Customer Reviews

The Period Book: Everything You Don't Want to Ask (but Need to Know)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this book for my daughter after she and I had our first "talk" about periods and sex. It's a light-hearted book, written by a woman and her teenaged neice, and it is fairly specific in that it pretty much only addresses issues about getting one's period (not boys, nor sex, much).

The book outlines the changes which young girls go through as they mature, and discusses the various things which happen, both mentally and physically, as they approach their first period. It covers the options young women have to deal with their period, what to do if there are problems, how to talk to your parents about it (and listen to them try to talk to you!), and has a list of "What If..." questions which covers most issues.

The book is illustrated with line drawings (almost cartoons) which deal with issues in a sensitive but easy manner. There's even a spot in the back for notes or letters to one's parents. I'd rate the age range for this book from about 10 and up. All in all it's a good value for its price, and answers many of the questions a young girl has about this touchy subject.

I wanted something that would help me to explain the real situaion without going into sexuality. (I beleive there is one mention of why we have a period is that if you haven't had intercourse and gotten pregnat then the lining of the uterus will shed). At first I was a little put off by the drawing (cartoony) about tampon use... but then realized, you know, that is what they really are thinking and feeling and wondering about. I know I was way back when. I read the whole thing first then gave it to my oldest daughter at about 10/11 yrs old. She read it and we had some very open communication about things. It was a great way to open the door for conversation. I have loaned it to several other friends with daughters approaching that age. It was very helpful with information about breastbuds, and how it's 'normal' to not develop at the exact same rate and size... (I wouldn't have thought about telling her that!), and gave good practicle information about what to do if you start in public and having nothing with you, or various other situaions. The author and her neice did an excellent job of giving good practical information that girls really do need to know, and are probably wondering about. Make sure your daughter is at the stage where she can handle the information... I am not sure when to give it to my next (less mature) almost 10 yr old daughter... one day she'll need and be ready for the same information. A very good book! We also bought 'Period. A girls guide' it was a little more basic, but also a good first book.

Every young girl who is worried or just curious about her period should have this book. It explains what happens to your body during puberty, the what ifs and freaquently asked questions from many girls.Parents- if you are looking for a book on this type of thing, this is the book you are looking for. "It's A Girl Thing" by Mavis Jukes is great, too.

As a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), I am always looking for good, consumer reading material about all the aspects of health and well-being in women. Girls are going through puberty at younger and younger ages. Parents sometimes feel inadequate or embarrassed about discussing sex with their 8-9 yr old children. The girls have a right to know what is happening with their bodies. This book is written at their level and can stimulate conversations about sex and changing bodies with parents. I wish I had a book like this when I was 11 years old. I recommend it.

When it comes down to giving the talk about growing up and lifes changes make sure you have this book in hand. I took this book to work to show the women at the office and now all of them are going out to buy it for thier girls.

I'm a 65-year old single grandparent (grandfather) raising an adopted 9-year old grandaughter and understandably apprehensive about the coming years with their profound changes. Having read Reviving Ophelia (highly recommended) but looking for something to address the more personal issues of adolescency I stumbled upon this title. It is simply the greatest book at the perfect time. Even though we are very close my "daughter" admits that there are subjects that the book addresses that she was curious about and that I tended to avoid for obvious reasons. What amazes me is that I have told several mothers of her playmates about this book and every one has begged me to borrow it. Invariably they admit to being unsure about how or when to address the questions that all young girls have in the back of their minds about the physical changes about to be thrust upon them and even fear about what to say when "that moment" comes. I have "sneaked" several looks at the book and I can say that it is spot-on and very well written with great lighthearted illustrations. Get this book for your pre-pubescent daughter (or grandaughter!)...you won't be sorry. As Siskel and Ebert would say..."Two Thumbs Up!"

I am very surprised by the negative reviews of this book. While the book may not be "appropriate" for 8 or 9 year old girls to read BY THEMSELVES, we must be realistic about what many of our children are doing. I am homeschooling my children so they are not exposed to somethings that some children are exposed to at school but even I know that they are NOT living in a bubble. Sex is EVERYWHERE and every woman who has had a period has had at least ONE question they "didn't want to ask but needed to know."

This book has age appropriate drawings and I think explains everything rather clearly. It is not the author's job to talk to your child about sex. It is important that you read the book WITH your daughter. Talk with her!

Like another reviewer said, do not be fooled! Girls are getting periods at younger ages and they know much more than they are telling YOU.

I personally feel this book contains much valuable information and when used with adult explaination can really help a girl make that important transformation. Getting her period is a special time in my opinion, not a time to be afraid or feel dirty.

I think the chapter on gynecologists is appropriate also. What if a girl has menstrual problems and her pediatric doctor refers her to a GYN? Should she have to refer to an adult book? Why is everyone so secretive and so afraid about something so natural? I would rather my daughter learn all of this from me rather than some other child who probably will not have accurate information.

Overall, I think this is a very appropriate book for girls especially when it is read and discussed with an adult.

This book has a real fun, no-nonsense approach that makes it easy to read. It answers all the questions a growing girl would want to know, but is afraid to ask. It provides easy to understand, thorough explanations with sketches for detail without providing too much in depth information about sexuality that would be inappropriate for a 11 or 12 year old. Great tool for helping a girl become more comfortable with her changing body.

I got this for my soon to be fourteen year old last year in anticipation of the "blessed" event. At first she said "EEEWWWW" too, but then later she read it cover to cover, re-read it and has shared it with her friends. A great door-opener for Moms and a myth-debonker for her. I'm re-ordering to send one to my 12 yr old niece for Christmas. Personally, I thought it was a little too much info for a nine or ten year old unless she is maturing early.

I dont normally leave reviews but I felt SO misled by the ones already posted here I thought appropriate to warn mothers of young girls or "tweens". This book is NOT the book you are looking for. Find the American Girl book on this subject and you will be so impressed and pleased with the beautiful way it handles this subject. Your little girls will become so confident and feel secure about the changes, rather than worried and confused by the inappropriate material that is in this book.

BTW, my daughter has been raised on a ranch and probably knows more about reproduction and sex than all the four and five star givers on here that think I'm being naive or "prudish" about this topic.

The title of this book, "The Period Book", is SO misleading, and would cause many to believe it is a book for young girls learning about the changes coming to their bodies and why they happen. It is not, and the material in this book would be more for older girls or young women who have made the choice to become sexually active(and have started and learned about "periods", etc. so why this title?).
Read it, word for word before handing it to your young daughters!
BE VERY WARY AND SUSPICIOUS OF THE ONES ON HERE HYPING THIS BOOK AND GIVING GOOD REVIEWS!! THEY HAVE NO OTHER REVIEWS ON ANY OTHER PRODUCT FROM AMAZON! THEY ARE HERE TO HYPE AND SELL THIS BOOK!

For instance, this book tells you that you can get pregnant if sperm is on a finger and it is put "inside of you". This is absolutely ridiculous in a book they are recommending to nine year olds to learn about growing up, emotions, body changes and starting menstruation! (As if getting pregnant is the only troublesome aspect if someone is "placing a finger with sperm" in them at their ages?)

ThIS author has written supernatural and horoscope books before, and other odd titles and how does that even qualify her to write about such a topic regarding OUR kids and a company like Amazon to even carry it? Simply she is qualified because she has a 14 year old neice?! Give me a break! This book also goes on into how to position legs and behave for an OBGyn, birth control pills, etc.
If you want a book that will make your daughter feel beautiful, confident, in control of her body and what happens to it, and proud to be growing up, look at the American Girl book here on Amazon.
I literally threw this "period" book in the trash. You will too.
To the author of this book:
SHAME ON YOU for using clever illustrations, a misleading title, and presentation on such a poorly written, completely off the mark book for young girls. You are taking financial advantage of moms looking for that special book about growing up for sharing with their young daughters.