The Girls Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up YOU

by Kelli S. Dunham

Just as boys headed straight to last season’s The Boy’s Body Book for information and reassurance, this companion volume is destined to become the go-to guide for adolescent females. Fun to read and easy to carry, it answers all the important questions about becoming a woman that girls are sometimes too embarrassed to ask. From hygiene to exercise, teachers to peer pressure, everything’s discussed here, in a frank and friendly parents that drive you crazy, boys who’ve caught your eye, best friends, physical changes and menstruation, schools and grades, body image and proper nutrition, and moodiness and other emotional stuff. Sections on high school, part-time jobs, and even career planning will feed a girl’s dreams of the future. This entertaining, enlightening, and joyously illustrated look at growing up will be a staple of every girl’s bookshelf for generations to come.

Genres: Parenting, Childrens

116 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2008

Reviews

[Hanieh Sadat Shobeiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish my parents had bought me this when I was a kid.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Will be passing it on to my girls to read now.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I’ll use a small portion of the book but will need to continue looking for something that will fit my family better.

This book needs to be revised to use anatomically correct names. Pubic hair grows on the vulva not in the vagina.

It also glosses over the details of menstruation and how it actually works. My child’s personality will lead them to ask the tougher questions of mechanics, including specific hormonal details (our periods are not only about estrogen!), and this text does not go into the detail I know I will need.

Finally, the book spends a huge amount of time on physical appearance of girls. I know, as a woman who was once a girl, that physical appearance is a concern - but I would have preferred this was done in a more way that acknowledges that appearance does not equate to one’s self worth.

Also, in the bra section - add a sentence that girls don’t need to wear bras if they don’t want to. Simple.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the book in 2022 as an adult. The book was published in 2008 and i found it at a used book store. I'm curious if this has been updated recently to coincide with being 16 years later? Still 4 stars as many topics are helpful.

[Goldberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHEST recommendation for this!

[Becca Amstutz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information is legitimate but the language is antiquated. There are undertones of period shaming and having to keep what happens a secret. Assumption language galore.

[Danica Ramgoolam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for girls to learn about what is happening to them and to start conversations about the things they need to know as they grow into a young adult. Great fun illustrations and easy to relate to language.

[♥Kel · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was so helpful, while i was a preteen and all. So it halped me alot!!! alll ur pubrity questions will be answered in this book, it is quick, easy and so helpful. I recommend this book to allll girls!!!

[Stephanie O'rourke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well done book. There are a couple of area the author gets into that perhaps I'll be skipping over (for now) with my kid, but on the whole, well written for a girl who is just starting to go through changes to help her know what's coming and to take away the fear factor of the unknown.

[Holly Shifrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought for my ten year old. Appreciate the broad range of subjects and the inclusion of disability. Very cis and heteronormative however. One mention that some families have two moms or two dads but assumed that girls reading would only be interested in boys and would all be cis.

[Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book really helps me for when I am growing up! :) x

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Not quite as good as Care and Keeping of You 2.

[Grapeseed22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really helpful and encouraging. I recommend to any girls 9-13