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Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body
For years Christiane Northrup M.D., has taught women about heath, wellness, and the miracle of their bodies. Now, in her first children’s book, she presents these ideas to the youngest of girls. Beautiful Girls presents this simple but important that to be born female is a very special thing and carries with it magical gifts and powers that must be recognized and nurtured. Dr. Northrup believes that helping girls learn at a young age to value the wonder and uniqueness of their bodies can have positive benefits that will last throughout their lives. By reading this lovely book, little girls will learn how their bodies are perfect just the way they are, the importance of treating themselves with gentle care, and how changes are just a part of growing up.
28 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 26, 2013
This is a picture book.
It took me less than five minutes to go through the entire book but I like that the book offers an empowering message about attitude and its impact on our female body.
Beautiful Girl begins with the following,
"Hello, beautiful girl.
Do you know how lucky you are?
Why? Because you were born a girl!
And as a girl, you have been given special gifts that will bloom as you do."
I love the way the book begins.
The words are inviting and the pictures?
They are adorable!
You can view some of the illustrations in this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_syBQGesQ78
If you’re like me, who just love messages and illustrations that are uplifting and positive, you’ll enjoy reading this book. :)
--
This is originally posted on my blog.
It took me less than five minutes to go through the entire book but I like that the book offers an empowering message about attitude and its impact on our female body.
Beautiful Girl begins with the following,
"Hello, beautiful girl.
Do you know how lucky you are?
Why? Because you were born a girl!
And as a girl, you have been given special gifts that will bloom as you do."
I love the way the book begins.
The words are inviting and the pictures?
They are adorable!
You can view some of the illustrations in this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_syBQGesQ78
If you’re like me, who just love messages and illustrations that are uplifting and positive, you’ll enjoy reading this book. :)
--
This is originally posted on my blog.
August 21, 2017
I skimmed this book at an airport and thought it would be a nice body-positive / sex-positive book to share with my daughter. But after borrowing it from the library, my husband challenged me about it and pointed out, rightly, that it overly focuses on external characteristics of girls. I saw his point. There was also some weird portion about magic or spirituality. But I thought to myself, wait, Northrup is a well known doctor!
After some googling, though, I found the picture was a little bit more complicated. Northrup is an Oprah-featured doctor who espouses a variety of pseudo-science crap side by side with good medical advice - which is arguably worse than spouting only bad advice. Google her name along with the word "criticism" and you'll find that much of interest. I dropped this book like a hot potato, and will not be sharing it- or any of the author's other books- with my daughter again.
After some googling, though, I found the picture was a little bit more complicated. Northrup is an Oprah-featured doctor who espouses a variety of pseudo-science crap side by side with good medical advice - which is arguably worse than spouting only bad advice. Google her name along with the word "criticism" and you'll find that much of interest. I dropped this book like a hot potato, and will not be sharing it- or any of the author's other books- with my daughter again.
January 31, 2013
I bought this book because I love the body-positive message, the beautiful illustrations, and I respect the author highly (I'm reading her Mother-Daughter Wisdom right now and loving it). I want my daughters to have a strong foundation of feeling great about being a girl and all that comes with having a girl body. I hope they read it again and again to fortify that feeling. It doesn't go into any specifics at all, but is just infused with a feeling of wonder and gratitude. One line I like says that tadpoles turn into frogs, caterpillars turn into butterflies, and you will turn into just what you are meant to be (paraphrasing). In this culture that is saturated with objectifying messages about women's bodies, our girls need this!
January 10, 2022
This is a pretty book, but it is rather inane. There are also a few problematic things. It talks about being born a girl and how everything in nature is perfect just the way it is, which is kind of a nice idea, I guess, but seems trans exclusionary. The part that really bugged me was the part that says "You should be just as careful with your own body. Treat it gently and make sure others treat it gently, too. Don't let anyone touch you in a way that does not feel right." This doesn't acknowledge that abuse victims don't "let" themselves be abused. This is also way too "you are a lovely flower" and gives absolutely no real information for a book that is supposed to "celebrate the wonders of your body".
February 28, 2013
Every little girl should have this book read to her at least once or 100 times! Dr Northrup does an awesome job of explaining in an age appropriate way the beauty of being a girl.
November 25, 2024
Das Buch hat ansprechende und farbenfrohe Bilder. Es soll sich an Mädchen richten, Sprache und Inhalt sind jedoch für Erwachsene angemessen. Inhaltlich lässt sich das Buch einer essentialistischen und esoterischen Denkrichtung zuordnen, was es für eine allge-meine Empfehlung ungeeignet macht. Die Besonderheit des Frauenkörpers und seine „magische Gabe“, Kinder zu gebären, werden stark hervorgehoben. Begriffe wie „Nestchen“ für die Gebärmutter und die Vorstellung, dass die Menstruation alle Frauen „magisch“ miteinander verbindet, verstärken diese mystifizierende Sichtweise.
October 4, 2019
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book designed for girls about puberty, but not in any actual factual way. It's designed to just make them feel good about being girls and to know that eventually some vague things will happen. Lovely art, but the girls are all beautiful and it doesn't actually provide any real information. It touches on things like that you have a "nest" inside and could someday be a mother if you choose. If you are looking for a book explaining puberty and such, keep looking. If you want a pretty book that celebrates very feminine girls, this will be a good fit.
January 25, 2019
I have nothing against anything in this book, it's beautifully illustrated and of course little girls should know that they are wonderful. Body positivity is a wonderful message, but perhaps not so powerful alongside all the illustrations showing uniformly teensy little waists and elongated arms? We are told here that girls have special gifts and boys have special gifts; but the only difference described appears to be motherhood? Beautiful platitudes, no substance.
July 20, 2014
Very sweet and a positive message. No specifics or technical information. Kinda like "blueberry girl".
April 9, 2020
Wowzer! Thanks to Jason Finn for alerting me to this beautiful book that affirms girls/women. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. Wonderful!
*We would have discussed this on April 11, 2020 @ the library but, due to the virus, unfortunately we will not have the opportunity.
However, this picture book will be a great asset to our library when we re-open!
*We would have discussed this on April 11, 2020 @ the library but, due to the virus, unfortunately we will not have the opportunity.
However, this picture book will be a great asset to our library when we re-open!
August 9, 2022
Beautifully written and illustrated. Love the message it promotes too :)
February 22, 2021
The overall message of this book is positive and the illustrations are beautiful, but I was looking for something more practical to introduce my daughter to sexuality. This book explores the wooey-wooey side of sexuality, which I am all for, but it went over my daughter's head. She's more interested in the science and anatomy at this point of her life so this book wasn't a good fit for her.
December 14, 2017
Gorgeous illustrations and a nice message, but I just didn't like the way it played out. Not sure what age it is geared for, maybe 7? I think parents love the idea, but children are not impressed with the prose -- they prefer a story.
November 24, 2016
great book for girl's self-esteem as their bodies start to change
June 10, 2024
This would be ok if you were buying it for a specific girl in your life. If you're hoping for something general for "all girls," I don't feel like this would work. I also do have concerns over some of the wording like, "Don't let anyone touch you in a way that does not feel right." Don't let is the part I really hate here. I think it's trying to open a discussion that really needs to be had-- but a CHILD is not responsible for how people touch them and if something horrible has already happened to this, this looks like blame.
It also says "And because you were born a beautiful girl, you already have a little nest inside you." Unless a family has done some pretty unusual testing for a small child, you wouldn't actually know this. Think about how many messages we send to girls especially about being a mother and although it says say "Someday you may decide to become a mother" which is great wording, it then has the earlier quote which, I don't want to say sets the girl up for failure and disappointment, but infertility is a huge issue. I don't think we need to be reinforcing that the KID is already in possession of what they need to be a mother-- they might not, actually! We don't need yet another message about how her body is made for fertility.
It also says "And because you were born a beautiful girl, you already have a little nest inside you." Unless a family has done some pretty unusual testing for a small child, you wouldn't actually know this. Think about how many messages we send to girls especially about being a mother and although it says say "Someday you may decide to become a mother" which is great wording, it then has the earlier quote which, I don't want to say sets the girl up for failure and disappointment, but infertility is a huge issue. I don't think we need to be reinforcing that the KID is already in possession of what they need to be a mother-- they might not, actually! We don't need yet another message about how her body is made for fertility.
September 14, 2020
This is a book about young girls accepting their bodies and the changes they face as they grow older. It explains important things that girls need to know by comparing it to gardens and trees. It tells them that their bodies are all special and they should take care of them like they would a delicate flower.
I love the way this book teaches children in a way that would be easy for them to understand by using simile's. The book said that our bodies are colorful like gardens. I also love this book because it explains things girls should know.
I would use this to teach a girl's health class. This would be good for explaining puberty and self-love.
I love the way this book teaches children in a way that would be easy for them to understand by using simile's. The book said that our bodies are colorful like gardens. I also love this book because it explains things girls should know.
I would use this to teach a girl's health class. This would be good for explaining puberty and self-love.
February 11, 2025
The idea is wonderful and needed--celebrating the awesome Design of girls and boys, women and men. This is definitely for little girls. Would love to see someone take on with science how truly amazing the design of the female (and male) is uniquely and truly celebrate its Design as deserved from child through fully grown with purposeful cycles and rhythms and the beautiful ability to grow a child, labor and deliver pwerfully and safely and nourish. We've been given a truly miraculous Gift. This book is a just tiny start and, again, is for little girls.
June 5, 2022
Affirms girls in the specialness of their femaleness - in a spiritual way I think.
The text glides through with beautiful illustrations. It’s all very high level without nitty gritty anatomy diagrams. Although the illustrations are stylised giving the girls a particular look, some with slightly different body proportions would have been good. I think this would be possible and still keep with the style. There were girls of different colour which was great.
The text glides through with beautiful illustrations. It’s all very high level without nitty gritty anatomy diagrams. Although the illustrations are stylised giving the girls a particular look, some with slightly different body proportions would have been good. I think this would be possible and still keep with the style. There were girls of different colour which was great.
April 28, 2019
My daughters are mostly bilingual, but are far more comfortable in Japanese than English, especially when it comes to reading. I read this to my elder two, 8 and 5, and though it felt somewhat awkward to be reading it to them, I think it was good. The messages within are positive, and the book kept my daughters engaged despite it not being particularly fun or poetic.
October 25, 2023
This book must have been custom written for my 4yo. She loves being a girl and this book touches on all the reasons why. (ALL the reasons why). We read it last night and I highly suspect she'll be bringing it to me again tonight. (Currently it lives under her pillow.)
September 2, 2019
I love how it came full circle!
October 31, 2019
Such a wonderful picture book to share with my 8 year old daughter.
January 25, 2020
I am going to order a few copies as presents. This book celebrates the magic of being a girl. A must read if you are privilege to have girls in your circle.
August 18, 2025
Without being too grownup or too graphic this book celebrates the wonders of girlhood! Loved it. The art is also charming.
February 24, 2014
It's not a bad book.
It's just not something I can see being used, really. Not for our schools anyway - maybe for a parent who doesn't want their child taught sex-ed until later on.
The illustrations are quite nice, and it's nice that the author is trying to spread a positive message to girls about having good self-esteem and loving their bodies.
But the book kind of reads like a very early informational book about bodies, talking about how your body will change (it doesn't go into detail on how), about how some girls [some - a very nice point for the author to make, I thought] girls might decide to be parents when they get older and how they have a 'nest' inside of them for this purpose. Also there was something about how it feels good to lie on cool grass, and how these "good feelings" will gets stronger as the girl gets older.
The thing is, where do you fit it in? I think with the low-level of information,in our system it would be lower than 2nd grade, which is when we started to go over where babies come from.
It's not a K-1 book though - it has too much text, and I think the vocabulary is at least grade 2 level.
It's not a book a child would be likely to get out on their own, either, unless they're drawn in by the pictures - the text isn't that interesting. It would probably be in the non-fiction section where a younger child wouldn't find it, anyway.
The text itself is done well enough, though - no mis-spellings or major errors that I noticed.
It's not a bad book, but it's not useful or that interesting to adults, and I can't see it being interesting to children. I suppose I'd recommend it to a grade 1 teacher who wants to read it to the girls for some reason, or like I said, a parent who doesn't want their kid learning about sex-ed until later.
V. on the other hand mentioned she out-right disliked it.
It's just not something I can see being used, really. Not for our schools anyway - maybe for a parent who doesn't want their child taught sex-ed until later on.
The illustrations are quite nice, and it's nice that the author is trying to spread a positive message to girls about having good self-esteem and loving their bodies.
But the book kind of reads like a very early informational book about bodies, talking about how your body will change (it doesn't go into detail on how), about how some girls [some - a very nice point for the author to make, I thought] girls might decide to be parents when they get older and how they have a 'nest' inside of them for this purpose. Also there was something about how it feels good to lie on cool grass, and how these "good feelings" will gets stronger as the girl gets older.
The thing is, where do you fit it in? I think with the low-level of information,in our system it would be lower than 2nd grade, which is when we started to go over where babies come from.
It's not a K-1 book though - it has too much text, and I think the vocabulary is at least grade 2 level.
It's not a book a child would be likely to get out on their own, either, unless they're drawn in by the pictures - the text isn't that interesting. It would probably be in the non-fiction section where a younger child wouldn't find it, anyway.
The text itself is done well enough, though - no mis-spellings or major errors that I noticed.
It's not a bad book, but it's not useful or that interesting to adults, and I can't see it being interesting to children. I suppose I'd recommend it to a grade 1 teacher who wants to read it to the girls for some reason, or like I said, a parent who doesn't want their kid learning about sex-ed until later.
V. on the other hand mentioned she out-right disliked it.
December 30, 2017
A beautiful book to encourage positive self image and beliefs especially during physical changes anticipated for a young woman. Not very deep but useful for continuing rich discussions. Illustrations are absolutely gorgeous with gently beauty that reflects the way young women are encouraged to treat themselves. Highly recommend to share with daughters.
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August 30, 2013I got this from the library but I have to buy it! As a mother of 2 young girls and a teacher, I love the message of this book. And the illustrations are beautiful.
March 2, 2015
Sweet :-)
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November 23, 2016Perfect for introducing young girls into womanhood. Illustrations are imaginative, vivid, and beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews