An explicit, cartoon character book about sex aimed at young pre-pubescent children is available on the shelves of Big W and Target. Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes’ book, Welcome to Sex: Your no-silly-questions guide to sexuality, pleasure and figuring it out, includes what many would regard as pornographic adult content. This book is far too explicit for its intended readership of 10-15 year olds, although the author believes that it would also be suitable for a mature 8 year old.
National Director of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), Wendy Francis, herself a grandmother of young children, said, “What an 8 year old child have had to experience to make them mature enough to digest this graphic information contained in this book? The book grieves the heart of all who desire innocence for their young children for as long as possible. There should never be any need for young children to have to read about and understand anal and oral sex, masturbation and sexual positions.
“The book also includes unscientific, highly debated gender ideology that only serves to confuse children on the cusp of puberty. It is absolutely disgusting. Big W and Target should be ashamed of their lack of discernment. Whoever is responsible for their book buying should be removed or undergo training.
“The well-known phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ conveys the message that we all have a responsibility to provide a safe, healthy environment for children, where they are given the security to develop and flourish. Big W has opted out of any such responsibility or duty of care. They are no longer safe places for families.”
The ACL calls on the management of Big W and Target to admit their error of judgment and remove the book immediately from their shelves.
