It's So Amazing!

Last updated

It's So Amazing!
It's So Amazing.jpg
First edition cover
Author Robie Harris
Illustrator Michael Emberley
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Subject Human sexuality
Publisher Candlewick Press
Publication date
November 1, 1999
Media typePrint
Pages81
ISBN 978-0-7636-0051-8
OCLC 40433137
612.6
LC Class QP251.5 .H37 1999
Preceded by It's Perfectly Normal  

It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families is a 1999 children's book about pregnancy and childbirth. It is written by Robie Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley. [1]

Contents

Content

The book is intended for tweens, a slightly older demographic than Harris' previous books on sex education, It's Not the Stork and It's Perfectly Normal . [2] [3] It deals with topics related to sexual reproduction, human sexuality, relationships, sexually transmitted infection, and safe sex practices. Educational cartoon illustrations provide visuals of processes such as fetal development. [4] [5] The information is presented alongside the commentary of two characters, a curious bird and a bee who finds the topic embarrassing, acting as emotional stand ins for the readers. [3] [5]

Publication history

An updated edition of the book which included information about internet safety was published in 2014, alongside an expanded edition of It's Perfectly Normal. [6]

Reception

The book received praise for its informative content, age appropriate humor and approachable writing style. [5] [4] [3] [7] Publishers Weekly praised the book's "informal yet informed perspective" and usefulness as an educational resource. [5] K. J. Dell'Antonia of The New York Times praised its illustrations, particularly a "glorious, life-sized image of the fetus in the womb." [6] Kirkus Reviews wrote that it "expertly walk the line between frankness and bluntness, keeping the actual sex act under the covers, and nimbly explaining how abuse differs from normal human contact and affection." [4] Common Sense Media awarded the book four out of five stars. [3]

Both Kailen Stover of Scary Mommy and Carrie R. Wheadon of Common Sense Media recommended the book as a way for parents to open up a dialogue about sex and their personal values. [2] [3]

It received an award for Notable Children's Books from the American Library Association (ALA) in 2000. [8] The book has subsequently been included in several publications' lists of the best books for teaching sex education, including New York Times, [9] Bustle, [10] Scary Mommy, [2] She Knows, [11] and Redbook . [12]

The book was frequently challenged by groups who objected to the inclusion of information about sexuality in children's books, including homosexuality, abortion and masturbation. However, it was subject to less controversy than It's Perfectly Normal . [13] It appeared as #37 in the ALA's list of Most Banned Books during the 2000–2009 decade. [14] In 2014, a petition for the National Library Board (NLB) to reinstate the book and others which had been removed received 3,800 signatures. [15] After The Straits Times reported that these books were removed because of customer feedback, the NLB stated that they had actually been removed because of an internal review. [16] It appeared on Salon.com's 2014 list of the most controversial sex ed books of all time. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbi Twins</span> American identical twin sister models

Shane and Sia Barbi, popularly known as The Barbi Twins, are identical twins, cover models, co-authors, and spokespersons for animal rights advocacy.

<i>Goosebumps</i> Series of childrens novels by R. L. Stine

Goosebumps is a series of horror novels written by American author R. L. Stine. The protagonists in these stories are tweens or young teens who find themselves in scary circumstances usually involving the supernatural, the paranormal or the occult. From 1992 to 1997, 62 books were published under the Goosebumps umbrella title. Various spin-off series were written by Stine: Goosebumps Series 2000, Give Yourself Goosebumps, Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Goosebumps Triple Header, Goosebumps HorrorLand, Goosebumps Most Wanted and Goosebumps SlappyWorld. Another series, Goosebumps Gold, was never released. Goosebumps has spawned a television series, video games series, comic series and merchandise, as well as a series of feature films, starring Jack Black as Stine.

<i>Heather Has Two Mommies</i> 1989 book by Lesléa Newman

Heather Has Two Mommies is a children's book written by Lesléa Newman with illustrations by Diana Souza. First published in 1989, this story was one of the first pieces of LGBTQ+ children's literature to garner broad attention. While the book is often noted as the first lesbian picture book, Jane Severance's book, When Megan Went Away, also has lesbian characters and debuted ten years before Newman's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Boyd</span> American singer-songwriter (1939–2009)

Jimmy Devon Boyd was an American singer, musician, and actor known for his 1952 recording of the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Library Board</span> Statutory board

The National Library Board (NLB) is a statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Information of the government of Singapore. The board manages the public libraries throughout the country.

<i>Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark</i> Childrens story collection

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a series of three collections of short horror stories for children, written by Alvin Schwartz and originally illustrated by Stephen Gammell. In 2011, HarperCollins published editions featuring new art by Brett Helquist, causing mass controversy amongst fans of Gammell. Subsequent printings have restored the original Gammell art. The titles of the books are Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981), More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1984), and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (1991).

The talk about sex, often colloquially referred to as "the birds and the bees" or "the facts of life", is generally the occasion in most children's lives when their parents explain what sex is.

<i>King & King</i> 2000 picture book by Stern Nijland and Linda De Haan

King & King is a children's picture book co-authored and co-illustrated by Stern Nijland and Linda De Haan. King & King tells the story of a young prince whose mother is forcing him to find his princess. However, after meeting many princesses, the prince falls in love with another prince. King & King was originally written in Dutch and has since been published in ten languages. The book's illustrations have received both positive and negative reviews, as has the storyline. The book has been analyzed for both its usefulness in the classroom and its challenges to social norms.

<i>And Tango Makes Three</i> 2005 childrens book

And Tango Makes Three is a children's book written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole which was published in 2005. The book tells the story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who create a family together. With the help of the zookeeper, Mr. Gramsay, Roy and Silo are given an egg which they help hatch. The female chick, that completes their family, is consequently named "Tango" by the zookeepers. The book was based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins who formed a pair bond in New York's Central Park Zoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonya Sones</span> American poet and author

Sonya Sones is an American poet and author. She has written seven young adult novels in verse and one novel in verse for adults. The American Library Association (ALA) has named her one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackpot (comics)</span> Comics character

Jackpot is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Jackpot, Sara Ehret, first appeared in Spider-Man: Swing Shift. The second incarnation, Alana Jobson, debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #545.

<i>Its Perfectly Normal</i> Book by Robie Harris

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health is a children's book written by Robie Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley. The purpose of the book is to inform preadolescent children about puberty by exploring different definitions of sex. It was first published in 1994 by Candlewick Press, and has since been updated with new information. Harris was prompted to write It’s Perfectly Normal by her editor so young individuals would understand aspects of sexual health. The book has won multiple accolades and appraisal for its accurate information and its normalization of body changes and human sexuality. However, it has also been a source of controversy because of its graphic images that some consider inappropriate for the targeted age range. Many of Harris’s books, including It’s Perfectly Normal, have appeared on the American Library Association's Most Challenged Books list frequently since 2005. It’s Perfectly Normal has additional anniversary editions that were published in 2004, 2009, and 2014. The book has also been translated in 27 languages.

<i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> 2011 erotic romance novel by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It became the first instalment in the Fifty Shades novel series that follows the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving BDSM. Originally self-published as an ebook and print-on-demand in June 2011, the publishing rights to the novel were acquired by Vintage Books in March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamala Khan</span> Fictional superheroine in Marvel Comics

Kamala Khan is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie, Kamala is Marvel's first Muslim protagonist character and South Asian American personality with her own comic book. In the Marvel Universe, Kamala is a teenage Pakistani-American from Jersey City, New Jersey with body-morphing abilities who discovers that she has Inhuman genes in the aftermath of the "Inhumanity" storyline. She assumes the mantle of Ms. Marvel from her idol, Carol Danvers, after Danvers becomes Captain Marvel.

Katie Rain Hill is an American transgender activist and author. In 2014, she published the award-winning autobiographical book Rethinking Normal (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scary Mommy</span> American website for mothers

Scary Mommy is a website that produces content targeting mothers, which generally focuses on parenting, motherhood, current events and pop culture. The site is owned by Bustle Digital Group and the website is based in New York City, in the United States of America.

Devorah Blachor is an American writer, journalist, humorist and essayist who was born in New York.

Mary Jo Podgurski is an educator known for her work on adolescent sexual health and development, and childbirth education. She has been recognized within Washington PA and at the national level for her educational activities in the realm of teenager health.

<i>The Care and Keeping of You</i> 1998 book by Valorie Lee Schaefer

The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls by Valorie Lee Schaefer is an educational children's book about puberty, female health and hygiene. It was written for readers aged eight years and older, and does not mention sex or sexuality. The book was first published in 1998 by American Girl, a U.S. doll company, under its Advice Library imprint.

Brenda Janowitz is an American writer and attorney.

References

  1. Harrison, Colin (November 21, 1999). "The Birds and the Bunnies". The New York Times.
  2. 1 2 3 Stover, Kailen (May 8, 2021). "These Resources Will Help You Have 'The Sex Talk' With Your Kids". Scary Mommy. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Wheadon, Carrie R. (2004). "It's So Amazing! Book Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "It's So Amazing!". [Review]. Kirkus Reviews . November 1, 1999.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families". [Review]. Publishers Weekly . January 4, 1999. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Dell'Antonia, K. J. (September 17, 2014). "20 Years After 'It's Perfectly Normal,' What's Changed?". Motherlode Blog. The New York Times Company . Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. Ingle, Róisín (February 19, 2020). "Shame-free sex education: It's So Amazing! And only a little bit mortifying". The Irish Times. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. "It's So Amazing: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families". American Library Association. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  9. Dell'Antonia, K. J. (December 10, 2014). "Parents in Europe, Talking to Kids About Sex". Motherlode Blog. The New York Times Company . Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  10. Weiss, Suzannah (June 15, 2015). "You Have To See This Sex Ed Book From 1975". Bustle. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  11. Auteri, Steph (August 4, 2022). "These Frequently Banned Sex Ed Books Are Essential Reading in My Home". Book Riot. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  12. Cho, Nuy (April 29, 2016). "How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex So You Don't Make the Same Mistakes I Did". Redbook. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  13. Jarvis, Zeke (August 18, 2017). Silenced in the Library: Banned Books in America. ABC-CLIO. p. 175. ISBN   978-1-4408-4395-2.
  14. "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000–2009". Banned & Challenged Books. American Library Association. March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  15. Lee, Howard (July 10, 2014). "Petition with 3,800 names demands that NLB reinstate books". The Online Citizen Asia. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. "NLB says other titles withdrawn because of internal reviews". Today . July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  17. Clark-Flory, Tracy (May 7, 2014). "Inside the most controversial sex-ed books of all time". Salon. Retrieved March 14, 2023.[ better source needed ]