Book Review
A short overview of this book
The Girl’s Guide to Growing Up Great by Sophie Elkan is a comprehensive book for young girls about puberty sex and growing up.
I was quite surprised by this book, as there are a lot of puberty books that are very similar in regards to their content. This isn’t a book that provides you with the basics. It provides a lot of detailed information and will answer most of your daughter’s questions. Changes that happen to kids with a penis (or boys) is also discussed.
So the first half of the book is about puberty. The authors normalise a lot of the changes and voice the fears that many girls experience about what will be happening to them.
The second half of the book is about growing up. family and friends. It talks about the social changes that happen as well as friendships. Sex, sexual feelings, consent, knowing if you are ready for sex, crushes and liking is discussed.
Sexual intercourse IS talked about in this book.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 9 to 11 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of The Girl’s Guide to Growing Up Great by Sophie Elkan from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, I’m Cath Hak, your friendly sex educator. On my YouTube channel and website, I review all sorts of books and help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about love, sex, relationships, and growing up. Today, I want to tell you about a fantastic book called The Girl’s Guide to Growing Up Great by Sophie Elkin.
I have to admit, I review a ton of books and sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the information. But this book pleasantly surprised me. It’s not just written by one person, but a few different people, which adds some variety. Plus, it’s really well put together.
Let me show you what’s inside. The book is divided into two parts: half of it covers puberty and all the changes that happen to your body, while the other half focuses on family, friends, and yes, even sex. It’s got a handy index at the back, so you can quickly find what you’re looking for. I know I appreciate that when I’m in a hurry!
Now, let’s talk about the sex part. The book covers a range of topics like sexual intercourse, orgasms, and sexual feelings. It even touches on important things like the age of consent and knowing if you’re ready. Oh, and don’t worry, they also talk about masturbation and what it means to have sexual feelings.
But it’s not all serious stuff. The book has some fun elements too, like little questions and activities to get you thinking. I even found a page about different pubic hairstyles – a bit silly, but hey, it’s good to have a laugh sometimes!
What I really love about this book is that it’s inclusive. It features kids from different backgrounds, including those who wear the hijab. It also covers the changes that happen to boys with a penis, so it’s not just focused on girls. It’s important for everyone to feel represented and understood.
The book does a great job of normalizing things and addressing the fears and challenges that come with puberty and growing up. It even tackles those tricky topics like girls being mean to each other and the social changes that happen in friendships. I know these can be tough conversations for parents, but this book handles them with care.
All in all, I think The Girl’s Guide to Growing Up Great is a fantastic book. It’s got a wealth of information, covers a wide range of topics, and even addresses the social aspects of growing up. If you have a kid who loves to read and you want a book that goes beyond the basics, this is definitely worth checking out.
I hope this review was helpful for you. Cheers!
