Cycling to Grandma’s House by Jac Torres-Gomez

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Cycling to Grandma’s House by Jac Torres-Gomez is a lovely story that shares the ways that different cultures celebrate a girl’s first period.

It is a fantastic resource that mothers can use with their daughters, to start a conversation about menarche and how they would like to celebrate it.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Cycling to Grandma’s House by Jac Torres-Gomez from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription of the book review

Hey there! Today, I want to share with you a fantastic book called Cycling to Grandma’s House by Jac Torres-Gomez, an awesome Australian author, and illustrated by Erin-Claire Barrow.

You know, when Jac first wrote this book, she wanted to show that having your first period doesn’t have to be a negative experience. There’s so much negativity surrounding puberty and periods, and it’s time to change that!

I mean, if you search for images of puberty, you’ll probably find a bunch of pictures with sad faces and big pimples. It’s like the whole world is focused on the negative stuff.

But in Cycling to Grandma’s House, having your first period is portrayed as something special. The book is filled with beautiful illustrations on every page. So, if you’re thinking about getting this book, let me give you a sneak peek of what it’s all about.

The story starts with a girl named Luna riding her bike. She’s got a dilemma and needs someone to talk to. As she pedals through her community, you’ll notice people from different cultures in the background. There are folks with different skin colors, and even a Muslim girl wearing her hijab. It’s all about celebrating diversity!

Luna’s dilemma is that her teacher gave her homework to find out the most incredible characteristics of being a girl and a boy. Luna is stumped. What makes girls so special? So, she decides to ask her mom for help.

Her mom suggests something really cool. She tells Luna to cycle around town and speak to different women about something very special. And guess what that special thing is? Having your first period! Luna then embarks on a journey to learn how people from different cultures celebrate this milestone.

She visits her Japanese friend, then a Papua New Guinean friend, a Ghanaian friend, an Indigenous Australian friend, an Indian friend, an English friend, and finally, her Grandma’s house. And let me tell you, Luna learns so much about different traditions and celebrations along the way.

When Luna gets back home, she thinks about everything she discovered and finishes her project. She even shares it with her classmates, who have so many questions. It’s great because it opens up conversations between parents and kids. They ask things like, Why do people want to keep it a secret? or Does my dad know about this? It’s an opportunity for parents to provide answers and support.

Towards the end of the book, it asks the reader how they plan on celebrating their first period. It’s a chance for girls to think about how they want to mark this special moment. And don’t worry, there’s some extra information before the book ends.

Personally, I absolutely love this book! It’s a wonderful way to introduce the idea that different cultures celebrate this important event in their own unique ways.

I actually shared this book with my eleven-year-old daughter, and she really liked it too. She even asked me how we’re going to celebrate her first period. I have to admit, I panicked a bit because I hadn’t thought about it yet. But we had a great conversation, and she decided she wants to go out for a special dinner with just me and our dog (since she’s a girl). Of course, things might change by the time she actually has her first period, but it’s all about being open and supportive.

So, if you’re looking for a great book that celebrates diversity, breaks down taboos, and encourages positive conversations about puberty, Cycling to Grandma’s House is definitely worth checking out.

I hope this review helps you make an informed decision. Cheers!

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