Where Did I Come From?: A Guide for Children and Parents

After all these years... Still EXCELLENT!

I bought this book back in the 80s and used it to tell my two young children the facts of life before it became an issue of embarrassment. They were asking questions... and to tell the older 8 year old, I needed to tell the 5 year old too to prevent misinformation. Since they were of different genders, I read it to them separately. It went over great, no problems, clearly and thoughtfully given. And most of all... they UNDERSTOOD it! They even asked me questions. My daughter said, 'You had to do it twice?' So, my response... 'I had to do it a little more than twice to make sure the two of you would get here.' They never had an issue and it left our line of communication totally open for the future. Today, they are ages 25 and 28. Wow, did this book make my 'talk' easy, acceptable, and totally unfrightening!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was read this book years ago.

When I was 5 my mother read this book to me and I feel that it opened the door for an great mother-daughter relationship. Since then I have never had trouble coming to her for help or questions involving sex or puberty. I STRONGLY recommend this book and also urge parents to teach your children YOUNG because thats when your children are learning about it through friends and rumors. If you teach your children FIRST then when they hear the wrong information, they will know it is wrong. ALSO I want to point out that this book clearly presents sex as being for ADULTS ONLY and not for children. Which in this day means a lot. And as for me, because of that book I was always under the impression that sex is for adults only and for a man and woman who love eachother. I am 23 and married and my husband is the only one i have ever been with due to what I was taught at a very young age. PLEASE tell your children young so that they hear it from YOU FIRST! It will make a difference in their lives!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful

My mother read this book to me when I was a child. I never had to go through the akward stage of wondering about my body or have to put my parents in the akward place of asking where babies came from. When my best friends 5 year old starting asking questions about babies, I told her about this book. My own son is almost 4 and I think it's time I broke out this book for him! It's a wonderful thing to do for your child. Sex is a huge part of an adult life. We all need to remember that how we teach our children about sex, molds them for later in life. Don't mess up your child's chance for a happy adult sex life just because you're messed up with yours.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellence beyond belief

I can remember finding this book in the library... I don't even remember what I was looking for.. but I read it and it helped me to understand why babies were such an important part of life. I know my brother was born not long after this book, and it helped me to understand that it was an act of love... Very good for explaining to your children.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I FOUND IT!!! I FOUND IT!!!....

Been looking for this book for quite a while! Stumbled across it and it's companion book 'What's Happening To Me' when my children were small. Realizing the importance of educating my children openly and honestly in what it means to be a sexual human being, and how to accept the wonders of being an adult, I found both books a fantastic aide in achieving that goal. Of course I believe in sharing a good thing, so when we were done, I passed the books along to the rest of my family who had little inquisitive minds to educate...and they got lost in the shuffle. My children are grown now, and I see the end result of open, honest, unembarrassed sexual education...two confident, open-minded, no 'hang-ups' adults who are comfortable with themselves and their sexuality.'Grammy' is going to enjoy helping them pass that legacy on to their children with these books!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

at 37 i still remember

Just recently, I was asked what book I loved as a child. 'Where Did I Come From' was neck and neck with Dr. Seuss's, 'The cat in the hat'. I read this book when I was in the latter years of elementary school, i think, and I loved this book. This book helped me understand the beauty of reproduction in a language that was age appropriate and humorous. I remember being engrossed in this book until I finished it, on the day that my dad bought it. The illusrations were realistic to my young mind and did not try tohide the intimacy of sex or the loving manner in which I like to believe I was conceived (I was not planned). I know that my love for reading was sparked at that time. It is a book that I treasure.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Satisfied my very curious 5 year olds' mind

A very open, honest, and as importantly, easy-to-read-to-your-child book about the very things they want to know. As another reviewer pointed out - it is better to let them know this stuff straight and at the time when they are curious about it and before they are shy, self-conscious and embarrassed. My 5 year old has been very interested in the subject, in one manner or another, and it seems to have completely satisfied his mind.

It is a great opening step into this part of life.

Book a little too male-centric

Although, I think that it is appropriate to have open honest discussion about sex with your children, I feel like this book is outdated and focuses mostly on the male perspective of sex. Some of the language in the book assumes that the child reading the book is a boy 'and not a girl'. And I felt like the descriptions of the sexual experience focused more on what the experience is like for a man. However, this doesn't surprise me because this book was written by two men in the 70s. I wish the authors/publishers/anybody would offer a more balanced up-to-date perspective.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Are you kidding me?

Seriously....Where are you people coming from???...I am a very non-liberal woman, servered in the miltary for 11 years, and I blushed, even after a glass of wine, reading this book at my friend's home...we sat around saying this was a joke book for a baby shower or for a fun drinking party! Then we checked this web site... I WOULD NEVER READ THIS TO MY CHILD.....I agree with the review above stating that 'tickeling' refered to something children may want to do.. I mean, what if a strange person asked my child, 'Can I tickle you?' Where are you peoples' mind?' You have no business raising children if you think this is appropriate! May God help you!

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Great Way to Open THAT Conversation

For the reviewers being 'horrified' to be reading this to a 4 or 5 year old - it is probably too detailed for that age. For my nine year old, it was a perfect book to read together to open the door when it was time to have THE TALK. It laid things out in a truthful manner 'okay, other than the tickling part' and let me explain that it is all natural and beautiful within marriage. Incidentally, my daughter just said after seeing the movie at school, 'Mom, it was so great to have already learned all that stuff from you.'

Great Help

This book is very direct.But that is a good thing.It is done in a very tasteful manner.Not really embarassing.You have to start being open with your children about sexual matters now and they will be open with You even when they get older.And this book will help You.

Great learning/teaching tool

My parents gave me this book when I was 9 (I'm 39 now) and it was a comfortable way for all to learn/discuss the birds and the bees. I'm facing the same challenge already with my 6.5 yr old daughter and will buy it for her.

White Knuckle Sex Education

I read this book when my 9-year-old daughter was hanging over me and reading over my shoulder as a pre-view for her. Although explicit (insert red face here)it is funny and the explanation is simple. It opened doors for much conversation and kept open those doors all through her growing up years. We actually reviewed it each year at her request until she finally felt as though she understood EVERYTHING! I recommend it highly and oh, yes, keep your sense of humor.

begin here

This is a wonderful 'jumping off' book for parents to begin a dialogue with their young children. I am disappointed at the reviewers who are still under the misguided notion that to discuss sexual intercourse with our children means that they will want to HAVE sexual intercourse. Hopefully, if more children have adults willing to read and discuss books like this one, we will raise a new generation of children who will understand the context, consequences and complexity of their sexuality.

Also Horrified!!

I was glancing through this book when I came to the page titled 'Making Love' and it was decribing how a man loves to be inside a women and a women loves the man to be inside her. Also as someone else mentioned the tickling feeling. I do not think this is appropriate for my 6 and 4 year olds!!!

Promotes Healthy Attitudes Toward Sex

When I was about three or four, my parents read this book to me. I learned all of the proper names of body parts (I still think of peanuts without the 't'). When I was old enough, my mom and I read it to my younger brother. Many of my friends and neighborhood kids would joke about sex acts and their genitalia, but that was because they didn't know anything. My parents were concerned that my brother and I grow up with a healthy attitude towards sex and reproduction and with all of the information we may need. I can't tell you how much easier we both had it during puberty because we knew what to expect and why we were going through it. Thanks, Peter Mayle, et al.

The Greatest Book Ever

I remember when I was old enough to understand this information, my mother handing me this book. My son is now eight and wanted to know 'I mean mom where do babies really come from, I mean how they are formed, how they get there...you know.' I am so excited that this book is still around so that he can read it and understand!

Not Just For the Little Ones

I teach a Biology of Women course at a local college. One of the topics which always comes up is how to discuss reproductive Biology with your children. I used 'Where Did I Come From?' when my kids were little and still bring in copies for my college students to see. The majority comment they wish their parents had shared the book with them when they were young. It's matter of fact approach, direct but simple language, and delightful illustrations remove the embarrassment so many adults feel when trying to explain this to children. I think all parents should read it with their children.

In regards to what the last person thinks....

I think this book is great. When I was 4 years old when I asked the infamous question to my parents. The next day they sat me down and read my sister and I this book, and to this day I remember the 'facts' from what was read to me all those years ago. I know that it was very uncomfortable for them to be talking to us about that but they did anyways. The individual that posted their not before me claimes that the book is too graphic in how it depicts sex to children but that is just it, sex is explicit no matter how you try and explain it. This is a great book for explaining the birds and the bees, when I have children I will you the same method that my parents used with me. the individual's opinon on the other book they recommend is questionable. That book isn't factual since God doesn't create life, human beings create life. Anyways, this book is great. It is graphic but it does explain sex and the body in a way that a child will be able to understand.

Excellent

The second time my 7 year old step-daughter walked in on us 'cuddling', I insisted we get this book (and a slide lock for the door)! We read it to her and her 4 year old sister. It answered all their questions and helped us to know where to go with the topic and how much to say. I've since recommended it to several friends with young children.