The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls (American Girl Library) (Paperback)

by Valorie Schaefer (Author), Norm Bendell (Illustrator) "With your body on the brink of some pretty big changes, it's time to start taking control of your health and well-being..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This bestselling guide answers all the questions growing girls have about their bodies - from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods. It offers guidance about basic hygiene and health without addressing issues of sexuality. Over 1 million copies sold!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: American Girl Publishing Inc (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562476661
• ISBN-13: 978-1562476663
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (320 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health
  #1 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Girls & Women > Nonfiction
  #1 in	Books > Children's Books > Issues > Personal Hygiene

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

295 of 299 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book for Pre-Teens, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

I bought this book for my 9 (soon to be 10) year old and was impressed by the head-to-toe body care topics it covered. It touches on everything from hair care, to face cleansing, to washing your hands, to exercising and nutrition. I was wondering how I was going to broach the topic of starting her period with my daughter and this sure helped relieve my anxiety. It covered it honestly, straightforward and not intimidating at all. I think it helped because it was only a minor focus of the entire body-care book. (A brief introduction to what a period is and how to handle it and the fact that it is completely NORMAL and all girls go through it). I told my daughter that she was now in the "girls club" and could talk to me anytime about any of these topics she had questions about...she carried the book around for hours and immediately started cleaning her face, brushing her hair and being more conscious of her overall body care.
I highly recommend this book for preteens and am happy I bought it.

294 of 300 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appropriate for preteens, July 9, 2002

By	"mizzrizz" (Oakland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

My daughter is 9 and I thought it to be an approprate time to start the "talks". This age group is still so innocent, it's hard for them to fully understand all that is coming up for them in just a few short years. The thing I like about this book is that kids can absorb information at their own pace and as they need it. What they're not ready for they won't read and when they are, they can look at it with some privacy (I've even heard her giggle about it with her friends).

The book coveres a lot of self care like teeth brushing, showering, and the basics. The last part of this book is about menstruation and body hair. There is no sex talk like some other puberty books.

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! Perfect for parents, like me, too shy to discuss it, August 4, 2001

By	Lynette Donnelly (Oregon) - See all my reviews

I am one of those....hhmmm...scardy cats! Talk about personal stuff with my kids?!? MY mom didn't do that! :) This book was the answer to my prayers! I worked up the courage to give it to my daughter (9 yo) and briefly flip thru the pages with her. I tried to act cool...ya right! It goes from head to toe on a girl and discusses the importance of keeping every part clean and well groomed. Then I told her if she had questions to ask. I checked with her periodically over the next couple of weeks...concerns? uncomfortable? NONE of either. She is so comfortable with the subjects I'M no longer afraid to talk to her about it. She LOVES the book and reads it on a regular basis. Checks it if she has questions and we go over questions together...with or without the book. My younger daughter (7) will inherit it next. Now, if American Girls would just come out with (if there IS one please let me know!) a book on sex ed! :) I highly recommend this book for any girl about to hit puberty. Or any parent that just can't quite work up the nerve to discuss 'those things'.