The second book in my ongoing quest to read the books most often banned from America’s impressionable youth was “It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health” by Robie Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley.

This one is an introduction to how the reproductive parts of your body work, how you change through puberty, health consequences of sex, an overview of different gender-based relationships, including LGBTQ+ topics, and more, aimed at teens and those experiencing puberty. The pictures are drawings, and they are both cute and specific (and I thought, tasteful). I have chosen not to reproduce any of them here, for obvious reasons, but you get the idea. The illustrations needed to be specific, given that it is an educational volume for those who are encountering their own changing bodies for the first time.

I had no difficulty obtaining a copy from my local library.

I approve of this one, and when I was undergoing the mysterious changes of puberty, I would have very much appreciated the information. Otherwise, kids learn from the Internet. Which is bad.

Personal note: when I was experiencing puberty, my mom gave me a short pamphlet in lieu of talking to me about the subject. I was glad to have read the pamphlet, but this book would have been much better. At that age, you just want to know.

So, what’s all the fuss about?