Susan MeredithWhat's Happening to Me? (Girls Edition) (Facts of Life)

This is a subtle, thorough and useful guide to assist the young ladies with their journey into adolescence. The easy to understand book supports and prepares young girls for a wide range of female matters from biological changes to more logistical issues like hygiene, periods, diet, bra’s and tampons. But interestingly it doesn’t stop there it also deals with the social aspects and psychological impact of going into puberty. It never gets too technical and it’s overflowing with facts and advise. Everything is explained, sometimes with a funny touch but always in an unassuming matter of fact manner. The book can also be of great assistance to parents. And what is particularly good is that there is also a chapter that deals with the puberty of their masculine counter parts. I wish something like this was around 30 years ago which would have prevented me from trying conversations with /lectures from my parents and would have made me feel less lonely.Our daughter is nine and picked up a few things at school and from friends/family. But its essential that she can access such topics in a neutral, less jolly manner, free of taboos, without her feeling awkward to raise it with us. The book is well presented filled with very clear and colourful instructions, art and graphs about the issues that they essentially they will come across while going through their puberty. Well done & therefore highly recommended.

Brilliant book. Explains everything just enough. Every topic is covered in a double page. I bought for my 10 year old daughter when she started going through body changes. We are very open and talk often about the topics covered but the book but it explains a lot of things in a different and probably better way than I can. She loved being able to sit and read it on her own (away from her brother!) and re-read a few months later when she had forgotten some bits. I feel it deals with sex really well too - very basic, factual explanation saying it is for procreation but some couples choose to do it for pleasure and use contraception. It briefly and basically touches on being able to spread infection so mentions protection from that too. Just states the basic facts about what happens and says usually starts with a naked cuddle. I love the fact at the end of the double page on sex it has a paragraph saying about being old enough and also only ever to do it when you are also 100% happy to do it and if any doubt at all to say no and never feel like you have to. It also says that for this and any other things, if you are ever made to feel pressured to do anything you don't want to do, that you should not do it and find an adult you trust to talk to about it, which I thought was brilliant. Sad as it is and young as she is there will be one or two kids at her school and definitely when she goes to secondary school next year, who have either watched things too old for them or have older siblings who have told them things and I would much rather my daughter knows the facts and is aware in a safe, not-too-much-information way than learn from them!Definitely recommend.

This was a great tool to open up conversations about puberty in a way that can be age appropriate. You don’t even need to read every detail and can chose appropriate pages to cover when the time is right.

I bought this book for my 8 year old. She is really too young to be going through this but having an end-of-August birthday she is mixing with girls practically a year older than she is and some of them are starting to (mainly emotionally - blowing hot and cold, moody etc), so I felt it would be useful to introduce her to what is going on with them, and I felt this takes the pressure off the realisation of what will be happening to her as it is impersonal to her at the moment. I was primarily looking for a book which just addressed the issues of emotional changes, boobs and hair and this seemed like the best book for that. On receiving the book however, I did feel that it covers issues that I would rather leave until she is probably about 12-13 (particularly sex and drugs). My solution on giving this book to my daughter was to place a marker at the point I felt it was suitable for her to stop reading and explain that I don't feel she needs to know what is beyond the marker but its fine to look and ask questions about it.I do feel this book is suitable for my requirements in helping my daughter and its quite nice for her to have a book which will be relevant for the next few years, covering the whole spectrum of pubescent issues. This morning, for example, I was told off for not having breakfast with her as "my special book says you will feel sluggish"!The good points about this book are:1. The lay-out is very appealing to younger children with child-like font, cartoons, nice colours etc2. Good, sensible tips about managing the effects of puberty (eg trim bushy pubic hair if it ets embarrassing when swimming and ideas of how to manage unexpected periods)3. It addresses hygiene and health issues - diet, dental advice, exercise and rest and hygiene very well - 10 pages worth.My downsides are:1. Lack of alternatives: There is no alternative advice to shaving excess hair (underarms and legs) and it states "Most girls feel happier using sanitary towels when they first start their periods". Do they? I didn't! I think assumptions should be avoided in personal educational books like this!2. I would have prefered to keep masterbation, orgasms, drugs (no matter how brief the mention) and the section on boys seperate for a few years - particularly as boys go through puberty slightly later - it is irrelevant to my daughter's need to know about her own body's changes.Overall, I am happy with the book and despite fretting that I was imposing too much on my daughter, too young, I am really happy that I have done it and my daughter now refers to it as "my special book". In my opinion I feel this book should be aimed at age 9 on or where, like our situation, the social circle is around the age of 9.

Bought this for my 10yr old who has hit puberty and it’s really great at explaining all the changes for both boys and girls. Written in a manner that isn’t too childish but not too adult. She has read it and said it’s really helpful and would recommend to her friends