Great Books About Growing Up

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If you're getting ready to give "The Talk" to your daughter, giving her a good book about the changes she can expect lets her know that you want her to be informed and that you're there for her if she has questions. Here are a few well-written books, handpicked by Kotex.com, about what your daughter can expect from puberty and her period, and how to fully embrace being a girl.

  • Ashby, Dr. Eve Anne. Puberty Survival Guide for Girls. iUniverse, Inc., 2005.
    Using a question and answer format, Dr. Ashby tackles acne, periods, growth spurts, the female anatomy, and diet and exercise. It's an easy-to-read "owner's manual" for her changing body.
  • Finlay, Fiona; Jones, Rosemary; and Kreitman, Tricia. The Period Pocketbook: Honest Answers with Advice from Real Girls. Ulysses Press, 2006.
    Focused completely on the menstrual cycle, this book answers real questions asked by real girls and busts period myths. It delivers advice on every aspect of her period, from what it will be like the first time to which products are best for her.
  • Gravelle, Karen. The Period Book, Updated Edition: Everything You Don't Want to Ask (But Need to Know). Walker Books for Young Readers, 2006.
    This book is a must-read for every girl about to have her period that covers topics from puberty to body image. From the most common questions to the most embarrassing ones, it answers them in a way that's super easy to understand.
  • Jukes, Mavis. Growing Up: It's a Girl Thing. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1998.
    In this book, your daughter will learn about the important "firsts" that come with puberty through the story of the author's journey into adolescence. She covers her first bra, first shaving experience, first period and more.
  • Schaefer, Valorie. The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls. American Girl, 1998.
    This every-girl's guide will answer all your daughter's questions about her body – from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods.

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What others are saying.

Teri, 6/9/2008 10:09:08 AM
Question, my daughter is 14 going to Gradution pool party she just got her period but wants to go? she asked if she could use tampons? What should I do? If I do what kind should she us? I don't use them.... Concerned mom, Teri

Alana, 6/9/2008 6:42:38 PM
Another great book for teenage girls is Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke, it has everything a teenage girl needs to know about puberty, change and of course.. your period.

Jen, 6/10/2008 9:44:45 AM
She can definitely use tampons. Playtex Gentle Glide makes a slender that is perfect for teens. It is smaller and easy to insert. Instructions come in the box.

I hope that helps!

Liz, 6/12/2008 1:25:52 PM
A daughter wants to know everything about it when there 12 the are also scared about it. the schools only talk about it 1 time in 5th grade and that is not enough. Mad Mother, Liz

amy, 6/14/2008 11:58:07 AM
I also agree they dont talk about it enough in school and it isnt easy to talk about it to your daughter. please help!

PAM W. , 6/17/2008 1:52:04 PM
6-17-08 TIME 2:45 pm

WHAT I NEED TO FIND IS A BOOK ON HOW THE WHOLE THING STARTS THATS WHAT MY DAUGHTER WILL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING EVEN THE LITTLE DETAILS THE "TOOBS" WHERE THE EGGS FLOW THROUGH, THIS IS WHAT MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO BE ASKING ABOUT.

DAWN, 6/19/2008 8:11:23 AM
THERE IS A GREAT AMERICAN GIRL BOOK - YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE WEBSITE OR AT BOOK STORES. HAS GREAT PICTURES THAT SHOWS EVERY DETAIL.

Missy, 6/21/2008 7:29:35 AM
I read WITH my daughter a book called "It's a God Thing" when she was about 8 years old. We read it privately (without dad around) and we read until she said okay that is enough...then in a few days she would say lets read more. It took a little while but we got through it. I was determined to NOT do her like my mom did me which was NO information until after I started and then she wanted to take me to the doctor like a freak because she thought I was too young! I wasn't too young except in her eyes. The book is very good and on a level that an 8 year old understood it just fine. She would ask a few questions but most were answered in the book. When she started she did just fine with it.

Meghan, 6/23/2008 5:47:01 PM
The American Girl book is absolutely EXCELLENT!!! Every young girl should have it to refer too and get correct information.

katie, 6/24/2008 9:23:26 PM
During your period do your breast inch relly bad?

Someone, 6/25/2008 12:12:57 AM
Umm...... my daughter asked about thrush what is it????

thanx a load

Ruby, 6/25/2008 4:52:54 AM
I have a book called The Care and The Keeping of You. It is a great book from American Girl, it has head to toe advice on everything in puberty. I read it all the time, and give my knowledge to others who need it. There have not been films at schools I've been to on puberty yet. I demand we all protest....

Someone, 6/26/2008 8:07:41 PM
Sup girls

Carrie, 6/27/2008 2:46:17 PM
to find out about thrush go to webmd.com .. it'll tell you everything. I beleive it is a yeast infection in the mouth, but not 100% sure.

pivate, 7/3/2008 1:15:16 PM
do your breasts get sore??? mine are and i havent had my period yet

NOB(none of your buisness), 7/7/2008 12:31:29 PM
I haven't had me period....yet and I want to know the syntoms because I have been feeling REALLY cruddy and crabby and feeling like I want to curl up and cry.....HELP is my period coming?!!!

taylor, 7/17/2008 9:39:28 PM
my breast get sore and itch during my period

divajr, 8/14/2008 11:14:53 AM
pivate how old are u?

Lisa in TX, 8/14/2008 5:48:32 PM
I have a question....my daughter is 8 and complaining of lower abdomen pains, it started yesterday for a few hours and then went away, it started again a few minutes ago. Is it possible at 8 that her body is preparing for her cycle?

ART, 9/3/2008 9:29:23 PM
I got mine when I was 10 which seems pretty young, but yes, you can be as young as 8 and as old as 18 before starting your period. My mom never had the talk with me and basically gave me a pad and told me the basics - that was that. I had to teach myself about tampons and anything else about growing up. I have a daughter who is 3 and I'm already determined to guide her through those challenging years better than mine did. Hats off to the other moms out there on the same mission!

Ann, 9/4/2008 7:04:21 AM
I don't believe it's the schools responsibility to educate our children about puberty and sex. I want to know what my children are being told and the best way to do that is to talk to them myself. It also makes those conversations easier for them to bring up when they have questions.

Marci, 9/4/2008 3:19:36 PM
Ann, I'm 100% with you. My daughter just turned 6 but already knows the basics of reproduction and puberty. As soon as she began asking questions, I began answering. We started out reading a really great book for ages 4 & up called "It's NOT the Stork!" by Robie H. Harris. She also wrote another one about puberty called "It's Perfectly Normal". I haven't read the 2nd but I plan on buying it soon.

Carrie, 9/5/2008 10:57:22 PM
My daughter is 8 and we have been through the basics, so she will be prepared when the time comes. I also told her my "door is always open" to any questions she has. I believe that a well informed girl can help those who are not so well informed, or misinformed. Our girls need to know that their "period" is not cause for embarrassment, but just a part of growing up.

Joy, 9/10/2008 4:15:24 PM
My daughters period usually comes around the 20th between 29th, But today is the 10th and she started. Whats wrong?


She's 14..

Chelsie, 9/11/2008 7:06:14 PM
I'm 13 (I have not started yet) but the book my mom has got me by "American Girl" called "The care of You- The Body Book for Girls" It has helped me to understand what she was talking about when she gave me "the talk"!! When I had a question about the changes if my body I went to it. It teaches about Hair, ears, eyes, mouth, braces, face, acne, hands, underarms, breasts bras, good food, bad food, nutrition, eating disorders, pubic area, period, legs, feet, fitness, sport safty, rest, sleep troubles, teeth, shaving and digrams- showing how 2 insert tampons and SO much more
every girl/teen NEEDS this book it has girls openion on things and the experts openion too! This book is a must for mothers who need a way to teach there daghter about every thing they need to know about growing up, to becomeing a woman! My mom gave me this book and it has helped more than anything!

sima, 11/28/2008 1:41:14 PM
I am 14 years old and I didn't my period more then a year. Is this normal? I am getting some pains sometimes. I am every scared.

Please reply me back

Teen, 12/8/2008 4:35:12 PM
The American Girl "The Care and Keeping of You" really answers the questions with nice illistrations. Not offending or rude. My daughter is a tween and wanted to know the changes before it actually happened to her so she could be ready. Great book! Would recomend.

Annie, 12/9/2008 11:20:00 PM
is there a dvd out there that i can get to watch with my daughter? i think she'll understand it better by watching it. i watched something on vhs long long time ago, but i dont remember what it was called or even where to find one

Sunny, 12/25/2008 3:12:33 PM
My daughter is 8 going on 9..at what age should I talk to her about starting her period...My mother and I both started at 10. My daughter is already complaining of her chest being sore and she is really moody...

sb , 1/31/2009 8:06:51 AM
i am getting "The care and keeping of you " and "The care and keeping of me journal" american girl girl books ! I am so exited !

sb , 2/1/2009 11:26:41 AM
I got the books yesterday man those books are awesome!

Kim, 4/9/2009 6:59:10 AM
For the mom who asked about a DVD: We got the My first period kit & DVD and watched it. My 10-1/2 yr old was fine with the material, it covered everything and we even had fun. hard to beleive. made it easy to talk more afterwards

515, 8/23/2009 1:27:50 PM
okayy is there any way i can read these kinds of books online? cuz my mom would never buy these kinds of books for me

515, 9/2/2009 8:07:28 AM
okay can someone answer my question cuz i cant find a way to read books online and i really want to so plz answer me thnx!

annoyed, 9/25/2009 10:36:33 PM
in 5th grade my school separated the boys and girls and had us each watch a movie about puberty. this was in the last month of school , and i had a period since october. everyone knew what a period was by then and a bunch of us had started!

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