Book Review
A short overview of this book
How Will I Grow by Mick Manning is an older book that gives a lovely explanation of puberty and growing up. I liked this book as it discusses a lot of different topics that are relevant for children. Plus the format is perfect for kids who think picture books are a bit babyish, but aren’t quite ready for books without pictures – it’s what I call an inbetween book.
This book gives a lovely explanation of puberty, and all the physical and emotional changes that happen as your body changes. This book doesn’t talk about sex but it does talk about having a crush on someone. I quite liked the way the author explains romantic feelings.
Despite being an older book, I still liked this book, especially the explanation of crushes and love.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 7 to 11 years of age.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of How Will I Grow by Mick Manning from Amazon.
Transcription of the video
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, the Sex Ed Rescue guru. I run a YouTube channel and website where I review books and help parents have better conversations with their kids about sex. Today, I want to tell you about a book called How Will I Grow Now by Mick Manning and Brita Granström. Now, this book is a bit older, it came out in 2016 and was originally written in 2002.
I have to be honest, it’s not the most inclusive book out there. It doesn’t cover different genders or all the different ways babies can be made. It focuses on a mom and a dad. But, despite that, I still think it’s a pretty good book. You see, sometimes kids reach that in-between stage where they feel like picture books are too babyish, but they’re not quite ready for a full-on novel. That’s where this book comes in handy.
What I like about it is that it covers a lot of ground. It talks about growing up, not just puberty. It explains all the changes that happen to your body as you grow up. And while it doesn’t talk about sex, it does have a section at the back that touches on changing friendships and love. I think that’s great because some kids are already starting to think about romantic friendships and want to understand them better.
The book explains that there are different kinds of love. You can love your family and your home, but as you get older, you might start feeling love for other boys or girls your own age. Sometimes it can be a really strong feeling and you’ll want to spend a lot of time with that person. And hey, you might even develop a crush on a pop film star! But don’t worry, those crushes usually don’t last long.
The book also covers other important topics like how you learn, how your body changes, what happens when you’re a teenager, and even what puberty feels like emotionally. It’s got some cool diagrams that show what’s happening inside your body during puberty, like periods and voice changes. And it wraps up by talking about friends and what it means to grow up.
But here’s the most important thing: the book reminds kids that even though they’re going through all these changes, they’re still themselves. Puberty and growing up can be a little scary for some kids, but the sooner we start talking about it, the more comfortable they’ll become with it. It won’t seem so scary or difficult or awkward anymore.
I hope that was helpful! Personally, I really liked this book, but I do want to mention again that it’s not the most inclusive. Nowadays, families are made in all sorts of different ways, so it’s important to find books that fit your family’s unique situation.
Alright, that’s it from me. Take care and happy reading! Cheers!
