Book Review
A short overview of this book
Growing Up. An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body by Rachel Greener is a beautiful inclusive book for young children about puberty. I am a huge fan of the books from this Author’s books, and this one complements her other book – Making a Baby: An inclusive guide to how every family begins.
Sexual intercourse is NOT discussed in this book.
This is what the Publisher has to say…
A modern and inclusive guide to help every child understand their journey from childhood to being a grown-up.
Growing up is a natural part of life, and every child deserves to understand the different ways their body may change as they grow older. While puberty happens to everyone, every child’s journey from childhood to being a grown-up will be as unique as they are!
In this honest, accessible illustrated guide to puberty, young readers can find out exactly what may happen as they grow from being a child to becoming a grown-up. From getting taller and discovering hair growing in new places to developing breasts, experiencing periods or having wet dreams, this book provides the perfect stepping stone for every caregiver to have an open conversation about what it really means for a child to be growing up.
Working closely with a leading national LGBT organisation as well as a biology specialist and an equality, diversity and inclusivity consultant, Growing Up covers everything from biological sex and gender identity to physical changes and emotional development, including sections on friendships and emotional health, creating and respecting boundaries and online safety. Written in friendly and accessible language that can be shared with a child or read independently, Growing Up also includes a further reading section and glossary to answer more complex questions, as well as signposting where young readers can find help from trusted sources outside of the home or school environment.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 6 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Growing Up by Rachel Greener from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue with Cath Hak. Today, I want to talk to you about an amazing book for children called Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body by Rachel Greener and illustrated by Claire Owen. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book for months, and I finally got my hands on a copy!
Let me tell you, these books are absolutely beautiful. The illustrations are diverse and inclusive, which is so important. They start off by explaining that we all start as babies, and then they dive into the question of how we grow from being a child to an adult. They discuss boys and girls, and even touch on the topic of gender. It’s great to see such inclusivity right from the start.
The book goes on to explain how our internal sex, whether we have a uterus and ovaries or testicles, influences the changes that happen during puberty. They cover everything from breast development to periods, and they do a great job of explaining it in a way that’s not gender specific. They also talk about the changes that happen for those born with a penis, like growth spurts and increased hairiness.
Now, I have to be honest, there’s one thing I didn’t quite like about the book. The way the penis is illustrated seems to suggest circumcision, and I feel they could have shown more diversity in terms of foreskin length. It’s important to represent different experiences. Similarly, I wish they had included more diversity in terms of body hair patterns. But overall, the book does a fantastic job of being inclusive and informative.
They also cover topics like erections, wet dreams, consent, boundaries, and even the impact of social media and devices. It’s great to see these important subjects being addressed in a way that kids can understand. The book wraps up by emphasizing that puberty is a unique and special experience for everyone, and it includes a glossary and extra resources for further support.
I truly believe that every family should have a copy of this book. It’s not only informative, but also beautifully designed. The authors have worked closely with sex educators to ensure the information is accurate, which is fantastic. I’m really excited to see if they come out with more books in the future.
So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive and inclusive guide to help your kids navigate puberty and growing up, I highly recommend Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body. It’s a must-have for any library. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Cheers!
