Review by Booklist Review
Two new books by popular authors cover much the same territory in their attempts to help parents teach children and teenagers about sexual responsibility. The authors agree that ongoing communication is key and that parents must be prudent, resolute, and proactive in instructing their offspring about sex, dating, love, and marital commitment. The "Big Talk" (about reproduction), recommended for 8-year-olds, is the centerpiece of both books, though neither book gets very specific about it. In addition, there is plenty of discussion of age-appropriate issues related to personal and family values and sexual decision making. Both books include many personal accounts, inspirational stories, and comments from young people and parents, but How to Talk to Your Child about Sex, by the authors of the best-selling Teaching Your Children Values (1993), is more practical and easier to use, loaded with parent-child dialogues and readings that can be easily adapted to fit individual circumstances. Langford's book is chattier and more reflective, presenting lots for parents to chew on as they steer their progeny in positive directions and teach the basics of why, when, and how to say "No." --Stephanie Zvirin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
These books concentrate on teen abstinence, idealizing post-adolescent marriage and "committed relationships" as the best settings for sex. The Eyres, authors of several books on parenting, including Teaching Your Children Values (LJ 3/15/93), propose telling children: "Sex is awesome and wonderful: save it for the one you love." Tips, reading selections, and sample dialogs are given for each age group, along with appropriate preparation and follow-up. Though much here is excellent, few sex educators support withholding information from young children, as the Eyres seem to recommend; and the book cannot stand alone, since many details about sex are not provided. Only for libraries with other, more detailed books, such as Mary Calderone and James Ramey's Talking with Your Child About Sex (LJ 12/15/82), Patty Stark's Sex Is More Than a Plumbing Lesson (Preston Hollow, 1991), and Stanton and Brenna Jones's Christian-based How & When To Tell Your Kids About Sex (NavPress, 1993). Pogany, a medical/science journalist, makes some good points (e.g., coitus can have devastating consequences for adolescents), and her assertions are well referenced. Nor is she preachy; rather, she aims to empower young people to reach their own goals. Still, Sex Smart is ultimately a straightforward "scare" book and is recommended only for collections with other, comprehensive teen sex books. But do buy Patti Breitman and others' excellent How To Persuade Your Lover To Use a Condom...And Why You Should (LJ 8/87).ÄMartha Cornog, American Coll. of Physicians, Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
