It's OK to Be You: A Frank and Funny Guide to Growing Up [Paperback]

Claire Patterson (Author), Lindsay Quilter (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Revised from a 1988 edition, this sound, sensible guide catalogues some of the physical and psychological changes kids can expect during puberty. Patterson begins by acknowledging that parents-and kids themselves-often remain silent about what happens during adolescence; she then notes, ``One thing's for sure: knowing what's going on and what to expect makes things a whole lot easier." In a similarly breezy, personal style, she proceeds to discuss kids' concerns about their looks and their bodies, how bodies change during puberty and what occurs during sexual intercourse. Readers should follow their own feelings, Patterson concludes, rather than allow their actions to be dictated by others' expectations. Quilter's black-and-white cartoons help maintain the book's buoyant tone through a cast of five chatty preteens, one grandmother and one cat; their observations, presented as thought balloons, range from silly to perceptive. However, this book is less comprehensive than others on the subject, among them Candlewick's It's Perfectly Normal (Children's Forecasts, July 18). Ages 8-12.

Copyright 1994 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-9--``We're all different, we're all alike, we're all okay'' is the basic theme of this self-acceptance book. Straightforward text describes bodies, feelings, and the changes that come with growing up. Juxtaposed with this information are black-and-white line diagrams and cartoons, peopled by a cast of characters who add light commentary to the goings on, including three boys (a know-it-all, a nice guy, and one who wears an ice-cream cone over his nose to hide his insecurity about his oversized ears); two girls (one wise and confident, and one who would rather be a horse than a girl); and finally, an old cat named Munchkin ``who has seen it all before!'' The text is hokey and contrived in places (Munchkin: ``I did, I did! I swallowed a tampon!''), but filled with useful facts that most kids will appreciate. Buy this title to supplement Dr. Ruth Talks to Kids (Macmillan, 1993) and Kathy McCoy's The New Teenage Body Book (Putnam, 1992).

Denise L. Moll, Lone Pine Elementary School, West Bloomfield, MI

Copyright 1995 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 70 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (November 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883672163
• ISBN-13: 978-1883672164
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,473,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very funny, wry and engaging!, October 16, 1999

By 

Maggi Rohde "librarian and mom" (Ann Arbor, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's OK to Be You: A Frank and Funny Guide to Growing Up (Paperback)

This book doesn't have as much factual information or cultural diversity as "It's Perfectly Normal," but it is nearly as endearing simply because of its cast of characters. You are introduced to a funky-looking gang of seven friends at the beginning of the book, each with their own personality: the smart and sassy Grandma, the know-it-all Steve, Ice Cream (who's so worried about the size of his ears that he wears an ice cream cone on his nose to draw attention), even a girl named Horse who decides she's a... well, a horse. Instead of clinical information, the book focuses on feelings associated with growing up, and does so with a total lack of sentimentality that kids will appreciate. The information is presented in a conversational manner, and the comments of the characters are witty and will ring true for many kids entering puberty. Like "It's Perfectly Normal," the book is for both boys and girls. Together, they make a great set.