The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) has honored a children’s book with graphic illustrations of sexual activity, sparking controversy and criticism upon its release last year. The book, titled “Welcome to Sex: Your no-silly-questions guide to sexuality, pleasure and figuring it out,” by Dr. Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes, was awarded Book of the Year for children aged 13 and above.
The publication features both heterosexual and homosexual sex, as well as detailed guides on practices such as masturbation, oral sex, and “hand jobs,” along with personal anecdotes from adults about their own sexual experiences. It takes an “intersectional” approach, using terms like “penis owner” and “vagina owner.”
Despite initial backlash and calls for a ban, major retailers continued to sell the book until significant pushback, particularly from Rachael Wong, CEO of Women’s Forum Australia, led retailer Big W to remove it from shelves last year. The ABIA website described the book as an “important resource” for children, praising the editorial work of the author-publisher team.
Following the award, Australian Christians Party WA State Director Maryka Groenewald criticized the book as “essentially pornography” and expressed concern about its impact on children, calling for protection from explicit sexual content. The controversy surrounding the book comes amidst broader discussions on book censorship and suitability for children, as seen in the recent decision by Cumberland City Council to ban a book on same-sex parenting.
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