The Ultimate Guys' Body Book

February 15, 2012
"Dr. Walt" offers advice with a Christian perspective for boys wondering about their bodies as they enter puberty. More specifically, this is a volume aimed at Christian fathers of boys ages 10 to 13, so fathers can be ready with answers to sometimes tricky questions. Topics are covered through 30 questions on how boys' bodies change, how much sleep is necessary, what if friends try alcohol, how to avoid pornography, what's wrong with tattoos and body piercings and even three questions about testicles. It's purportedly information readers can trust, presented "through the lens of a biblical worldview," all reviewed by the Christian Medical Association. God is the common denominator behind all answers here. Differences in penis size? It's "the way God designed each one of us." Masturbation? "Sexual fantasies are forbidden for Christians." In Larimore's perspective, "God invented sex," but only "to be experienced between a husband and a wife in marriage." Parents wanting to stay within the confines of Christian doctrine will find this volume informative. Other readers may want to go elsewhere to find a guide more open to a more encompassing worldview. A useful guide for readers wanting a Christian look at boys' physical and sexual development. (note to parents, appendices, afterword) (Nonfiction. 10-13)

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May 1, 2012

Gr 6-8-Prescribed by the author as a "resource for Christian parents, especially the dads of young men ages ten to thirteen," Body Book is meant to serve in any of three ways: as a guide for parents about how to address their sons' questions regarding puberty, as a book that a father and son can study together, or simply as a handbook parents can choose to present to a boy as he faces the changes of adolescence. Bible passages pepper the text and the importance of sexual abstinence until marriage, sobriety, and avoidance of temptation is stressed throughout, but the author successfully avoids sounding sententious. Instead, humorous illustrations, diverting sidebars, and an informal tone help lighten up potentially uncomfortable topics like acne, body odor, jock itch, erections, wet dreams, pornography, and the question of whether or not it's a sin to masturbate. The book concludes with a chapter stressing that real manhood has nothing to do with physical development but is, instead, measured by an abiding faith and mature moral comportment. A good choice for libraries that want to provide guidance on male adolescence in a conservative Christian context.-Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2012
Grades 5-8 This book provides a summary, from a Christian perspective, of the many changes wrought by adolescence on boys. Topics are covered in a question-and-answer format, each spanning three to five pages, thereby making the information easily digestible for kids. Subjects covered include acne, tattoos, piercings, differences in body types, and a host of sexual issues. In many ways, the answers provided are similar to the information in manuals that approach the subject from a secular perspective, and the author adopts the reassuring avuncular tone common to these books. Supporting Bible verses are frequently quoted, and topics such as homosexuality, venereal disease, and the use of contraceptives are not mentioned. The black-and-white illustrations, featuring gawky boys with quizzical or mock-terrified looks on their faces, help to keep things light. No index is included, but the short chapters can quickly be scanned in the table of contents. Parents and boys who prefer to approach these topics from a religious point of view will find this useful.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)