This relaxed guide, full of useful information and sound advice, would be good company throughout the journey.
For preteen girls, here is a lively, entertaining invitation to the wonders and perils of puberty.
Adopting the stance of a big sister and assuring readers, “You are meant to be just the way you are,” the author of two previous books for teens (Boyology, 2009, etc.) gently leads her younger sisters through both inside and outside changes. Stressing the variety in growth schedules, she covers the usual changes—breasts, body hair, pimples, menstruation, and emotional ups and downs—but steers clear of sexual feelings and sex talk. Conversational text and cheery illustrations provide explicit instructions for tooth-brushing, leg and underarm shaving, the use of deodorant and the insertion of a tampon. Occasional features called “Girl Talk” offer personal advice about problems from sweat stains, bed wetting and chlorine-greened hair to being an early bird or late bloomer. Along the way, Burningham provides recommendations from experts for fitting a bra, taking care of teeth with braces, eating healthily, using makeup and skincare. A chapter on healthy habits includes an explanation of eating disorders. The author encourages talking with parents and other adults and stresses wearing a smile. Cartoon-style illustrations in color add to the light tone.
This relaxed guide, full of useful information and sound advice, would be good company throughout the journey. (acknowledgements, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4521-0242-9
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
This introduction to puberty may be particularly helpful for girls looking ahead to that stage.
A growing-up guide for preteen girls.
This puberty-navigation guide covers girls’ bodily changes, body care, health, relationships with family and friends, staying safe, and handling stress. In many cases the author, a registered nurse, has covered the same material as she did in various editions of this title as well as The Boy’s Body Book. This girls’ book skips the topics of sleep and performance-enhancement drugs in favor of a section on eating disorders. As in the boys’ book, controversial subjects are addressed generally and conservatively if at all. She includes a rough diagram of female reproductive organs and tells her young readers about menstruation and visiting a gynecologist but not how babies are made. She talks about having boys as friends, saying “Don’t put pressure on yourself to call any of your close friendships ‘dating.’ ” The strength of this title is its emphasis on good grooming, healthy living habits, and positive relationships. Added for this fourth edition is new material on interacting with adults, personal empowerment, body language, reputations, and “learning disabilities,” helpful information for the growing segment of the preteen population identified with cognitive and social learning differences. Tallardy’s cartoon illustrations show girls and adults of varying ethnicities and provide a cheerful accompaniment.
This introduction to puberty may be particularly helpful for girls looking ahead to that stage. (resources, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Nov. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-60433-714-3
Page Count: 148
Publisher: Cider Mill Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
Occasionally clever—fifth-grade boys will love it.
“There is a lot of nonsense written about the human body,” writes the author, “and this book is no exception.”
Though not quite making good on his promise of “100 percent fact-free chapters,” (he does accurately describe “chondrolaryngoplasty”) Griffiths’ anatomical tour in general steers clear of anything that would be marked as correct on a test. From “Ears can be big or small, depending on their size” to “Capillaries are the larval form of butterflies,” he offers pithy inanities about 68 mostly real body features. Though he closes every entry with “That is all you need to know about…,” he then goes on to regale readers with the news that the epiglottis was named after a Greek philosopher and other “Fun Body Facts.” Similarly, noting that his illustrations “may not be scientifically accurate” (the understatement of the decade), Denton nonetheless provides on nearly every spread profusely labeled, free-association cartoon views of each body part. These are filled out with tiny figures, mechanical apparatus and miscellaneous junk. Though serious young researchers may be disappointed to find the “Private Parts” pages blacked out, a full index follows to provide ready access to any references to poo, pus, farts, drool, “sneeze-powered missiles” and like essentials.
Occasionally clever—fifth-grade boys will love it. (Humor. 10-12)Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-312-36790-9
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Aug. 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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