Where Did I Come From?: An Illustrated Childrens Book on Human Sexuality

My parents used this book to help answer my questions about how babies are made when I was around 5 years old. This book provided just enough information to introduce me to the concept of sex and making babies without embarassing me too terribly much.

I notice that some reviewers worry that the book provides children with too much information or is too graphic. I find that the book would be incomplete if some of the information or the pictures were omitted. If they weren't included, I know I would have had many questions unanswered as a child. The tasteful illustrations included in the book helped me understand the book's content, rather than forcing me to fill in the gaps with inaccurate and possibly scary images that could have led to unhealthy views of sex.

As a child, I found myself really studying the pictures, cartoon images that are presented very tastefully and are actually sort of cute. The pictures do show the male and female anatomy, which is important information if a child is to understand how babies are made. They show a man and woman who love each other and are happy, things that would allow a child to have a positive and healthy perspective about sex and making a baby.

As a person who has had personal experience with this book as a child, I highly recommend it. I plan to use it with my own son in a few years.

(One last note: I believe this book is best suited for younger children that are asking questions or could be introduced to the topic of sex or making babies. It might be a bit juvenile for pre-teen.)

My 7-year-old daughter had some questions about bodies and babies, so I bought this book based on it's excellent reviews. I read it alone to review the content, and ultimately decided not too read it to my daughter. I ultimately ended up using her copy of "National Geographic Kids Ultimate Body-Pedia" to show her diagrams of the reproductive system and explained the basics using those (and sonogram pictures from when I was pregnant for her to talk about pregnancy).

"Where Did I Come From" is very cleverly written, and I love it's description of conception and pregnancy. The description of sex was too graphic and lovey-dovey for what I thought was a good explanation for a seven-year-old with divorced parents. It goes into several pages of descriptions of kissing, thrusting, erections, the male orgasm, and ultimately makes sex sound like a very male-centric act (and always, curiously, in missionary position).

On the bright side, it did let me collect MY thoughts and gave me the confidence to explain things to my kid with the level of detail and context that I felt was appropriate. Yes, it was an awkward conversation, but there were lots of laughs and good questions. We focused more on "this is what happens when an egg and sperm get together and this is actually how it got there" and a discussion about making healthy choices and less on schmoopy descriptions of "what happens when mommies and daddies really love each other".

So my recommendation (if you are like me)? Just listen to your kids questions and answer them. Get the Ultimate Body-Pedia or a similar atlas for kids. Pull out some sonograms. If you really feel like the discussion needs more audio-visuals, pull up some nature videos. Talk about experiences with pregnancy and a few memories on the day your kid was born. Just remember, it can, and should be, an evolving conversation. My kid doesn't need overwhelming detail in one go. She needs someone to listen and to provide good information as she grows.

My mother tried teaching me about sex starting at about age four or five--I'm not sure I was ready to hear it at that point, but, as life would have it, a therapist had a copy of Where Did I Come From? on her coffee table when I went to go see her at age six. I was curious about the book, since the pictures were engaging and the topic matter was obviously interesting to me, so she read it to me. It was interesting and fascinating, and funny--the pictures were cartoony enough to be specific but not threatening or gross. I actually recall asking her to read it to me a number of times, and I asked tons of questions. I can't say how I would have responded to having my mom read it to me--a neutral third party was probably the best person, for me, to hear it from, just because my mom tended to get very self-conscious teaching me about sex, and that made me uncomfortable (although, God bless her, she did try!). I really enjoyed the book as a child, and it taught me everything I needed to know to understand what sex and puberty were so that by the time those things happened, I knew not only what was going on, but because it was so easy to ask questions with the book, I knew I could ask more questions of my mom and other adults in my life (doctors, health teachers, etc)(and find more books) when the time came. (I actually can't stress that enough--when it was about time for my friends and I to start menstruating, we actually went to the library (without our parent's knowlege) and took out a book called "Period" to tell us more about it (another great book--I don't know if it's still in print or not-- just the right speed for 10-12 year olds). And that helped a lot too.
If you're looking for a way to ease into talking about sex with your kids, Where Did I Come From? worked very well for me when I was 6 (I did actually know what sex was, since my mom told me about it at 4 or 5, but I ENJOYED learning from this book--I think because this one was down to earth and funny. Humor can help a LOT!) And like some of the other reviewers, learning about sex early did not prompt me to have sex early--I waited until I was 19 and then waitied again until I was 23. And I know that the fact that sex WASN'T a mystery to me had a lot to do with my abstaining from it. Teaching your kids about sex doesn't have to be a horrible experience. This is a fun book, and your kids should be distracted by the silly pictures so they won't be looking at you nervously sweating, wondering what to say. Plus, the book will say it for you anyway. I highly recommend the book.

I got this book because I feel sex education is very important. I was raised by a Labor & Delivery room nurse and a reproductive biologist set of parents. We had very scientific and meaningful discussions about all topics relating to love and reproduction. I was appalled with the humorous implication of sex in this book. We came from sperm? "this sticky stuff is how you and I and all of us started" What about the preparation of the the egg? And the combinations of DNA? An orgasm feels like a sneeze? What are we kidding? Now kids will never think of sneezing the same. And anyway, if that is how others' orgasms feel... so sad for you! And a woman's orgasm does not originate from the vagina. All the boys -and girls for that matter- who read the book will forever be confused! Why do kids need to have the feeling of an orgasm explained anyway? I appreciate the attitude of frankness in the book; However, I think it is blatantly written by a man (our poor daughters) and leaves out the amazing science of reproduction. I will continue my search for a book with better content.

Several years ago, I came across this book while I was in college, taking a gender studies class. We had gone to the library to look through the children's books, and our assignment was to find a sexist book (it didn't matter whether it was sexist against men or women). I found this book and read it aloud to the class, and they were all appalled at the blatant disregard for the woman. The man is one who wants to have sex, the man enjoys it, and he's the one who does all the work in creating a baby. Well, the last time I checked, that's not how it works. If the man wants to have sex but the woman doesn't, that's called rape. Women with a healthy sex life SHOULD enjoy it. And a man can have sex all he wants to, but if there is no egg for his wayward sperm to fertilize, no baby can be made.

Now, I don't know what other books are out there to help explain "the birds and the bees" to kids. This very well may be the best book. Although it might embarrass you, you have to be ready to talk about it. You can't just throw this book at your child and hope they get the gist of it. I think four years old is probably a little young. If you chose to get this book for your child, PLEASE explain that the woman has an equal role, and deserves to enjoy it as well.

This is a wonderful little illustrated book that can help parents share information about sex and where babies come from with their children. I especially like the fact that this book is presented from the point of view of that sex is an expression of love, rather than just a presentation of physical facts and the mechanics of sex.
Information in the book is presented in a straightforward manner with "no nonsense and with illustrations." As for the illustrations, my wife told me that they also helped her feel better about her own body! How's that for a double benefit?
I appreciate the level of the presentation as well...pitched toward younger children...say, ages 7-10. Children really need good, accurate information from their folks, especially as they are surrounded by various bits and pieces of partial and even mis-information about sex which they hear from peers at school and other places.
The author uses terminology that is appropriate and understandable. A great little book.
While this is a great little book, I recommend using it in combination with another book, "How to Talk to Your Child About Sex" by Linda and Richard Eyre, as part of a combined effort of discussion and reading as you teach your child about sex.
Good luck!
Alan Holyoak

This book shows an age range of 4-8. After hearing about the book, I decided to buy it to help my curious 6 year old understand the difference between boys and girl, etc. After I received it, my husband and I both decided to return it. It goes into detail about what an orgasm and sex feels like. That is not something a small child needs to know. We ended up getting "It's Not the Stork" which was way more age appropriate. It explains the difference between boys and girls, how a baby is made and grows, etc. It also has a section about ok touch and not ok touch which I think is important for a child to learn.

Like many others have already said, I think this book is terrible. It is very male perspective dominant, when talking about how babies are made it almost completely leaves out the eggs and the woman's role and focuses on sperm. Some of the pictures I found inappropriate and some topics I felt were mocked instead of treated in a respectful manner. I bought it when I saw it recommended in another book before checking it out for myself. I realize that tons of people also liked this book I would just recommend maybe taking a trip to Barnes and Noble and reading this book and others, they have a good selection, before purchasing this one.

I bought this book b/c I liked the design and the reviews were generally good. At first I enjoyed the story telling and appreciate the book addresses sex as pleasurable act rather than a purely procreative. But that also is my biggest criticism as much detail as the author delves, it leaves out the woman's perspective and the concept of consent...both respecting and asserting.

Bottom line, won't be reading this to my kids and I definitely don't recommend.

I bought this book when my four year old started asking questions. It provides way too much information on sex and how good it feels, why people do it beyond trying to make a baby. It shows silly cartoons of old naked people. This book is NOT appropriate for a young child wanting to know some basic information on how babies are made. By the time my children are ready for more information, I would not use this book but rather talk to them frankly and honestly. I can't believe how many people liked this book. Do not buy this book; it is a waste of money.