This was sent to me by the author, and read on my Kindle. I did not share with an appropriate-age male, so my opinion is simply from the adult perspective. The only concept I stumbled over was the insinuation that if you have a partner, you don't masturbate...that the partners provide each other the same pleasure instead of masturbating. This could have been left out of the discussion, I think. ( )

If you wish to raise a boy to feel minimum guilt and shame as he discovers and explores his body, then Everybody Masturbates by Cristian YoungMiller is book to read and share with pre-adolescent boys in your family. YoungMiller empowers a parent to discuss this delicate subject in a loving and honest manner through his choice of characters: a father and his eight-year son. Sensing something is wrong, the father helps his son voice his concerns, and then reassures him that none of the myths surrounding masturbation are true. He clearly relates the core message: everybody masturbates at some point in their lives, for a variety of reasons.

The father also emphasizes that masturbation is a private part of our sexual lives, to be done alone or perhaps shared only with a loving partner. For those who are uncomfortable that their child will share this revelation with their peers or in inappropriate circumstances such as Show & Tell in elementary school, YoungMiller has the father repeatedly stress that though everyone does it, no one discusses it with others.The author does this without making a child feel guilty or ashamed. It is a private thing just like going to the bathroom; this brilliant analogy is something almost every child past potty training understands. This subject has, at long last, found an author unafraid to tackle it. I salute the author in his attempt to remove generations of unease and misinformation and hope both his books on this subject (yes, there is a corresponding book for girls) find a wide audience amongst parents struggling to help their children understand and cope with their changing bodies and urges. ( )

CRISTIAN YOUNGMILLER'S "EVERYBODY MASTURBATES" (A REVIEW)

This book is a wonderful gift for any 13 year old boy and up. It dispels all the rumors and urban legends about what can happen to little boys that masturbate. For any parent that is a little wary about how to broach the subject of sexuality and why we masturbate, this book is perfect.

Cristian YoungMiller has used his own life experiences to write a book that helps kids of a certain age understand that masturbation is not a bad thing, that everyone does it and it's ok.

It is written in such a way as to explain it both in layman's terms as well as scientifically so that a child can comprehend it easily. This book is only one in a series which YoungMiller calls his "Everybody" series, check them out.

I only wish I had a book like this when I was younger!

-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club ( )

Everybody Masturbates is a self-published picture book devoted to explaining to young children what masturbation is all about and why it is a" permissible activity enjoyed by everyone sometime in their lifetime." On the cover page, above the title, is a one sentence “qualifier” of sorts which reads “this book has been reviewed positively by Child Care Experts.” Nowhere in the book does it mention who these child care experts are that positively reviewed this little book.

Where to begin? The book starts off by telling kids the different when, where and how of masturbation, giving nearly any answer an approving nod. “One thing is certainly true,” said the author, “everybody masturbates.” This is the entire theme of the book, mentioned on nearly every page: masturbation is acceptable and everyone does it or has done it at some time. In case you were wondering, this includes you.

There is a story, involving the tomato family, a family of walking tomato head characters. Little Billy is upset because his brother Tommy said masturbating causes hair growth on the hands and blindness. Tommy apparently “caught” Billy checking himself out. Naturally, Billy is upset that his hands will become hairy and he won’t even be able to see them because he will also become blind.

Enter Daddy Tomato (really, their heads are tomatoes), who takes Billy out to the park to explain why Tommy said such a thing and to explain that it is not true. He goes on to explain, using Billy’s foot, what makes the little tomato’s penis sometimes feel so good. Billy is told how babies are created (no birds or bees involved), and not to be ashamed of satisfying himself “because everybody does” the same thing (except boys do this and girls do that).

Daddy Tomato tells Billy married people no longer need to masturbate but, both husband and wife continue in secret. If the person is not married, he or she definitely masturbates. Billy learns that boys and girls have different body parts and why. And Billy learns why he felt pleasure when touching himself and that this pleasure is important to insure married people have babies. Oh, and he learns his hand will not grow hairy and he will not go blind – at least not from masturbating.

Mr. YoungMiller’s website explains that he is an actor, not a psychologist, doctor, social worker or even a parent. There is also no proof of positive reviews from “child care experts.” His other books include Everybody Masturbates for Girls, Happiness May Vary, Everybody Has These Thought so it Doesn’t Mean You’re Gay, and a couple of books on “taboo” subjects of interest only to adults.

What do I think? Hm . . . I would not have a child read this, especially without supervision. This little book appears to be aimed at young children. The black and white illustrations are simplistic and strange. The use of a vegetable for Billy’s head is a curious choice. It gives the book a cartoonish look and feel. Plus, I have a difficult time accepting a book on masturbation for children written by a single man, with no qualifications, who also writes about penis enlargement for adults (also with no qualifications). I think this author has taken on subjects best left to professionals and parents.

Daddy tells Billy that “just like poop” people do not like to talk about masturbation because the subject can be embarrassing. Billy agrees to keep what he has learned to himself. It is unfortunate the author did not take his own advice.

Library Thing member giveaway. Received from author. ( )

This was a very well-written book on a particularly touchy subject. Having a 9-year-old son, this came at the perfect time for me. It was great to have a book to allow him to read, that helped to open up a discussion about a part of life that can be extremely uncomfortable to discuss. Thank you so much to Cristian YoungMiller!!! ( )