What's Down There? & That's My Willy - Children's Body Books Review.

I'm not shy about talking to my kids about personal body stuff. I have the benefit of experience with my older kids and I used to work with the NHS on sexual health, so I got over any embarrassment long ago. It's far easier to talk to your children when they are young, and when they ask, but that doesn't always make it simple.

What's Down There? and That's My Willy are newly released books from author Alex Waldron which are very honest, very clear and very blunt, and the messages they pass on are all positive and essential messages that I have told my own children at some point.

Both books follow a similar light-hearted rhyming format, first introducing the main character, and then their genitals. It is made clear that these are your own. They're your private parts and it's fine to touch them and explore your own body. It's also fine to say "No" to other people if you don't want them to see or touch you.

It suggests telling your parent if you are sore, or need to get changed, because you need to keep yourself clean, dry and comfortable. The advice in the book covers so many angles, including health, personal safety and body confidence.

The illustrations are friendly and not at all sensational, even when it's a page of different looking penis or vulva - to show children that we all look different.

The wording is really blunt and it does feel weird reading that in print at first, but it's commonplace, easily understood language and very accessible to children, and their adults.

I've raised 5 boys. I must have said "If you feel a need to touch your willy, go to the bathroom to do it privately and wash your hands before you leave" approximately a million times.

I don't want to give an age recommendation, because all children are different. Some inquisitive children will know more than you can find in this book at age 4, others may have any concerns or questions until they are 8. Personally I think I'd probably already said everything in this book to all of my children by the age of around 5 or 6, but my 9 and 11 year old boys can both still gain confidence and reassurance from reading it.

And yes, my boys both had a good giggle - but a little light-heartedness between siblings makes it easier to carry on reading, easier to talk to each other, and easier to remember...

At the back of the book is a short 4 page guide for educators, professionals and parents, with further explanation of specific wording and points in the books, and explanations of what is covered by topic - boundaries, privacy, safeguarding, including the PANTS Rules (P is for Privates etc). There's also a short note on Gender Dysphoria and how that can make some children feel very uncomfortable discussing their body.

What's Down There? and That's My Willy are written and illustrated by Alex Waldron and published by Ruby Tuesday Books on thick unbleached paper Both books have 32 pages with illustrations on most. Available to buy now priced £7.99rrp from all good bookshops, including online at Amazon. (Affiliate links below.)

We were sent our copies of That's My Willy and What's Down There? for review. *Amazon links are affiliate, which means I earn a few pence as a thank you for my time if you order through my link, but you don't pay any extra.