Professional Books — Review

The New Speaking of Sex

by Meg Hickling R.N.
Northstone Publishing, 2005
ISBN 1-896836-70-4
$19.95, 256 pp, sc, adult
www.woodlakebooks.com

Meg Hickling has established a sterling reputation as an outstanding educator on the subject of sexual health over the past thirty years. She has worked directly with children, adolescents, parents, educators and health care professionals, and combines this experience with her no-nonsense, practical, yet gentle approach to body health in this updated and expanded guide to “what your children need to know and when they need to know it.” Speaking of Sex was first published in 1996, followed by More Speaking of Sex and the Sex Spelled Out for Parents video series. This new edition, containing updated material related to the Internet and sexual health education in a multicultural society, is an invaluable resource for anyone who works with children. Hickling takes the stigma and embarrassment out of discussions about sexual health by dealing with the subject in scientific terms. She dispels myths, rumours and erroneous beliefs still held even by some adults, with a light and humorous touch. Hickling believes that only when our society matures in terms of knowledge and attitude about sexual health, will our children have the tools to make healthy, informed decisions and be able to protect themselves from harm caused by abuse, misinformation and ignorance. Even though directed primarily to parents, The New Speaking of Sex is recommended reading for all teachers, and should be in every school’s professional and parent libraries.

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