"Where Did I Come From?"
by Peter Mayle
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Book Reviews of "Where Did I Come From?"
Book Review: Wonderful Introduction to Sex
Summary: 5 Stars
Frankly, I'm shocked by the negative reviews this book has received! I can't imagine what is going on in those reviewers' minds that they think a sweet book like Where Did I Come From? is "too graphic" or "written for a pedophile." There's nothing wrong with describing sex as pleasurable, because in the context of a loving, monogamous relationship (which is how the book depicts sex) it should be pleasurable!
I received this book when I was four or five and I found it absolutely fascinating! I enjoyed looking at all the pictures, especially the ones of the fetus developing inside the mother's womb. The illustrations of the couple also reminded me of my parents, so I was comfortable with that, as well, and the concepts of sex, pregnancy, and birth didn't seem alien or scary.
I think Where Did I Come From? is just informative enough and I will buy it for my own children when they are four or five. I read the book and loved it, but I didn't go out and try to have sex at a young age and, in fact, have only had two sex partners, one of whom is my husband, and I have always practiced safe sex.
Besides, young children do experience sexual feelings and many pre-K and Kindergarten teachers catch their students - both male and female - masturbating from time to time! Where Did I come From? will also help them understand those feelings and not feel ashamed of them when mom, dad, or teacher has to tell them that they should only "do that" in private.
Book Review: A fabulous book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was just what we needed for both my 6 year old and my 9 year old. I have always answered their questions honestly, but when they both were insulted because they weren't invited to "watch Daddy plant the seed to make the new baby" I realized that I had missed something major in my explanations. Ooops! I promised my older child that I would get a book about it because honestly, I had no clue how to explain it beyond the technical stuff. He expressed doubt that such a thing could possibly exist in a book, but he was wrong. This book fills in those gaps. It describes sex in the context of love and physical pleasure, but does it in such a reassuring and humorous way, that it was hardly embarrassing at all to read it the first time, and by the third time it was a piece of cake! So funny! The only negative thing I would say is that while the author gives examples of alternate words used for breasts, he fails to do the same for male body parts, which hardly seems fair. But given the value of the rest of the presentation, I didn't sweat it. I just omitted that part when I read it since my kids know the real names anyway. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to help their children understand sex and baby making in the context of love and pleasure. For those that are more comfortable with a purely physical explanation (the old egg and fallopian tube diagrams that we endured during 8th grade Health class), this one may not be for you.Book Review: Definitely not what I wanted, especially for a girl
Summary: 2 Stars
I gave this book two stars instead of one because it won't hurt the child if he/she reads it. But it's definitely not what I had in mind for the first conversation with my 8-year-old daughter about how babies are made, and I'm glad I looked at it at the store before committing.
Problem number 1 is that there is too much emphasis on the description of the sexual intercourse and feelings during it. For this age, I would prefer something focused on reproduction and anatomy. The whole book is just a dozen pages, and this part takes up three or four of them! The description is cheesy, silly and just doesn't do the deed any justice ('wiggling' and 'tickling' are the typical words).
Problem number 2 is, as mentioned by other reviewers, that it's very male-centric. There is nothing about where the egg comes from, nor a picture of it. When the anatomical differences are discussed, it simply says boys have a penis and girls don't, end of discussion, and not what girls do have.
Problem number 3 is that the font is too large with small spacing, so I found it hard to read. And I didn't fancy the pictures much.
I also find it kind of distasteful that there is a whole page in the beginning talking about what an embarrassing subject this is and how difficult it is to talk about it. Maybe if sex education books didn't start with warnings like that and dealt with the matter in an age-appropriate manner, it would be much easier.
Book Review: Great, understandable, no-nonsense information...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful little illustrated book that can help parents share information about sex and where babies come from with their children. I especially like the fact that this book is presented from the point of view of that sex is an expression of love, rather than just a presentation of physical facts and the mechanics of sex. Information in the book is presented in a straightforward manner with "no nonsense and with illustrations." As for the illustrations, my wife told me that they also helped her feel better about her own body! How's that for a double benefit?
I appreciate the level of the presentation as well...pitched toward younger children...say, ages 7-10. Children really need good, accurate information from their folks, especially as they are surrounded by various bits and pieces of partial and even mis-information about sex which they hear from peers at school and other places.
The author uses terminology that is appropriate and understandable. A great little book.
While this is a great little book, I recommend using it in combination with another book, "How to Talk to Your Child About Sex" by Linda and Richard Eyre, as part of a combined effort of discussion and reading as you teach your child about sex.
Good luck!
Alan Holyoak
Book Review: More than disappointing
Summary: 1 Stars
Several years ago, I came across this book while I was in college, taking a gender studies class. We had gone to the library to look through the children's books, and our assignment was to find a sexist book (it didn't matter whether it was sexist against men or women). I found this book and read it aloud to the class, and they were all appalled at the blatant disregard for the woman. The man is one who wants to have sex, the man enjoys it, and he's the one who does all the work in creating a baby. Well, the last time I checked, that's not how it works. If the man wants to have sex but the woman doesn't, that's called rape. Women with a healthy sex life SHOULD enjoy it. And a man can have sex all he wants to, but if there is no egg for his wayward sperm to fertilize, no baby can be made.
Now, I don't know what other books are out there to help explain "the birds and the bees" to kids. This very well may be the best book. Although it might embarrass you, you have to be ready to talk about it. You can't just throw this book at your child and hope they get the gist of it. I think four years old is probably a little young. If you chose to get this book for your child, PLEASE explain that the woman has an equal role, and deserves to enjoy it as well.