The Big Book of Girl Stuff [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Bart King (Author), Jennifer Kalis (Illustrator)

Book Description

The Big Book of Girl Stuff shares everything a girl needs to know—from sleepovers to diaries to makeup to boys to shopping, and everything in between! It's the ultimate guide to unlocking the delightful mysteries of being a girl.

Dozens of girls, young women, teachers, and mothers collaborated on this book to make it the most comprehensive guide to being a girl that has ever existed! Perfect for pre-teen, 'tween, and teenage girls, The Big book of Girl Stuff shares inspiration, empowerment, and some seriously silly laughs just when girls need it the most!

It's filled with information, activities, quotes, and games, as well as lists for favorite books, movies, and music. Smart asides, fascinating facts, an enlightened outlook, and a uniquely feminine perspective make this a must have for every girl. Though it's written for girls from 9 to 14, it will certainly delight moms, aunts, and big sisters everywhere!

Find answers to a girl's most important questions:

• Why are horses so cool?
• How do I stop a boy from crying?
• How do I fake a cell phone conversation?
• How can I make the world a better place?
• Which country considers pierced ears bad luck?
• When is International Sea Monkey Day?

(20090422)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–8—This funny follow-up to The Big Book of Boy Stuff (Gibbs Smith, 2004) is chock-full of hints and guidance. From the silly ("Why boys smell so bad") to the slightly serious ("Lies, Mean Girls, and Jerks"), it will have readers thumbing through the volume again and again. The author keeps the mood light and the sections short and sweet. Though the organization appears a bit random with an opening chapter about babysitting and the glossary of "cool" tween speak stuck in the middle, the text does have a good flow. As the extensive bibliography demonstrates, King has done his research. Growing up is a challenge, and his hip handbook is a resource not only for girls, but parents as well. The volume has amusing illustrations and a reversible cover for sneaky in-school reading. While the information presented can be found in other books, the author's sense of humor and lighthearted approach make this one accessible to a wide range of readers.—Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Bart King is my new hero. On the surface, his books might look like they're getting by on being similar to the ubiquitous Dangerous Book for Boys. King's pocket guides-with illustrations of paper airplanes, Chuck Taylors, and a slingshot on their covers-do cash in on that kind of scrappy retro charm. But these books are something entirely different. These books are hilarious. And informative-if you want to know how to get the best of your nemesis or play toilet tag. What makes these special is not only that they're well-written, well-designed, and funny, but also that they present information that is actually new and actually useful (again, useful to the sorts of people who like to play toilet tag). A few tantalizing sample tastes: From The Pocket Guide to Mischief: "You'll need some cream cheese. First, roll the deodorant out maybe half an inch . . ." From The Pocket Guide to Games: "Fill several balloons with water, and hang one from a tree . . ." From The Pocket Guide to Boy Stuff: "Here are two hand-grenade designs that you can use that won't start a fire . . ." If these don't seem gender-neutral enough, and you have a daughter who is into this kind of thing, rest assured that Bart King also has girl versions: The Big Book of Girl Stuff gracefully and barely touches on puberty, but includes plenty of pranks, code names, and hijinx for kids who like bright pink more than baseballs on the covers of their books. Should someone you know be interested, visit the author's web site: www.bartking.net. It includes video clips illustrating some of the guides' proposed activities! (Katy Killilea Kidoinfo )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith; 1 edition (September 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158685819X
• ISBN-13: 978-1586858193
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I write funny (and educational!) books for younger readers and immature adults. My newest title is "Cute! A Guide to All Things Adorable".

POP QUIZ-- One of my books was once Amazon's #5 overall bestseller. Guess which one!
HINT: It is a "big book."
ADDITIONAL HINT: It has a blue cover.
LAST HINT: It was "The Big Book of Boy Stuff".

Visit me at www.bartking.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, January 9, 2007

By 

D. Peer (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Big Book of Girl Stuff (Paperback)

My wife was worried when I ordered this book for my 11 year old niece, that it might have content that she wasn't ready for, regarding menstruation, etc. The subject was brought up in the "emergencies" section, and handled very delicately, I showed it to my wife and her fears were alleviated. I would say it is age-appropriate for any girl who is able to read at a second grade level.
My niece loved the book, she couldn't put it down all night on Christmas Eve, and had read the entire thing in 3 days. I also got my son "The big book of boy stuff" and they took turns reading bits of their books to each other, and then cracking up, all evening long. It was very nice to look out in the living room and see an 8 year old and an 11 year old with their noses stuck in books, while the PS3 sat, unused in the corner. That is about as good of a recomendation as it gets.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A big hit with 5th grade girls, March 16, 2007

By 

Mickey Hahn (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Girl Stuff (Paperback)

I purchased this book for my 5th grade daughter and she thoroughly loved it. She brought it to a slumber party where they all took turns reading it and has since loaned it out to several of the girls who wanted to read more. She and I have read it together and enjoyed laughing at the chapter on jokes. It's filled with the usual "how to" stuff: how to deal with girlfriends, boys, school, etc. but written in a clever, engaging style. The reversable book cover titled "Chemistry" is a big hit too since they read at lunch time in the cafeteria and can conceal the subject matter from the boys. She and her friends now want to read the Big Book of Boy Stuff to figure out the male mind!

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, January 20, 2007

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Book of Girl Stuff (Paperback)

Any young man who can manage to grow up (alive) and retain (most) of their sanity surrounded by five sisters automatically gains my respect. When that young man grows up to be Bart King, author of THE BIG BOOK OF GIRL STUFF, who uses the wisdom, never-ending frustration, and survival instincts honed while growing up with said five sisters, my respect turns to genuine admiration.

Like its predecessor, Big Book of Boy Stuff, The, this book is filled to the brim with helpful tips, life-saving information every girl needs to know (i.e. how to put on eyeliner correctly), the best reversible pink cover in the history of books, and much, much more. Don't believe me? Categories in this must-have book include:

Babysitting; Girl Power; Boys; Friends, Cliques, Secrets, and Gossip; Fun Stuff to Do; Holidays; Sports and Games; Dance and Cheerleading; Lies, Mean Girls, and Jerks; Ick; Nicknames, Handwriting, Words, and Doodles; Slang; Dolls and Stuffed Animals; Etiquette and Manners; Family; Beauty; Makeup; Sleepovers and Slumber Parties; Hair; Humor; Fashion; How Important are Looks?; Food and Dieting; The Mind, Emotions, and Dreams; Practical Jokes; Girl Secrets: No Boys Allowed!; Girl Emergencies; Pets and Animals; Shopping and Advertising; Wise Words from Wise Women.

Here's a strategy tip straight from Mr. King himself: If your brother or sister ever tells you to "shut up," try using this magical spell from ancient times: I don't shut up, I grow up, and when I look at you, I throw up. Problem solved!

And for those of us (read old) who have gotten behind on the cool (is cool even still cool?) phrases of the day, here's a few hints: chichi (pronounced shee-shee) means expensive in a tasteless way, harsh the mellow means to upset people, and a nooj is a harmless troublemaker.

I'm telling you, you need a copy of THE BIG BOOK OF GIRL STUFF! Otherwise, you'll never know what you need to know, while everyone else knows it, which makes you look perflippity (which means silly, by the way).

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"