What’s Happening to Ellie? by Kate E. Reynolds

Book Review

A short overview of this book

What’s Happening to Ellie by Kate E. Reynolds is a book about puberty for girls with autism and related conditions.

It discusses the changes that happen and how to look after your body as these changes happen. Includes periods and how to use period products, as well as the physical changes that happen.

Kate E. Reynolds also has other books that you may find helpful.

You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 10 to 14 years.

Buy this book

βœ… Buy a copy of What’s Happening to Ellie? by Kate E. Reynolds from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. This is my YouTube channel where I review books that can make talking to kids about love, sex, relationships, and puberty a whole lot easier. You’ll find tons of book reviews on my channel, along with sex advice on my website to help parents have better conversations with their kids about sex.

Speaking of books, I finally got my hands on a copy of What’s Happening to Ellie by Katie E Reynolds. It’s an English book that’s been around for quite some time and is super popular. A mom on my YouTube channel asked me to review it, so my local library hooked me up. There’s actually a whole series of these books, including the Tom books and the Ellie books. They cover topics like masturbation and going to the toilet safely. Let me show you what this book is all about.

Now, I have to warn you, it’s pretty graphic right from the first page. My 14-year-old daughter saw it and just laughed, but everyone reacts differently. The book starts off with Ellie taking a shower and noticing a hair near her vagina. It’s important to note that the language has changed over time. We now use vulva to refer to the outside part and vagina for the inside part. So, the book mentions a triangle of hair that will grow there. Ellie also has hair growing in her armpits and other parts of her body. It even talks about using a razor, but I know some parents aren’t comfortable with that because it might give their kids ideas about shaving before they’re ready.

The book also covers pimples, which will gradually disappear as Ellie grows into a young woman. It talks about breasts getting bigger and the need for a bra. But hey, not everyone has a mom to take them shopping, right? Some kids are in foster care or have someone else looking after them. The book also touches on other changes happening to the body.

Then, it addresses the topic of periods. Ellie goes to the toilet one day and finds blood down there. The book explains what periods are all about and mentions stomach aches. Now, some parents have expressed concerns about this because they worry their child might start claiming they have a stomach ache every time they get their period, even if they don’t actually have one. So, just something to keep in mind.

The book also talks about using pads and even mentions tampons for those who might be interested. It explains how to change them and emphasizes the need for using deodorant. Remember, these changes don’t happen overnight. They happen gradually. Ellie is growing up, and that means she can wear perfume and more grown-up clothes.

So, that’s the gist of the book. It’s a useful tool for starting conversations, but if it’s not your cup of tea, there are plenty of other books out there to explore. I hope this review was helpful to you. Take care!

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