Cynthia Gives Thanks for Its Great To Be A Girl

Another Thanksgiving is upon us and I am always in awe of how God blesses my family and I every year. Every year brings new challenges and experiences and God is always right there blessing me with opportunities to live and learn. I am thankful for my position here at CCBR and being a part of a group of women who care about feeding our children's spirits through literature. I am especially grateful for It's Great To Be A Girl by Dannah Gresh. My 11-year-old daughter and I love this book. It's a resource that continues to help my daughter through the challenges of adolescence in a practical and spiritual way. It also encourages her to share her journey with me as an ally.

Everywhere your daughter goes--online or in real life--our culture tells her lies about her body. That's why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events has developed this resource that points tween girls like yours to the truth about God's design.

With stories and examples your daughter can relate to, this Girl's Guide takes her to the Bible as her resource, helping her meditate on its message and have fun while she does it. She'll explore questions such as What if my body is different from everyone else's? What does the Bible mean by "Honor God with your body"? What about makeup--should I wear it? If so, how much? Should I be afraid to grow up? What's the big deal with nutrition and exercise?

Here's solid guidance with biblical grounding that will help your daughter grow spiritually as she's maturing physically.

About this series: The Girl's Guide books in the Secret Keeper Girl Series have been created for tween girls to help them explore topics important to them and give them the opportunity to travel deeper into "God's diary"--the Bible--for truth and instruction. 

What I Like: This in-depth book for young girls about to or who are already experiencing puberty goes into what is happening to their bodies, the importance of the changes and why God is the author of the changes. From the very beginning, authors Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel offer opportunities for the young readers to take this journey with their parents and friends as a bible study and learning experience. They are teaching the readers prayers, the importance of meditating on God's word and confidence that puberty is positive and necessary. I found it refreshing that Dannah & Suzy made puberty a journey of growth to be proud of, not scary or disgusting. I love that they encourage bonding with moms and friends during the journey.

It is an interactive book where girls can do crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, doodling, prayers, word search and journaling. The book is meant to be a resource, not just a one time read. The book includes sections of bible study.

The book also includes practical information like photos of the female womb and its purpose, menstrual cycle info, along with hair style ideas, hygiene practices, staying active while having fun, the importance of healthy eating and even bra shopping.


What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 Years but I would say 10-14 due to reproduction discussion.

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publisher, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736960076; Paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $9.21

Its Great To Be A Girl

Everywhere your daughter goes--online or in real life--our culture tells her lies about her body. That's why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events has developed this resource that points tween girls like yours to the truth about God's design.

With stories and examples your daughter can relate to, this Girl's Guide takes her to the Bible as her resource, helping her meditate on its message and have fun while she does it. She'll explore questions such as What if my body is different from everyone else's? What does the Bible mean by "Honor God with your body"? What about makeup--should I wear it? If so, how much? Should I be afraid to grow up? What's the big deal with nutrition and exercise?

Here's solid guidance with biblical grounding that will help your daughter grow spiritually as she's maturing physically.

About this series: The Girl's Guide books in the Secret Keeper Girl Series have been created for tween girls to help them explore topics important to them and give them the opportunity to travel deeper into "God's diary"--the Bible--for truth and instruction. 

What I Like: This in depth book for young girls about to or who are already experiencing puberty goes into what is happening to their bodies, the importance of the changes and why God is the author of the changes. From the very beginning, authors Dannah Greash and Suzy Weibel offer opportunities for the young readers to take this journey with their parents and friends as a bible study and learning experience. They are teaching the readers prayers, the importance of meditating on God's word and confidence that puberty is positive and necessary. I found it refreshing that Dannah & Suzy made puberty a journey of growth to be proud of, not scary or disgusting. I love that they encourage bonding with moms and friends during the journey.

It is an interactive book where girls can do crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, doodling, prayers, word searches and journaling. The book is meant to be a resource, not just a one time read. The book includes sections of bible study.

The book also includes practical information like photos of the female womb and its purpose, menstrual cycle info, along with hair style ideas, hygiene practices, staying active while having fun, importance of healthy eating and even bra shopping.


What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 Years but I would say 10-14 due to reproduction discussion.

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publisher, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736960076 ; Paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99
OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.93

Your Special Gift

Like most parents, Carol McCormick struggled to know how to talk to her preteen girls about sex. She wanted to inform them, but also avoid being explicit. Her girls were nine and eleven at the time. What she presented to them is now available to you in book form.

Your Special Gift: A Preteen Primer to the Facts of Life is "an analogy of sex, comparing their bodies to precious gifts and opening these treasures to having sex." The author begins by talking about Christmas, how wonderful it is to open presents that morning, and how awful would it be if they had already been opened, played with and enjoyed too soon.

Each chapter begins with a short Scripture quotation, frequently from 1 Corinthians 13, then approaches the topic in a conversational style. The author defines sex as a man and woman "joining their bodies." She goes on to say: "A man's body part works like a key and a woman's body part works like a lock, and as they fit together they open this wonderful gift." While always sticking with the predominant analogy, the text includes brief discussions of:

• various names and terms for sex
• God's intention for sex (between a husband and wife only)
• The importance of waiting to "open your gift" until after marriage
• The dangers of "opening your gift" too soon or to the wrong person
• Wrong motives for "opening a gift" and common forms of peer pressure
• Pornography, rape, prostitution and AIDS (mostly just definitions and why they are unhealthy)
• Bad touches and how to respond (child molestation)

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New International Version. A "Note to Parents" offers both an introduction to the book and a short explanation of why it was written.

What I Like: The author covers a broad scope of topics directly and with brevity. I like that she encourages parents to use this as a starting point for discussions with their children. I also like that she consistently reminds readers that they are valuable and that their bodies are special. While discussing predators and inappropriate touches, the author suggests to child readers that, if they have been violated and find it too hard to tell an adult, they can simply take the book and show them "this page." I think that's an excellent suggestion! Victims are usually embarrassed and scared. This provides a less intimidating way to get help.

What I Dislike: I struggle with analogies for important topics, especially sex. They seem to always fall short in one way or another, either being too descriptive or not enough. This book fluctuates in that area. For example, the author spends a whole page talking about AIDS, but never mentions the existence of other sexually transmitted diseases. The text uses words like hooker, intercourse, rape and pornography, but never once gives the accurate names for a man's "key" or the woman's "lock."

Also, in the section on predators, the author provides readers with things they can say if someone touches them inappropriately. One reads: "I'm going to tell someone if you don't stop." I find this very dangerous. Victims need to know that they ALWAYS tell, even if the violator stops.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Celestial Press, 2009 (print version), 2012 (e-version); ISBN: 0967536804; Paperback or Electronic; 32 pages; $5.98

Buy it Now at Amazon.com for $5.98!

Or get the Kindle edition for $0.99.

Special Info: Visit the author's website for more information on her, this book and her other titles.

A Girl's Guide to Life: The Truth on Growing Up, Being True, and Making Your Teen Years Fabulous!

If you have a tween or teen girl wrestling with life issues and questions, Katie Meier’s book A Girl’s Guide to Life: The Truth on Growing Up, Being True, and Making Your Teen Years Fabulous! provides some guidance and answers.

The book opens and closes with a message from the author. Meier explains that the book is not set up in a linear fashion but that chapters can be read in any order. Because it’s written from a Christian perspective, Meier also provides some Scripture references in the text. The rest of the book is divided into three sections, where Meier tackles topics involving the mind, body, and soul of a young girl.

Under “mind”, Meier addressed self-esteem, romance, prejudice and perception, pressure and the real you, going online and the digital you, and disorders and who can help. In this section, I thought Meier’s online/digital advice and frank talk about disorders was spot on. She acknowledged both the advantages and dangers of electronic communication, and gave good advice on how to protect yourself from those dangers. For disorders, she not only laid out warning signs, she provided information about where a teen can go to find help.

Under “body”, Meier discussed beauty, fashion, puberty, sex and sexuality, guys, and personal rights (which had to do with sexual harassment, abuse, and self-defense). I thought the two best chapters in this section were on beauty and sexuality. I appreciated Meier stating that in today’s society, how we look on the outside really does count… because, let’s face it, it does. She suggests teens dress in a way that makes them feel confident without going overboard on makeup. The chapter on sex and sexuality briefly brings up masturbation and sexual temptation. Meier makes it clear that sex is for after marriage. Most of this chapter follows a question and answer format.

Under “mind”, Meier looked at family, friends, religion, volunteer work, and choosing who you will be. Meier paints a picture of what a family should be—loving, supporting, protecting—and then gives some straight talk about what to do when families don’t get along or are abusive. In the religion section, she points out the main differences between Christianity and a variety of other religions and gives succinct summaries about each religion she mentions. (They are Buddhism, Wicca, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism.)

What I Like: I appreciate the inclusion of website and numbers teens can call to find help for eating disorders… which, as the author notes, is a major problem for teen girls. I was impressed with the scope of the issues she addressed, and how she fit them into one of the three subheading of mind, body, or soul. Meier gave a lot of great advice and information without sounding preachy, which means this book might also work for a general market audience. She appealed to logic as well as emotion in making her presentations. I wish a book like this had been available for me when I was a teen!

What I Dislike: In the self-esteem chapter, Meier repeatedly referred to the “Land of No”, a phrase she got from a book by Caroline Knapp called Appetites. Since I haven’t read that book, I found this reference a little confusing. In the romance chapter, I didn’t think the checklist for determining what kind of emotional girl you are was very accurate or realistic. It’s hard to fit girls into one of two categories when it comes to romance. I thought a few of the chapters were a bit too shallow (fashion, prejudice), but they did, at least, provide a nice overview. Also, while the book gave some Scriptural references, I felt like it didn’t provide enough. I would have liked a list of Scripture to look up or a workbook-like section for girls to find out more about where God stands on some of the issues Meier addressed. Perhaps that would have helped flesh out some of the chapters that I felt addressed the topics too superficially. Finally, I felt like in Meier’s attempt to “talk teen”, some of her wording seemed awkward. Some of the slang in the book is already obsolete.

Overall Rating: Very Good... Plus Amazon has an excellent low price on this book, making it a real bargain!

Age Appeal: Ages 13 and up

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2010; ISBN:1400315948; Paperback, 224 PGS., $12.99
Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.99.
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Special Info: Publisher Thomas Nelson also offers A Guy's Guide to Life: How to Become a Man, written by Jason Boyett. Read a CCBR review of this book.

A Guy's Guide to Life: How to Become a Man in 224 Pages or Less

If you are looking for a last-minute gift for that hard-to-buy-for teen boy on your list, Jason Boyett's A Guy's Guide to Life: How to Become a Man in 224 Pages, may be a fun choice. Boyett uses humor, faith, research and frank language to sensitively handle a wide spectrum of issues teen boys are interested in. Boyett speaks directly to guys on issues ranging from how to knot a tie, to how sex works, to developing meaningful friendships.

This book is organized into three sections. Section one explains the working of a guy's mind, and covers topics such as stereotypes and peer pressure, communication (with parents and girls), dating, and being a gentleman. He advocates listening to and respecting parents, staying away from "danger zones" on dates (empty houses, movie theaters, etc. . .) and holding doors open for anyone, regardless of age or gender.

Part two is labeled "Body," and gives detailed instructions about grooming and clothing, exercise and healthy choices. This section also contains a "Sex Chapter" where Boyett explains how sex works and discusses how Christian teenage boys should view sexuality and dating.

Boyett discusses masturbation, pornography and oral sex in this chapter. While he has no problem with hand-holding and kissing, Boyett defines any other sexual behavior as "sex," which should be reserved for marriage. He explains pornography is never positive, and can become an addiction. About masturbation, Boyett says, "God created your sex drive, but it is doubtful he intended masturbation to be a good use of it." However, he also says most teens will struggle with it, and he warns against carrying "the kind of guilt that, if it continues to fester, can drive a person away from God." Step to Manhood #52 is, "Deciding to hold off on having sex until you're married and sticking to that commitment no matter how tempting things get." He also discusses what to do if you have already gone too far.

The last chapter in this section is a refreshing and empathetic look at the emotional and physical changes teen girls are going through.

"Part Three: Soul" discusses faith, family, friends, your neighbor and the future. Boyett explains what it means to follow Jesus and live in His grace. He also recommends boys volunteer, contribute to church, and consider service or mission projects. He makes a compelling case for attending college, whether in an Ivy League setting or community college. Especially helpful are Boyett's ideas about how to pay for college, and think about your future.

What I Like: Guys will appreciate Boyett's clear explanations and conversational tone. He treats readers as intelligent, mature teens, capable of using straight-forward information to make wise choices.

Boyett is unequivocal about his faith, but he relates to teens, and never preaches, but instead, comes alongside the boys he is writing to.

I also like Boyett's humor. While we don't usually use the terms "boobs" and "butt," reading them in his book, along with his funny commentary, could lighten up awkward topics. I can imagine appreciating a good laugh here and there, if I was reading this with my son (in several years!)

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 13 and up (and parents)

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1595-6; Paperback, 209 pages, $12.99

Buy it Now at Christianbook.com for $8.49

OR Buy it at Amazon.com for $11.69.

Special Note: Boyett explains a very strict version of "courtship" but is more in favor of dating, with hand-holding and light kissing (as opposed to "deep, open-mouthed" kissing) allowed.

Facing the Facts: The Truth about Sex and You

Finding a suitable sex ed book for kids is difficult. But finding an accurate sex ed book upholding biblical values? That's almost impossible. Fortunately for Christian parents, Stan and Brenna Jones offer a whole series of sex ed books that have won the Christian Book Award. Book 4 in their series, targeted to young teens, is called Facing the Facts: The Truth About Sex and You.

The book begins by answering the questions "Why and How did God make men and women different?" Here you'll find scientifically based descriptions of how a boy or girl's body changes at puberty. There are textbook-like line drawings of the organs (male and female, including breasts), and complete coverage of all the basics, from getting a period to experiencing wet dreams. Another chapter deals with how women become pregnant, a little bit about the gestation of a baby, and the basic facts about birth. Although all this basic information can be found in any mainstream sex ed book, the authors of Facing the Facts make their book different by explaining Gods design in all these facts.

Next, the authors cover the topic of abstinence before marriage. They write that abstinence is the only way to absolutely not catch sexually transmitted diseases, and that it's also the way to "show God you love Him by obeying Him." In addition, they write, remaining abstinent before marriage gives the greatest honor and respect for the "purpose and meaning" of sex. The authors list some lies kids might hear about why abstinence is bad - or even not do-able - along with reasons why those myths aren't true.

Dating is covered pretty extensively, and the authors urge kids to decide long before they ever date just "how far" they are willing to go. This way, they say, kid are less likely to make a mistake in "the heat of the moment." This chapter also advises kids to only date Christians (so they won't be "unequally yoked," 2 Cor. 6:14) and what the true test of love is (time). The authors suggest kids younger than 16 date only in a group setting. Petting or touching is also discussed in detail. The authors conclude that while the Bible doesn't expressly talk about petting (giving historical reasons why this is so), Jesus says anyone who even looks lustfully at a woman he's not married to is committing a great sin. (Matt. 5:28) Petting creates or feeds lust, the authors say, and therefore should be avoided by Christians. In addition, they write, petting can lead to sexual intercourse with people hardly realizing what's happening.

Next the authors cover tough issues like peer pressure, pornography (sinful because it feeds lust, among other things), cybersex and cyberdating (dangerous), cohabitation before marriage (sinful and statistically harmful to a future marriage), masterbation, broken families, homosexuality, and handling a public school education sex ed class that is "discouraging" to Christian students.

The final chapter encourages kids to walk with God and obey him in all things - including their sexuality.

What I Like: This book is solidly biblical and easy to read. The authors are not judgmental, but neither are they afraid to write about what the Bible has to say on controversial subjects like homosexuality (the author concludes it's a sin, according to the Bible, and studies show genetics play a very minor role in it) and masturbation (which isn't forbidden in the Bible, but if it makes you lust after the opposite sex, they authors write, it's a sin). In addition, the authors don't boss kids around. Instead, they make suggestions about what kids might choose to do.
What I Dislike: This isn't really a "dislike," but more of a caution to parents. Read this (or any other sex ed book) before giving it to your kids, then carefully and prayfully decide if it's right for their personal level of maturity. My kids are 5 and under, so it's hard for me to imagine they'll be ready to learn, at age 11, that sex feels good and what oral sex is. But maybe they will be. In today's world, it's difficult to shield kids from sex and I very much want to be at least one of the first people they learn about such things from. ("Why does this book discuss oral sex?" you wonder? Because the authors know many kids are experimenting with it in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Unfortunately, as the authors point out, even oral sex has it's problems.)

In addition, it would have been so very helpful if the authors had included a list of biblical references about sex. For example, a list of verses or sections about homosexuality would greatly back up their assertions that the Bible says it's a sin.
Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: The publisher's suggested age range is 11 to 14, but every kid is different and not all will be mature enough at 11 to read this book. On the other hand, I think parents need to carefully consider whether or not their kids will be exposed to this information - presented in a secular way - at school, among friends, and from media - at that age.

Publishing Info: NavPress, 2007; ISBN: 978-1600060151; paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

Buy now at Amazon.com for $8.63

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Special Info: Check out our other reviews of other sex ed books in this series.

Before I Was Born

Carolyn Nystrom's Before I Was Born, first published in 1983 and now fully updated, is designed to teach sexual education to children ages 5 to 8. Winner of a Christian Book Award, the volume endeavors to help parents teach children about Godly sex.

The book begins by speaking to parents:

"Many forces will push your children to make bad choices about sex. From their earliest years, children are bombarded by destructive, false messages about the nature of sexual intimacy. These messages come through music, television, the Internet, discussions with their friends, school sex-education programs, and so forth...We believe God means for Christian parents to be the primary sex educators of the children. First messages are the most powerful; why wait until your child hears the wrong thing and then try to correct the misunderstanding?"

Next, the author stresses that each and every one of us was made by God. The Lord knew everything about us before we were born - even our names. After he made the earth and called it good, he made a man and woman and "He said, 'I made their bodies wonderful.'"

Boys, we learn, have a penis and scrotum; the penis sometimes gets hard for a few minutes "but most of the time it stays soft and close to the body." Girls have a vagina, which leads to a special place where a baby can grow. God made boys this way, so that one day when they grow up and get married, they can make a baby. Eventually, all little boys and girls grow up. Men get hairier and their bodies produce semen. Even though the semen is "too small to see...someday he can use these to help make a baby." Women have breasts and once a month their "womb gets thick and soft. Then a tiny egg no bigger than a dot passes through it." This also means that someday when she's married she can make a baby.

God designed men and women to love each other, and if they love each other for a while, they think about getting married. "But men and women need to choose carefully whom they will marry. Once they are married, God wants them to stay together as long as they both live." Once married, God gives men and women a special gift called sex. They lie close to each other and the man puts his penis inside his wife's vagina. Sometimes when they do this, they make a baby.

The book then describes and pictures what a baby looks like during the first and third trimesters, explaining in a rudimentary way how the umbilical cord works and why babies kick. Then we learn how a baby is born: "The mother feels her womb muscles push hard. She feels her vagina stretch open. It hurts, and it is hard work...Finally the baby's head pops out from the mother's vagina." After the baby is born, the mother feeds him through her breasts.

"Long ago, before the world was made, God planned for this moment, planned for this baby to be formed partly from his mother and partly from his father...God planned you, too. And He has given you a wonderful body. Have you ever thanked Him for it?"

What I Like: God is the center of this book - and that's so refreshing. Readers quickly learn God planned for only husbands and wives to have sex. They also learn everything they need to know about their own sexuality and how babies are made. Throughout, the soft illustrations by Sandra Speidel are ideal. Although we can see a little boy naked, a baby coming out of his mother, and a little girl naked, there are no details. We just get the general idea. In addition, I appreciate the author's tips on reading this book to adopted children.

What I Dislike: Some parents may object to this description, which speaks of Adam and Eve: "[God] saw the man's scratchy beard and the woman's soft breasts and He was pleased." The "soft breasts" part took me be surprise at first, but I also know many children who are curious about whether breasts are hard or soft, and grab them inappropriately.

My only real objection is the description of intercourse: "When a husband and wife lie close together, he can fit his penis into her vagina. His semen flows inside of her and their bodies feel good all over." I don't really want to teach my children that sex feels good. To me, this is just makes premarital sex more of a temptation. I think they'll figure out that sex feels nice on their own.

As you read this book, though, bear in mind the author's warning that your child will - without question - learn about sex elsewhere. Even toddlers and preschoolers are exposed to sex talk and graphics. They probably already know more than you think they do. How much better that they learn the correct facts from loving parents.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher 5 - 8. Some parents feel this book is more suited to the 8 and up crowd.

Publisher Info: NavPress, 2009; ISBN: 0061131768; hardback; $10.99
Special Info: Check out our review of The Story of Me, a sex ed book by the same publishers, suitable for younger children. Also take a peek at our reviews of other Carolyn Nystrom books.
Buy it Now from Amazon.com for $9.99,
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What Does the Bible Say About That?

If your 8-to-12-year-old has lots of questions about the Bible - especially about how it pertains to his or her everyday life - What Does the Bible Say About That? by Carolyn Larsen is a must have.

This well organized book begins like this:

"News flash! Learning to live for God doesn't happen overnight. Nope, it's a journey. Think about it - when you start out on a long road trip, more than likely your mom or dad has the trip mapped out. Well, your Christian life journey is mapped out, too - in the Bible. This amazing book is not just a bunch of 'do this and don't do that' lists. It's the history of God's love for you and how his Spirit living in you will guide, protect, love, forgive, and love you again."

Larsen also explains that we all fail, but that God is full of grace so we can begin again, fresh. She says, "What Does the Bible Say About That? will help you understand how God's love and grace is part of your everyday life."

By either checking the index or the detailed table of contents - or simply by paging through the book, which has topics arranged alphabetically - your children can learn what the Bible says on a wide range of topics, including ambition, angels, anger, cheating, clothes, divorce, diaries, dancing, the environment, fortune telling, fear, free time, Heaven, Hell, history, humility, judging others, math, money, music, natural disasters, the opposite sex, pain, prayer, quitting, rebellion, rest, sadness, sarcasm, self control, sex, smoking, texting, the trinity, unborn children, worship, and more - over 300 topics in all.

"Texting?" you may ask. "Smoking? Does the Bible really discuss these things?" Sort of, the author tells us. She says texting is impersonal, but God puts great importance on personal relationships. Texting is fun and fine, but we mustn't forget to speak face-to-face with each other and showing how we care for each other. And smoking isn't a good thing because God wants us to care for the body he give us.

When discussing "hot" topics like sex and drugs, the author is biblically accurate. She tells readers sex is designed for a husband and wife and that our society has cheapened sex. Dating should be kept pure; don't experiment with sexual activity. She says drinking alcohol impairs your judgment and isn't good for your body. She says God wants us to take good care of our bodies; that means eating well (not too little and not strange diet foods)...You get the idea.

Each topic also includes a "Today I Will..." section encouraging kids to apply what they've learned. Throughout, newspaper cartoon style illustrations with captions by Rick Incrocci add interest.

What I Like: What an excellent guide for both kids and parents! Even if you aren't ready to allow your child to freely peruse a book that discusses sex and drugs, keep this on your shelf to help you guide your child through difficult issues. It's a great read together, devotional-style book that you can trust to be biblically sound. It's not exhaustive, but succinct and to the point.

What I Dislike: Nothing. However, even though the author offers Bible verses for each topic, it would be nice if she gave additional passages to look up.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 8 - 12.

Publisher Info: Crossway, 2009; ISBN: 1433502135; paperback; $15.99

Buy it Now from Amazon.com for $10.87,

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The Story of Me

The Story of Me, winner of the ECPA Medallion of Excellence Christian Book Award, is the first of four books in the "God's Design for Sex" series, all written by Stan and Brenda B. Jones. The authors' intent is to offer age appropriate tools that help parents be proactive teachers and counselors rather than reactive problem solvers. Starting the discussion early prevents having to re-teach errant lessons learned from other sources such as the media, classmates or friends.
This first book shows a boy with his family, a mom, dad and baby sister. He asks to hear his story, the way God made him. Readers listen in as a loving question and answer conversation takes place. The book is packed with information. Here is a basic list of what it teaches. Direct quotes are in italics.

• Why are babies born? To be loved by their parents and to grow up and love God.
• Who can have babies? "God wants only married people to have babies...Sometimes a mother knows she will not be able to give everything her baby needs. This mother might let another mommy and daddy adopt her baby."
• How are babies made? God "took a little tiny piece of Daddy's body and a tiny piece of Mommy's body ... God put you in Mommy's womb, or uterus, inside her body." The text also explains: it takes about nine months; while in the mother's womb, the baby breathes and eats through the umbilical cord. This is why we have belly buttons.
• How do babies get out of their mothers? God made the vagina "so it could stretch just big enough to let you out." But some babies could be in danger if born that way, so their mommies have an operation so they can be born safely.
• Without the cord, how do babies eat? "Mother's bodies take the food we eat and make part of it into milk that comes out of our breasts. Our milk is the perfect food for a young baby!"
• How and why are boys and girls different? Boys have penises, and girls have vaginas. "Only girls can become mommies, and only boys can become daddies ... God made all people to love God and make Him happy by obeying His rules." We make God happy when we love Him and love each other. We show our love to Him through obedience; we can show our love to each other "by hugs and kisses, and by taking care of each other."
• Are all hugs and kisses good? No. "God does not want anyone to take love from you that you don't want to share." Our bodies are private. Mothers and fathers help bathe young children, and doctors may check our bodies, but those are the only exceptions. "Someday when you marry, you won't have to be private with your wife."

Joel Specter served as illustrator for this book. Using a slightly impressionistic style, his pictures offer realistic details, but are also intentionally vague where necessary. A boy's penis is shown twice: once in utero and again immediately after birth. In both cases, it's hardly noticeable and certainly not the focus of the illustration. A girl's vagina is shown just once, while her mother changes her diaper. Again, it's not the focus of the illustration, but it is visible. Also, one illustration shows the mother talking with her older son while breastfeeding her infant daughter. While it is obvious what she's doing, no inappropriate parts are visible.
What I Like: I greatly appreciate the concept. What I like the most is the parent guide at the beginning of the book. This part (5 pages long) grounds parents in the need for these conversations and equips them to initiate the conversations without being extremely uncomfortable. There is bound to be some discomfort, but thanks to this guide, it doesn't have to be severe. I also like the illustrations. The artist did a fantastic job with a sensitive topic by keeping the focus on the faces even when other body parts were visible.
What I Dislike: The content may be too thorough. I want my kids to have correct information, but I fear the repercussions of them sharing this information with their friends, which is bound to happen with preschoolers. They repeat everything and not always accurately! I'm not sure they need this much at this age. I think the same concepts can be taught without so many specific details. Also, this book caters to traditional families. Children with single parents or other nontraditional guardians may come away with more questions than answers.
Overall Rating: Very Good, but not for every family.
Age Appeal: 3-5
Publisher Info: NavPress, 2005; ISBN: 0891098437; Paperback; $9.99
Buy it Now from Christianbook.com for $7.99!
You may also purchase the entire series (four children's books ranging from ages 3 to 14) for $31.96.
Or buy this book at Amazon.com for $9.99.
Special Info: While my feelings are mixed about the children's books in this series, I STRONGLY recommend the adult companion: How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex. It is a wonderful help in shaping our children's character and increasing their chances for victory in handling their sexuality wisely. You can purchase this book from Christianbook.com for $15.99 or from Amazon.com for $14.95.

The Princess and the Kiss

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity was written by Jennie Bishop for her daughters. She explains her goal on the back cover of the book: "I asked God how I could teach my young daughters the value of their purity, how I could begin in their early years to stress the importance and beauty of saving themselves for marriage."

The story, like most fairy tales, begins with a wonderful castle in a majestic kingdom. There a princess is born to the king and queen. On the day of her birth they give her a very special gift from God -- "her first kiss." The king and queen take care of her kiss while she is growing and, when she is old enough, they give it to her and explain how special it is. "This kiss is yours to keep ... or to give away, as you see fit." Her father warns her to use wisdom and save her kiss for the man she will marry.

Eventually suitors come calling. One is prideful and full of himself. Another is rich and another romantic. The princess finds reasons to dismiss them all. None are good enough for her kiss. Finally a poor farmer approaches her. He has nothing to give her but his very first kiss, which he has saved just for her. They are married and live happily ever after.

The book concludes by quoting 1 Timothy 1:5 -- "Love ... comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (NIV)

Preston McDaniels does a fantastic job as illustrator. The pages are filled with pastel colors, regal details and enchanting characters. Perfectly fitting for the tone of the story.

What I Like: The concept. It is important to teach children the value of purity. The author has tackled a difficult subject for a young audience. I love the illustrations! I wish they were more colorful, but they are so classic and beautiful.

What I Dislike: I found this book very odd. The intended audience is far too young for such a detailed metaphor. It's confusing. Does this mean we shouldn't kiss anyone? What if we find a good man who has already given away his "kiss"? Do only poor people know the value of their "kisses"? The story, I felt, was too simplistic in its conclusions. I have friends who love this book and read it often to their preschoolers. I love the idea of teaching the lesson early, but feel this book is more appropriate for older girls: tweens and above. I still haven't read it to our daughter(three years old).

Overall Rating: Hmmmm ... For the suggested age range: Poor. For teenagers: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8 (according to the publisher), but I recommend 10 and above.

Publisher Info: Warner Press, 2000; ISBN: 0871628686; Hardback; $12.99

Buy it Now at Amazon for $8.61

Additional Info: The author (along with Susan Henson) has written a companion book entitled Life Lessons from The Princess and the Kiss. It is not a picture book, but a type of devotional to help young girls and their parents "plant seeds of purity." You can also find similar books for boys: The Squire and the Scroll and Life Lessons from The Squire and the Scroll.