library Association Notable Book) for similar books for older children. She takes on important topics and handles them in a frank way that makes sense and allows questions to feel ok. Her research was thorough - sources included experts in child development, education, pediatrics, and psychology.
Illustrator Emberley has peopled this work with a diverse culture of children, animals and adults. No one is left out, no one appears threatening or threatened. The pictures are clear, discrete and honest.
Stork is endorsed by TV child expert T. Berry Brazelton and Penelope Leach, PhD children's author. It's a valuable book that opens the way for responsible adults to encourage thoughtful exploration in children's' minds. Don't hand it to a child and say, "Go read."
It's to share.
