I saw the author of this book interviewed on TV a while back and decided to buy this book. I was intrigued by his philosophy to teach your children at age eight, and to teach kids that sex is the "most wonderful, awesome thing in the world."

I read the book and decided to give it a try on our nine year old. We followed their directions and dialog pretty closely and even used the children's book "Where did I come from" as part of the discussion (this is the book they recommend). We made it a special night for just our son, taking him to his choice of restaurant and having the discussion in a secluded area there.

It worked better than I had ever imagined. We had a wonderful evening sharing this marvelous secret, and setting the record straight in his mind. There were a few embarassing moments (like when he would look up from the book and say, "really, that's what you do? OK.") and my wife and I were quite nervous.

However, after the discussion our son actually thanked us and said how glad he was to know the truth. We felt a closeness that we have rarely felt with our boy. I truely feel we have created a basis on which our parent/child relationship can build. He now feels he can talk to us about anything and he knows we will be upfront with him. I am now giving this book to all my friends with kids. In my mind, this is how sex education should be taught!


The Opposing View   April 14, 2000
 78 out of 116 found this review helpful

While the other reviewers gushed over this book, I found it useful only if one wishes to pass along to their children the uptight and puritanical values that represent everything that is wrong with attitudes about sex in this country. The section about masturbation in which it is suggested that boys should refrain from too much masturbating in order to "save up" for the wife of his dreams would be laughable if it wasn't so disturbing.

The section on homosexuality is also disturbing as well as offensive. I pity any children who happen to be non-heterosexual who are taught by this book. If you are interested in teaching your children about tolerance, acceptance, and the value of diversity, this is NOT the book for you.


They have GOT to be kidding   July 29, 2004
 43 out of 65 found this review helpful

I grew up in a home in which my repressed, puritanical parents never even uttered the word "sex" and told me in all seriousness at age 4 that the stork delivered me to them. When my 5-year-old recently asked me how babies got into their mommies' tummies, I was determined to arm her with the correct information in an age-appropriate manner. I bought this book based on customer reviews and nearly fell over backwards in disbelief when I began to read it. Brushing off a young child's questions by telling him or her that the answer will be revealed on his/her eight birthday sends the message that sex is a taboo subject. I agree with the reviewer who said that the "big talk" at age eight is a goofy concept (and outdated as well). I work with children, and I can safely say that today they're so sophisticated that age eight is actually too late for the "big talk". Building up a child's anticipation with talk about this "totally cool and awesome" secret is laughable at best. Most kids simply aren't going to buy it.

I'm all for advocating sex within the confines of a committed relationship, and in fact it's how I plan to introduce the topic to my daughter. However, I don't plan to follow this book's advice. Better books are out there, including some that are recommended by this book's authors.


This book can change the world   November 10, 1998
 28 out of 43 found this review helpful

This is an amazing book. Of course, I am a little biased because I am the Eyre's daughter. Regardless, I wanted to write a short reveiw because I think that the children of "parenting experts" probably give the most realistic reviews. In fact, I am the product of what they sugest and teach. This book gives clear, aplicable and practical sugestions to help parents talk to their kids and teach them about one of the most importat issues and challenges kids confront. It's a hard world and sex is a hard thing to figure out, there is so much misinformation going around. The media gives so many false impresseions and it is easy to get confused and do things that you would always regret. I am so thankful that my parents had the courage and the concern to talk to me while I was young, opening the lines of comunication and helping me to know what sex is and isn't, what is appropriate and safe and what will eventuallly make me the happiest. I honestly don't know where my life would be if they haden't. It is a real issue, and so many parents choose to avoid it because it is hard to address. I truely think that so many things would chage in this world if more parents applied the advice and suggestions outlined in this book.


Sex appreciation without addiction   March 30, 2001
 26 out of 41 found this review helpful

I found this book to be one of the most realistic and universalapproaches to child sex education around. Though the book emphasizesthe age of 8 as the main talk with your child, it also gives yousuggestions on talking with your child before the age of 8... Also, Iapplaud the approach to maturbation and homosexually. Children needto know that you can learn to like or dislike ANYTHING! The book doesNOT teach hate of anyone or any group but rather that desires orattitudes are changeable dispite what others may say (for politicalreasons or self-justification and denial). For example, people, in myopinion, are not born orientated to smoking but people can becomeaddicted to it. Sex is the same way. I have family members who smokeand I do not agree with smoking but I love them ANYWAY. This bookhelps children appreciate sex without having an addictive norrepressive attitude. I like ice cream but I won't go out and eat awhole gallon of it. There are consequences to approaching sex oranything else in a non self controlling way. This book will help youto teach your child to love others, to love and appreciate sex,without the dangers of experimentation, and to understand its mainunderlying biological purpose -- to reproduce. Now that's a scientificfact. With nine children, the authors know what they are talkingabout. I highly recommend it. If you don't teach you're childrenabout sex, someone else will teach them their way...