It's Perfectly Normal
by Robie H. Harris
★ Top 25 book of 1994 · #19 on Best Books of 1994
This illustrated guide answers the many questions young people ask about sex, covering topics such as birth control and AIDS. Two cartoon characters, a bird and a bee, add humor with questions of their own.
Best for: Parents and kids looking for a clear, unbiased guide to growing up
It's Perfectly Normal is #19 on BookWard's Best Books of 1994, out of 42 1994 books that cleared our data bar.
What It's Perfectly Normal is about
Robie H. Harris wrote this illustrated guide for children on the edge of adolescence, with the aim of explaining puberty and sex in clear, honest terms. Michael Emberley's drawings sit alongside the text, and two guides keep things light: a curious bird and a disgusted bee, who voice the questions, giggles and squirms that young readers often feel themselves.
The book moves through six parts, from what sex means and how bodies work, to puberty, families and babies, the decisions young people face, and staying healthy. Later sections cover delaying sex, birth control, online safety, abuse, and sexually transmitted infections. Updated editions have added sexual identity, sexting and online bullying. Its illustrations have been a source of controversy because some consider them graphic and inappropriate for the targeted age range; the book has also won accolades for its accurate information, and Harris's books, including this one, have frequently appeared on the American Library Association's Most Challenged Books list since 2005. It suits parents, carers and young readers who want a calm, factual place to begin the conversation.
It's Perfectly Normal on the Best Books of 1994
It's Perfectly Normal came out in 1994. Of the 42 books first published in 1994 that met BookWard's data bar, it ranks #19 on our Best Books of 1994 list.
Why it made the list: 267 readers have shelved it on Open Library; 25 are reading it right now. The list ranks each year’s books on how many readers have picked them up, how highly readers rate them, and how many are reading them right now.
Nearby on the 1994 list
- When I Was Puerto Rican Esmeralda Santiago, #17
- Snow Falling on Cedars David Guterson, #18
- Bird by Bird Anne Lamott, #20
- Born in Fire Nora Roberts, #21
See all Best Books of 1994 Best books by year
More years: Best Books of 1993 Best Books of 1995.
The numbers behind it
- Readers: 231 want to read it, 25 are reading it now and 11 have read it, according to Open Library.
| Signal | This book (0 to 100) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | 55 | 55% |
| Reader love | 7 | 25% |
| Being read right now | 81 | 20% |
Questions about It's Perfectly Normal
When was It's Perfectly Normal published?
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris was first published in 1994.
Was It's Perfectly Normal one of the best books of 1994?
It's Perfectly Normal is #19 on BookWard's Best Books of 1994, out of 42 1994 books that cleared our data bar. 267 readers have shelved it on Open Library; 25 are reading it right now.
Why is It's Perfectly Normal on the Best Books of 1994 list?
267 readers have shelved it on Open Library; 25 are reading it right now.
More of the best books of 1994
- Guess How Much I Love You Sam McBratney, #1
- Artificial Intelligence Stuart J. Russell, #2
- The Six Pillars of Self-esteem Nathaniel Branden, #3
- Long Walk to Freedom Nelson Mandela, #4
- Mercury and Me Jim Hutton, #5
- Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus John Gray, #6
See the full Best Books of 1994, the Top 100, or new books on Rising.
How we know
This page uses public data: Open Library reader counts and ratings, and Wikipedia page views for recent years. The description is paraphrased from real source text. Rankings reflect reading interest, not quality or sales, and can be affected by data gaps. Lists update monthly.
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