Product Description

The bestselling "It's a Girl Thing" has a new little sister that's just right for younger girls curious about what puberty will bring.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22767 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-08
• Released on: 1998-09-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-A slimmed-down version of Jukes's It's a Girl Thing (Knopf, 1996) that explores puberty firsts such as bras and periods. The author imparts the essential information vital to a young woman's early development. Speaking with the sensitivity of an older, trusted sister, Jukes assures readers that the changes, or lack of, in their bodies are perfectly normal. She covers body hair and shaving, perspiration and deodorant, and how to buy your first bra. The second half of the book is devoted to what to expect and how to plan for your first period. Jukes details the pros and cons of pads and tampons and gives practical, safe advice for alleviating cramps. Sexual intercourse is defined as an activity for adults and used to describe the reproductive organs. Sexual activity in teenagers and birth control are not covered. The narration has an easy, comfortable voice and imparts accurate and important information while assuring readers that they can still be children even though they've entered puberty.
Katie O'Dell Madison, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The title gives a slight hint, but librarians and readers may still be surprised to discover that despite a few organizational changes, some slight rewriting, and the addition of a short section dealing with privacy issues, this is basically little more than the first three chapters of Jukes' 1996 It's a Girl Thing. The openness and warm, if sometimes gushy, enthusiasm ("the bra smelled so new and delicious") of the first book are still apparent, and once again Jukes calls up personal anecdotes about her own puberty during the late 1950s as she introduces girls to their sexual anatomy, menstruation, and a few related topics. Although a number of more detailed books on those subjects exist--among them, The Period Book (1996), by Karen Gravelle and her daughter, Jennifer--this one, which has an excellent section on bras, may suit girls on the new end of the puberty continuum. Stephanie Zvirin

Review
This informative and direct book for pre-pubescent girls discusses everything they'll want to know about - periods, bras, tampons, breasts, cramps, etc. - in an age-appropriate manner. Jukes (It's a Girl Thing, 1997, not reviewed) gives the full scoop to girls on what to expect when their bodies begin changing. Her engaging style tells girls that "just because something's private doesn't mean it's secret. It's reassuring to talk and think and read about things to do with growing up." The information is candid and comforting, with an early description of her mother's matter-of-fact approach to menstruation and sponge bathing setting the tone. Readers learn about puberty, shopping for a bra, how to send a father out to buy sanitary pads, and a host of topics to help them navigate the awkward pre-teen years. Jukes's common sense extends to many aspects of girls' health, reminding them to take good care of their bodies, eat well, and relax - there is plenty of time to think and learn about growing up. (Kirkus Reviews)

Customer Reviews

Just What I Was Looking For
Growing Up: It's a Girl Thing was perfectly appropriate and was exactly what I was looking for. It talks about puberty and first periods to an age-appropriate audience (8-11) without talking so much about sex. Right now this is all the information my daughters need to know. They are still children, running and jumping, playing with their toys, and preparing for puberty, but still young girls that don't need "too much information" to scare and confuse them. Don't misunderstand: I am always telling them about inappropriate touching and such, just as this book has a chapter called "It's My Body", about what kind of touching and contact is fine and what is not. My girls are not being "kept in the dark" about such issues. This book is right on about the changes their bodies will be going through during puberty.

good buy
got this for my neice who started menstruation. she read it and talked about it with her mom. good book

Very Good Book
This is a must have for every young girl. This book gives girls the opportunity to read about the changes of life in a nonthreatening way ... and opens the door for wonderful discussion time. As a parent, be sure to read the book before handing it over. There is some content that is really dated and might cause some confusion.