Reviews
~~~~~
by Cory Silverberg
Illustrated by Fiona Smyth
The eagerly anticipated follow up to Lambda-nominated What Makes a Baby, from sex educator Cory Silverberg and artist Fiona Smyth, Sex Is a Funny Word reimagines "sex talk" for the twenty-first century.
A comic book for kids that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for children ages 8 to 10 as well as their parents and caregivers.
Much more than the "facts of life" or “the birds and the bees," Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.
Sex Is a Funny Word is the first sex education book for this age group that is inclusive of lesbian, gay, and bisexual experience as well as gender creative and gender-nonconforming children.
Topics covered include:
-- What is sex?
-- Privacy, safety, and respect
-- Boundaries regarding nudity, talking about sex, and touch
-- Assigned sex, gender identity, and gender roles
-- Names and functions of body parts
-- Talking about the word “sexy”
-- Protecting yourself against unwanted sexual touch and abuse
-- Crushes, love, and sexy feelings
Hardcover, 160 pages.
Triangle Square Books for Young Readers. Seven Stories Publisher.
Printed in China.
★ "Sex is a Funny Word is nothing short of revolutionary. Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth’s newest book is brilliant in its approach to giving caregivers and educators the tools they need to talk to kids about their bodies." – Kristin Russo, Buzzfeed
★ "Exciting, enlightening, and innovative, this book addresses timeless questions about sex for a new generation of kids who are increasingly aware of the broad spectrum of gender and sexual identities." – School Library Journal
★ “Emphasizing the importance of trust, respect, justice, and joy—as well as open communication—it’s a thoughtful and affirming exploration of relationships, gender identity, and growing sexual awareness.” – Publisher’s Weekly
★ “An intelligent and inclusive illustrated primer on sexuality. From crushes to gender identity, an honest, openhearted, and stereotype-defying celebration of our bodies.” –Maria Popova, Brainpickings
★ "Done with great sensitivity, precision and poise ... having access to a book like this could change the life of a lot of kids." –Feministing.com
★ "Silverberg is posing big questions at a crucial time. . . .[Books like his] represent shifting ideas and the inevitable parent-kid conversations around them." – Maclean's
★ “This deliciously illustrated book fills a huge need for interactive sex education that parents can feel comfortable reading with their kids. It will result in some very interesting conversations. I wish the teenagers that I treat had been able read this book with a parent when they were younger!” — Miriam Kaufman, MD Head, Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children
★ “You could send your kid to college and graduate school, and years of therapy, to learn how to lovingly come to terms with their gender and sexuality. Or you could simply read this book with them—it’s that thorough, and that good.” — Kate Bornstein, Trans elder, gender outlaw, and author of My New Gender Workbook
★ “Sex Is a Funny Word is a wonderful resource for parents and educators who want to talk with kids about sex and sexuality in a positive, loving, inclusive, and joyful way. For people who care about social justice and want to raise our kids to be healthy, safe, and strong, this is the book we have been waiting for!” — Eveline Shen, Executive Director, Forward Together
★ “I read Sex is a Funny Word with my 10 year old daughter who immediately got it! She saw herself, family, and friends in the characters. It’s an amazing resource and makes what could be a difficult conversation, quite easy. I wish I had this book as a child.” — Aiesha Turman, Founder and Executive Director, The Black Girl Project
★ “It’s hard to describe exactly how much I love Sex is a Funny Word. It is the book that I wish I had when I was young, and the one that I want all young people to have now. Sex is a Funny Word goes beyond token inclusion, and is fully inclusive and affirming of a range of identities and experiences. That said, this is not a book about inclusion nor is it written specifically for people with diverse identities — at it’s core, Sex is a Funny Word is a book for all young people and gives them a solid start on the pathway to being happy and healthy adults.” — Eli R. Green, Ph.D., CSE Assistant Professor, Center for Human Sexuality Studies, Widener University, Author, The Teaching Transgender Toolkit: A Facilitator’s Guide to Increasing Knowledge, Decreasing Prejudice and Building Skills, Founder, The Transgender Training Institute
★ “Inventive, inclusive, and inspiring Sex is a Funny Word is a fantastic new resource for young people to learn about sex and so much more! Brilliant in color and content, the protagonists Zai, Cooper, Mimi, and Omar provide children with the means and the encouragement to explore their feelings, to ask questions, and to be who they are. This is a book that puts diversity and justice at the center of sexuality education - exactly where it should be!” — Al Vernacchio, MS Ed, and author of For Goodness Sex: Changing the Way We Talk to Teens about Sexuality, Values, and Health
★ “Sex Is a Funny Word opens a portal to a world where gender is exactly what we say it is rather than simply the sum of our ‘middle parts.’ Silverberg provides the template for all of us to see the simplicity with which we can step out of today’s binary gender paradigm.” — Aidan Key, author, educator, speaker, and founder of Gender Odyssey
