What’s happening to Me? (for Girls) by Susan Meredith

Book Review

An overview of the book

What’s happening to me? (for Girls) by Susan Meredith is a first book on puberty for young girls, published by Usborne Books.

Talking to young girls about puberty can be tricky, which is why books like, What’s happening to me? (for Girls), are so important.  Usborne Books are well known for publishing books for children and this book is one of their first books on puberty for children. They have also published a version for younger boys as well. The language that this book uses, is very simple and quite age-appropriate.

So, what does this book talk about?  It talks about a whole range of different things. It starts off talking about the fact that you’re growing up. That changes will be happening and it’s called puberty. It talks about when puberty will happen and that what happens is different for everybody. You will grow taller and wider. You’ll have a growth spurt and then your muscles will get stronger. You’ll gain weight and then you’ll start to get hairy. It talks about what the hair is for and where it grows ie under the arms, on your legs, pubic hair.

The first hair to sprout is your pubic hair. This gets more curly as it grows and may be a different colour from the hair on your head. It talks about getting breasts. Sooner or later, you might get some growing pains. It talks about how breasts work and why you have them, and the fact that they come in all shapes and sizes. It talks about bras. How to get measured up for one and what it all means.

How does it all start? It talks about how puberty happens and that it’s hormonal and something gets triggered off in the brain and then the sex hormones kick in. Depending on whether you’re male or female, depends on when the hormones happen.

How does it all work? It starts going into what sex is about. It talks about conception, fertility, about sperm being fertile and the penis going into the vagina. It talks about eggs. It also talks about myths about pregnancy. You can’t find one in the cabbage patch in the back garden. It also touches on feelings as well. Grown-ups have sex, not just to make babies but because it’s a way of showing love. It’s something that they enjoy as well. It touches on the fact that you can have sex without babies.

It talks about the changes happening inside you. It talks about the inside reproductive organs (uterus, ovaries) as well as the external ones (vulva). It talks about body fluids and stuff. It talks about why periods happen. How often, and how long. How to use pads. How to use tampons. Girls want to know about tampons because they hear so much, even though they may not be ready for them. It talks about coping with periods. It talks about your feelings and the fact that as you go through puberty, you can get moody and get mood swings. It talks about nutrition because as kids start going through puberty, all of a sudden that skinny, long, tall child that you had is now eating all this stuff and is starting to put weight on. It also talks about exercise.

What’s happening to me? (for Girls) talks about personal hygiene. Making sure you have a shower, use deodorant. That sort of stuff. Talks about pimples and keeping skin clear. Eventually, we do get to a tiny little bit at the back about boys. There isn’t much but it does talk about the fact that boys too go through puberty.

It then talks about things to avoid. Drugs, safe sex, body image, bullying, the right to say no. Porn’s not in there. I would like to think that when they redo this book that porn will be mentioned as it is something that children need to be aware of.

What’s happening to me? (for Girls) by Susan Meredith, is a nice little introduction for young girls about puberty. It does include talk about sex and other things. As a parent, if you’ve got a younger child, they’re probably not really going to be interested in all that stuff that’s towards the back of the book. So you need to decide if you are happy to provide them with all that stuff. It won’t harm your child to have access to this info, it is just that they won’t really be all that interested in it, just yet.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 10 to 12 years.

Buy this book

Buy a copy of What’s happening to me? (for Girls) by Susan Meredith from Amazon.

Video Transcription

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

Alright, let’s dive into this Osbourne book. Now, Osbourne books are known for their great selection of kids’ books, and my own kids have enjoyed quite a few of them over the years. So, it’s no surprise that they’ve come out with a book on puberty. Funny thing is, I actually have one of their earlier books on the human body, but it doesn’t cover the reproductive system. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book on puberty. At the end of the day, Osbourne publishes books that people want.

This particular book focuses on puberty for girls, but they also have a version for boys. So, what does it cover? Well, right from the start, it gives you a big list of what it talks about. It covers a wide range of topics, starting with the fact that you’re growing up and going through changes during puberty.

It explains that puberty happens at different times for everyone and that’s totally normal. You’ll experience growth spurts, get taller and wider, your muscles will get stronger, and you might put on a bit of weight. Oh, and let’s not forget about the hair! It talks about where you’ll start growing hair – under your arms, on your legs, and yes, even down there. It’s all explained in simple language that’s just right for your age. And guess what? The first hair to sprout is your pubic hair. It might be curly and a different color from the hair on your head. If it gets too bushy and sticks out from your swimsuit, you can always trim it. Just a little tip there, because super hairy might not be everyone’s cup of tea. So, this book does have some values woven into it, which is hard to find these days.

Moving on, it talks about getting breasts. You might experience some growing pains, but don’t worry, it’s all part of the process. The book explains how breasts work, why you have them, and that they come in all shapes and sizes. It even covers the topic of bras – how to get measured and what it all means.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how puberty actually happens. It’s all about hormones and triggers in the brain. Depending on whether you’re male or female, different hormones kick in. And that leads us to the topic of sex. The book talks about conception, fertility, and how sperm and the penis play a role. It also covers eggs and busts some myths about pregnancy – no, you won’t find a baby in a cabbage patch in your backyard! It even touches on the fact that adults have sex not just to make babies, but because it’s something they enjoy. And here’s an important point: you can have sex without making babies. It’s good to know these things.

The book also explains the changes happening inside your body – your ovaries, uterus, and other sex organs. They’re growing and starting to work properly. It labels all the external parts too and talks about body fluids. And then we get to the topic of periods. It explains why they happen, how often, how long they last, and how to use pads. It even mentions tampons, which might not be relevant for your age just yet, but it’s good to have some knowledge for the future.

Coping with periods can be a challenge, so the book offers some advice. It also touches on your feelings because, let’s face it, puberty can make you moody. And let’s not forget about nutrition and exercise. Your body is changing, and it’s important to take care of it. The book talks about the importance of eating well and staying active.

Personal hygiene is covered too – taking showers, using deodorant, and keeping your skin clear from pimples. And finally, towards the end, there’s a little section about boys. It talks about their sex organs and sperm. Boys go through changes too, and it’s not always easy for them.

The book wraps up by discussing important topics to be aware of, like avoiding drugs, practicing safe sex, body image, standing up to bullying, and the right to say no. However, it doesn’t mention porn, which I think should be addressed in future editions. But overall, this book is a great introduction to puberty.

Now, as a parent, you know your child best. If they’re younger, they might not be interested in all the details towards the back of the book. It’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with and what questions you’re ready to answer. Every child develops at their own pace, so trust your instincts.

That’s it! That’s the Osbourne book on puberty. It covers the physical changes you’ll go through, but it also talks about what it all means – pregnancy, sex, and more. I hope this summary helps you out. Cheers!

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