The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) has awarded a top honour to a contentious children’s book featuring graphic illustrations of sexual activity.
The book, “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-plus.
It was received with scathing criticism upon its release last year, with some parents burning copies on social media, and others calling for it to be banned due to its graphic nature.
The book features both heterosexual and homosexual sex, as well as guides on practices such as masturbation, oral sex, and “hand jobs.” It also includes anecdotes from adults about their own sexual experiences and encounters.
The publication boasts an “intersectional” approach, including terms such as “penis owner” and “vagina owner.”
Despite an initial call for the book to be banned upon its release, most major retailers still had it on sale.
A statement on the ABIA website deemed the book an “important resource” for children.
“Hardie Grant’s impressive response to market demands for the book mobilised community support, amidst a global campaign about book banning.”
Critic Says Book is ‘Essentially Pornography’
Following the award, Australian Christians Party WA State Director Maryka Groenewald told The Epoch Times she felt troubled that such a graphic publication was targeting children.“This book is essentially pornography—it contains highly visual imagery that is not suitable for children at all,” she said.
“Despite retailers saying it is contained within the ‘parenting’ section, the book’s author has said children as young as eight can read this.
Another Book the Subject of Controversy
The issue of books and their suitability for children has been the topic of robust discussion following a decision by a Western Sydney council to ban a book on same-sex parenting.Cumberland City Council voted earlier this month to remove, Same Sex Parents, from the shelves of a local library.
Councillor Steve Christou, who put forward the motion, argued he was acting on behalf of the community, many of whom are religious and from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Western Sydney also recorded the highest “no” vote against the 2017 referendum on legalising same-sex marriage.
The council passed the motion by a slim majority, but it soon drew criticism from major Labor Party figures including New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who called the decision “ridiculous.”
Councillor Christou responded saying the state premier’s priorities were out of place and that he should be worried about excess migration, lack of housing, and community safety.
“It would appear their pressing priority is to threaten a council with defunding of their libraries for voting to remove a book from the shelves of the toddler infant section that their residents expressed concern over,” he wrote on X.
