The Boys' Guide to Growing Up: the best-selling puberty guide for boys

by Phil Wilkinson, Sarah Horne (Illustrator)

"My son said nothing scared him after reading this book and he felt much more comfortable about it all." - online customer review

"Do you ever wonder how to start the conversation about the birds and the bees with your child? Well, this book helps you in so many ways! Highly recommend if you're planning on having that talk soon." - online customer review

"Great book, factual, easy to understand and supports parental talks!" - online customer review

"It's a perfect no-nonsense book! Brilliant!" - online customer review

"It has all the answers for inquisitive minds." - online customer review

"My son is autistic and finds change very hard. This book has helped him to understand the changes that will happen in himself that he can't control. Bright pictures with accurate details for the body parts. Great book!" - online customer review

A sensitively written, friendly guide to growing up, specifically aimed at younger boys.

A friendly , reassuring and positive guide for boys as they approach puberty, explaining the changes that will happen to their bodies as they grow up and how these changes might make them feel. Covering everything from body hair and vocal changes to mood swings and self-esteem, puberty and parenting expert Phil Wilkinson addresses any worries that boys might have relating to what is 'normal'. He reassures readers and boosts their confidence , encouraging them to feel positive about the changes they will experience as they go through puberty.

The Boys' Guide to Growing Up also includes advice on topics such exercise, shaving, talking about feelings and how puberty affects girls, and has an age-appropriate section on sex and reproduction.

Contents

- What is puberty?
- Your puberty timeline
- How do hormones work?
- The height and weight race
- A deeper voice
- Spotty skin
- Hair, hair, everywhere
­- The art of shaving
- Sweat, smells and personal hygiene
- Changes down below
- New feelings
- Sex explained
- Making babies
- Keeping your confidence up
- Mood swings
- Managing your feelings
- Healthy eating
- The power of exercise
- Privacy and your body
- Puberty for girls
- Girls have worries, too

Genres: Childrens, Parenting, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2018

Reviews

[Dani]

Really helpful for me to prepare for my son going through puberty! It just hit me that he's seven and I could not remember when puberty for boys starts or what it even entails!!

The diagrams were really clear and easy to follow, and the information given is really helpful and not overly scientific. I also like that it covers the main aspects of puberty for girls too so that boys can have an understanding of what girls are going through too. The encouragement to talk about feelings and what their bodies are going through was really refreshing to see - boys have feelings too - and I liked how it emphasised that it is ok to have time to yourself and privacy when you need it also.

I do think there should have been more about safe sex though! There's mainly the biology about how to get pregnant, but there's only a very small section about contraception and that doesn't even list the types available. It should be being ingrained into boys that they are equally responsible for the prevention of pregnancy and that condoms are something they need to be familiar with and comfortable talking about. Boys shouldn't be relying on a girl to have contraception covered, and they should also be made aware of what the different types of contraception are and the impact that female contraception can have on the body and mental health. I did like that tampons, sanitary towels and periods were discussed though.

The inclusion was really good though when talking about attraction which could be towards girls or boys or everyone or no one at all. The shaving tips were also really handy and there's a list of links to additional information in the back of the book for more information on the main topics raised in the book.

[AfterDarkReviews]

Clear, practical, and surprisingly engaging for a book about puberty. My 12-year-old has had this since he was 9 and still refers back to it, sometimes asking me to read sections with him so we can discuss things together. The tone is approachable, the illustrations are helpful, and the formatting makes tricky topics easy to digest.

It balances humor, honesty, and education perfectly, making it an excellent resource for parents and kids navigating the confusing years of growing up. A must-have for fostering understanding, confidence, and open conversation about puberty.

[Mark]

Książka dla 13 latka max. Ja ją dostałem od rodziców za późno i bardzo podstawowe rzeczy były opisywane. Z tego powodu że bylem na nią za stary to nie zrobiła na mnie wrażenia. Dla młodszego dziecka jest w porządku

[Alana Bursey]

This addresses many very important developments in young boys. The content does really hold kids interest as most kids who read this book it is because they are nervous about puberty. So I was impressed with how engaged my boys were reading this book.

[Kasiastarko]

"Та секс потрібен не лише для того, щоб народити дитинку. Дорослі хочуть ним займатися, коли кохають одне одного. Адже це спосіб разом отримати приємні відчуття".

[Liudmyla Ohorodnyk]

Чудова книга, щоб почати пізнавати себе. З дітьми ПОТРІБНО говорити про статеве дозрівання та секс. Ви думаєте, що ще зарано, а не боїтесь, що в один момент стане запізно?

[Daniela]

Ghidul baietilor la pubertate

[Me Moi Myself]

💀 Scaring

[Arman]

Tt

[Олена]

Не відкривається для читання

[Blair Brown]

Bought for my child, but I needed to read it myself before handing it over. It touches on most of the main topics, but doesn't go into great detail. A good starter for more in-depth conversations.