Book Review
A short overview of this book
Special Girls’ Business by Fay Angelo, Heather Pritchard and Rose Stewart is a puberty book that has been written for girls with special needs including intellectual disability, physical disability, communication disorder and autism.
It includes the changes that puberty brings and provides an overview of how to manage periods.
There are also two other versions of this book.
Puberty and Special Girls provides practical information about growing up and will help girls understand the changes they will experience at puberty. It is easy to understand, includes excellent illustrations and offers age-appropriate information in a friendly and inclusive manner. You can buy a copy of this book from Amazon.
Special Boys’ Business supports boys, their parents and carers through the changes experienced at puberty. Information is presented simply, with clear pictures and limited text. You can buy a copy of this book from Amazon.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Special Girls’ Business by Fay Angelo, Heather Pritchard and Rose Stewart 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. Almost got confused with my other channel there, but we’re all good. On this YouTube channel, I do a ton of book reviews, and on my website, I help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex. So, today I want to review a book called Special Girls Business written by Faye Angelo, Heather Prichard, and Rose Stewart, three awesome Australians.
Now, I’m reviewing this book because a mom reached out to me asking for recommendations for books that are suitable for girls with special needs. So, I managed to get a copy from my library just for you. It’s a bit hard to find and a little pricey, but totally worth it.
This book is specifically written for girls with special needs, but keep in mind that the language we use might change over time. So, don’t worry if the terms I use today become outdated in the future.
The book is designed with a spiral binding and sturdy board edges, so it won’t easily tear. It’s similar to other books in the series like Secret Girls Business and Secret Boys Business. They’re smaller in size, but just as informative.
Let’s take a look inside, shall we? Oh, and sorry if it gets a bit awkward with the book falling out.
The book starts by explaining how girls’ bodies change as they grow older. We now use terms like females and males instead of girls and boys because gender is important to consider. So, this book is all about female bodies.
It shows what bodies look like without clothes at different ages, so you can see what’s similar to your own body. One thing to note is that books for kids with disabilities use simpler language. They don’t beat around the bush. They get straight to the point because what we say now is what we’ll always say.
Around the age of ten, girls’ bodies start to change. You’ll notice things like pubic hair, underarm hair, breasts, and periods with a little bit of blood. As your body changes, you’ll need to take care of yourself, and sometimes you’ll need help from a caregiver.
The book also talks about how to care for your body during puberty. You might notice that your body gets dirtier, smellier, and sweatier. It’s normal! It also explains how the vagina starts to self-clean, but it can get a bit smelly down there. So, it gives tips on how to wash and dry yourself properly.
Then, it covers the topic of breasts growing and the need for a bra to provide support and comfort. It’s all about preventing any uncomfortable wobbling.
Of course, the book also talks about periods. It explains that periods are when blood comes out of your vagina for about five days and nights. It shows you what it looks like and how you’ll know when you have your period. It’s important to tell an adult when it happens, and you’ll need a period pad to catch the blood. The book even shows you how to put it in your undies and what to do when you’re at school.
There’s a section on privacy too. Periods are private, so it’s okay to talk about them with people who care about you, but not with strangers. It also mentions that sometimes you might get a sore tummy, but it’s just a normal part of growing up.
At the end of the book, there are some tips for parents as well.
Overall, I think this book is fantastic. It covers everything girls need to know about their changing bodies and how to handle periods. It doesn’t go into detail about how babies are made or anything like that, so it keeps things simple and focused. I hope you find it helpful too! Cheers!
