Book Review
A short overview of this book
The Girl Guide book by Marawa Ibrahim is a book for girls that will answer their questions and support them as they grow up.
This is a book for teen girls about their changing body and brain as they grow up. It provides a very broad overview of the changes of puberty and all the social and emotional changes it brings with it. I like this book but I don’t think it should be seen as a puberty book, as it does play it safe and avoids a lot of the reproductive changes that happen or assumes you already have prior knowledge.
So don’t buy this as a first or only book on puberty, as it won’t tell your daughter what changes to expect. It assumes that the reader already knows what sex is but then talks about very early changes of puberty, so I was a little confused about the age range that this book is targeting. The publisher says 8 to 12 year olds but I disagree as there are topics in there that would not interest an 8 year old, let alone a 12 year old. But it is a good book to have on the shelf as it does provide some really positive information about changing bodies and minds.
THIS BOOK HAS BEEN UPDATED
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 13 to 16 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of The Girl Guide book by Marawa Ibrahim from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak from Sex Ed Rescue, and today I want to share a book recommendation with you. It’s called The Girl Guide: 50 Lessons In Learning To Love Your Changing Body, and let me tell you, it’s a bit different from other books out there.
This book is perfect for early teen girls who want to learn about puberty and growing up. It’s written by Marawa Ibrahim, an Australian woman who used to be a gymnast and did some circus stuff. She’s pretty well-known and even had a TV show called The British Sex Education Show. Dr. Radha Modgle, a doctor GP, also helped with the book.
Now, let’s talk about the book itself. First off, the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! Marawa used paper art to create beautiful images, including pictures of vulvas. I know it might sound a bit strange, but trust me, they’re done in a really artistic way.
The Girl Guide covers 50 different topics related to puberty and growing up. It’s a safe book, meaning it doesn’t go into same-sex relationships or sexual feelings during puberty. As an educator, I always look out for these things, so I wanted to mention it. It’s not as vanilla as the American Girl books, which take a very safe and non-sexual approach to puberty. The Girl Guide focuses more on puberty itself.
The book covers important topics like periods, hormonal changes, body image, emotional intelligence, and even online safety. It also talks about different products you can use during your period, like menstrual cups. And let me tell you, there are some fun illustrations in there, like little cups with glitter that’s supposed to look like blood. It’s all about making learning enjoyable!
What I really love about this book is that Marawa shares her own stories. She talks about her first period and even embarrassing moments like getting period stains on white jeans. She does it in such a natural and lovely way that it gives young girls permission to be themselves and embrace their experiences.
Now, I have to mention that this book is more suitable for early to mid-teens. It’s safe and doesn’t go into too much detail, so it might not be as engaging for a twelve-year-old. But a fourteen or fifteen-year-old would probably appreciate it more. It’s not just about puberty, but also about the changes that come with growing up.
The Girl Guide is a little different from other books because it’s not written by a sex educator, but by a gymnast. I’m not sure about the whole story behind it, but there are different versions published by different publishers. Regardless, the artwork in this book is absolutely stunning, and it’s clear that a lot of effort went into creating it.
So, if you’re looking for a great book to help young girls navigate puberty and embrace their changing bodies, I highly recommend The Girl Guide: 50 Lessons In Learning To Love Your Changing Body. It’s informative, relatable, and just a little bit different. I hope this review helps you out. Cheers!
