It's Not the Stork!

Book review by Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
It's Not the Stork! Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 5+

Curious kids will appreciate the honest facts-of-life book.

Robie H. Harris Body Awareness 2006
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Parents say

age 4+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 4 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that if a child has a question about anything you may find awkward or embarrassing discussing with them, they'll find almost all the answers in this book. Which is why parents will want to preview first to see if it's a fit for where their child is developmentally, as well as a fit for the way individual families feel comfortable framing the birds-and-bees conversation. The illustrations may be cartoons but they are accurate depictions of penises, vaginas, kids peeing, babies in bellies, etc. Sex to make a baby is shown as a smiling couple under covers in bed. A two-page spread discusses "Okay Touches, Not Okay Touches" and how to tell the difference and tell another adult about "Not Okay touches." In a section on families, every kind of family is mentioned, including families with two moms and two dads.

Community Reviews

MommyMoney
MommyMoney Adult
December 26, 2022
age 5+

Fantastic, comprehensive book that is age appropriate for young children

It’s Not the Stork is a great, comprehensive, positive and age-appropriate book for children to learn about ”how babies are made”. The drawings and information are very straightforward and are not sexualized at all. This is a fantastic resource for parents who have answered questions honestly but in a piecemeal manner as it pretty much covers the all the knowledge young children are looking for when they’re ready to learn about sex and sex differences.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Elizabeth B.
Elizabeth B. Adult
March 20, 2021
age 4+

Excellent fact-based introduction for young kids

This is one in a series of books by Robie Harris carefully targeted for specific age groups. In our experience, the earlier you start these conversations and the more you can normalize talking about the penis and vulva just the same as you would talk about the elbow or nose, the less fraught the conversations are. We added this to our regular rotation of books and started reading with our 4-year-old and it has been a really great resource! She has a very matter-of-fact understanding of these topics and isn't grossed out by any of it. Definitely more uncomfortable for *us* at times than for her, but that's because adults have hangups about sex that young children don't have until we teach them they should! There are two cartoon characters -- a bird and a bee -- that guide you through the chapters, with lots of comments about the content. One character is curious and the other is squeamish, great avatars for how different kids (or parents) might approach the content and helpful for diffusing some of the awkwardness. We also referenced this often when I was pregnant (my daughter was 5) and my daughter was fascinated by the great info and illustrations about babies! We also really appreciate the inclusiveness of the text and illustrations -- all kinds of families are represented and all kinds of relationships. It does a great job of including and representing without being preachy about it -- everyone is simply there (as they should be). I heartily recommend this book and plan to introduce the other books in the series as my daughter gets older -- they add more details and begin to go into more depth about puberty and other topics as kids become ready for more detailed information.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Starting with a chapter called "So-ooo many questions!" where kids are encouraged to be inquisitive, this book works its way through all the big topics: how boys and girls are the same and different, what their bodies look like, what all the parts are for, what happens to girls and boys as they grow, how sperm and eggs are made, how a baby is made, how the baby grows and lives in the womb, how a baby is born, all the kinds of families the baby can be a part of (parents, step-parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, same-sex parents), what touches are "okay" and "not okay," and why growing up is great.

Is It Any Good?

Yes, this book does what it sets out to do in a very straightforward manner that all kids will appreciate -- they're not talked down to for a second. The book covers a lot of ground, and is a good one to skip around to different chapters as different questions arise. Young kids awaiting a new sibling will get a lot out of the baby portion, especially. The one thing that seems to be missing is a mention of periods (it's covered in the next in the series, It's So Amazing, but it's pretty much guaranteed a child will come across some feminine products in the bathroom before they're old enough for that book).

Two cartoon characters, a bird and a bee, are present throughout, having their own side conversation that may mirror any questions kids may have before they know the facts. These characters are charming for the most part but sometimes make the presentation a little too busy. It's a small trifle in an otherwise well-thought-out tool for parents ready to finally answer all those "embarrassing" questions.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about any questions they may have after sharing this book. What did you know already? What do you want to know more about?

  • Discuss why these topics can be hard to talk about. What do kids find embarrassing? What do parents? Are you less embarrassed now that you know the facts?

  • Parents will, of course, also want to talk about when discussing these topics is best. At the dinner table? Or at home with parents while getting ready for bed?

Book Details

Our Editors Recommend

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