Graphic Children’s Sex Book Shortlisted for Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

Cover of "Welcome to Sex" Dr. Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes, who hosts the ABC Radio podcast "Ladies, We Need to Talk." Aimed at children aged 10 to 15, the book features detailed illustrations and instructions on how to engage in sexual intercourse, as well as information on male and female genitalia, and gender identity issues. This photo is taken in Sydney, Australia on July 19, 2023. The Epoch Times

A graphic sex education book for young people has been short-listed in the young adult category for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.

“Welcome to Sex!” by Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes features graphic illustrations and descriptions of sexual activity as well as discussing various gender identities.

Judges who shortlisted the book refer to it as a “fearless, frank, and important resource for young people” that can be read by “all young adults.”

Its categories include guides on performing sexual acts, complete with graphic drawings.

This is not the first time Welcome to Sex has received a top accolade. The publication was named a winner in the Australian Book Industry Awards for young adult publications in May.

Calls for PM to Drop Book From List

Former Australian Defence Force member, now-conservative blogger Bernard Gaynor, whose campaigning recently led to the removal of another graphic sex book from a regional Queensland library, said he believed Welcome to Sex was a dangerous book for children to read.

Conservative blogger Bernard Gaynor. Courtesy of Bernard Gaynor

“Welcome to Sex claims in its opening pages that it is written for children as young as 11 years of age. This highly disturbing book then encourages young readers to send nude selfies with their heads cropped out,” he told The Epoch Times.

“No wonder parents all over Australia are rightly outraged. They are concerned that children who read this book will create their own child abuse material, resulting in life-long damage.

“Most Australians want child pornography to remain illegal and it is shocking that the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards has recognised a book that encourages children to traffic naked images of themselves.”

Gaynor called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to remove the book from the awards.

Books in Dispute

Welcome to Sex, which is widely available and sold in major retailers around the country, is one of several graphic and contentious children’s books that have caused controversy in recent months.

In May, a slim majority of Western Sydney councillors voted to remove the book “Same-Sex Parents” by Holly Duhig from Cumberland region libraries.

Granville Councillor Steve Christou said the council had received complaints after the book was found among the toddler section.

The ban was later overturned following complaints and protests.

Meanwhile, Gaynor hopes to see the book “Gender Queer” removed from more Queensland libraries after Bundaberg Regional Council agreed to remove the book from its shelves.

The book includes graphic sexual images and descriptions of sexual acts—one of the most concerning being a cartoon depicting a young woman fantasizing over an ancient Greek style image of a man and a boy in a sexual pose.

Copies of the book remain in libraries across the state.

There have also been concerns raised around the work of Japanese manga artist Ken Akamatsu and Garth Ennis for their sexualised works which are often picked up by children and young people.