***WARNING: Explicit Content***
A comic book that teaches children about masturbation, gender identities and sexuality is available in the children's department at several Mobile Public Library locations, causing concern for citizens.
"Sex is a Funny Word" by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth is in the children's section at the Moorer/Spring Hill Branch, Parkway Branch, Saraland Library, Semmes Branch, Toulminville Branch and West Regional Branch.
The book includes full nudity images of males and females, including an image of someone spreading the labia and an exposed vulva.
CORRECTION: A previously published photo in this article was from Cory Silverberg's "You Know Sex". The Mobile Public Library does not carry "You Know Sex".
In the book, illustrations depict the implications of a male and female masturbating. On one page, a young girl is masturbating at a picnic table with an older woman looking on.
"You may have discovered that touching some parts of your body, especially in the middle parts, can make you feel warm and tingly," the book reads. "Grown-ups call this kind of touch masturbation."
The book also encourages anal play.
"Like other holes in our body, the anus is usually very sensitive, which means it can feel good to touch but can also hurt if we are rough with it," it reads.
Further, the book tells children they may not be the gender they were "assigned" at birth.
"Maybe you're called a boy but you know you're a girl. You know how girls are treated and what they do. That's how you want to be treated and what you want to do. Maybe you're called a girl but feel you're a boy. You know how boys are treated and what they do. That's how you want to be treated and what you want to do. 85 Maybe you aren't sure, or don't care that much. Maybe you don't feel like a boy or a girl. Maybe you feel like both. Maybe you just need some time to figure it out, without all the boy and girl stuff. …Part of being a kid is learning what you like, what you don't like, and who you are. That's part of being a grown-up too," the book reads.
The book is rated a four out of five on BookLooks Review Rating.
A group of concerned citizens has addressed the Mobile City Council several times about books in the children's and teen sections that contain sexually explicit content. They are asking the library to protect children by moving the books into the adult section. The council appoints the library board and the city funds operations.
1819 News has reached out to the Mobile Public Library for comment.
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