Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Younger Girls [Paperback]

Lynda Madaras (Author), Linda Davick (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: What's Happening to My Body?

Ready, Set, Grow!

In her uniquely warm and funny style, Lynda wrote this entirely new book especially for younger girls to give them what they need to know to celebrate and accept the new and exciting changes that are happening to their bodies during puberty.

Illustrated with delightful drawings, Ready, Set, Grow! is the sixth book in the popular Madaras “What’s Happening to My Body?” series of growing-up books for girls and boys. Praised by parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, and especially kids, the bestselling “What’s Happening to My Body?” books for older girls and boys are on the “Best Books for Young Adults” list from the American Library Association, and have been translated into 12 languages. Over 2,000,000 copies of the “What’s Happening to My Body?” series are in print.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-With girls reaching puberty at younger and younger ages, Ready, Set, Grow! is a timely and important book. In a consistently sensitive and encouraging tone, Madaras reassures preadolescents that the changes they know are approaching or they are beginning to experience are normal, natural, and cause for celebration. Humorous sketches illustrate the emotions and stages of puberty, and keep the tone light. Individual chapters devoted to breast development, body hair, height and weight spurts, body odor and pimples, genitalia, internal reproductive organs, and menstruation gently but thoroughly provide facts and advice on recognizing and welcoming growth and development. The author weaves in a little humor and acknowledges the conflicting emotions that accompany puberty. Quotes and questions from girls she meets in her travels and correspondence are included, giving voice to the uncertainties in a reader's own mind. "What's Up Down There? A Look at Your Private Parts" is a particularly on-target chapter, taking readers on a tour of their own genitalia with the help of a mirror, identifying each part of their sex organs. Madaras's earlier "What's Happening" books, written for older readers, include discussions of romantic feelings and dealing with unwanted sexual attention. Laurie Krasny Brown's What's the Big Secret? Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys (Little, Brown, 1997) takes a humorous approach to explaining intercourse as well as puberty to boys and girls.
Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-5. In her revised edition of The What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls (2001), Madaras notes that girls are reaching puberty at a younger age than in the past. In this small, square volume, Madaras offers a spin-off guide directed to the youngest girls who are anticipating or undergoing the body's first changes. Goofy cartoons illustrate the upbeat, reassuring chapters about menstruation, breast development, and the reproductive organs as well as grooming issues, such as skin care, body odor, and shaving. There are medical tips just for the girls in this age group, who, for example, need to treat cramps differently from older young women or adults. The short chapter about sexual harassment is somewhat vague, but it offers solid advice in firm language: "Don't accept excuses like 'Boys will be boys.'" Parents and kids seeking information about sex and birth control will need to consult another guide, but this one is a friendly, accessible introduction to puberty that young girls can read alone, not just with parents. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 1 edition (July 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557045658
• ISBN-13: 978-1557045652
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Maturing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little too much detail in spots, but overall, good book., October 9, 2005

By 

sgonzon "sgonzon" (New Castle, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Younger Girls (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter. We read a little bit together, and then I skimmed the book, and she read a bunch on her own. The book is well written for girls in the 9-11 age range - I wouldn't go much below the age of 9, however, without being very selective of what the child reads (there is a brief discussion, for example, about masturbation and orgasm, which I think is a bit *too* much for a book of this level). All in all, I think it explained the changes of puberty in very plain language that a young girl can understand, and it's set up in a way that encourages discussion - although again, sometimes it suggests discussing things with friends, which I find to be a poor recommendation considering the age and topic. I do think my daughter came away with a solid understanding of what puberty is and what physical changes are going to take place.

109 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to get the dialogue going..., August 30, 2006

By 

T. Abreu (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Younger Girls (Paperback)

I checked out this book from our public library and read it first on my own. The format of the book is several short chapters filled with great information followed by questions submitted by girls, which then the author goes on to answer. The book is written in words that are easy for kids to understand and the illustrations are clever and funny. In the other reviews, I read about concerns with the subject of masturbation. That is found ONLY in a question in the Q & A section of Chapter 7. I personally did not feel comfortable with the topic at our age group so when I BOUGHT our own copy, I just tore page 79-80 out and by doing so I didn't disturb neither the end of Chapter 7 nor the beginning of Chapter 8. Overall, this is a great book to get the conversation started with my daughter (almost 10) that has just started taking the leap from little girl to young lady. I have three daughters and I will use this book with all three. Hope this helps...

66 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great help!, June 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Younger Girls (Paperback)

I just bought this book for my 8 year old daughter. I was still getting over the shock of my baby starting puberty so early, when I read the reviews of this book. We picked it up last night and read the whole thing. With each chapter, she became more and more interested and even kind of excited. It let her know she was normal, and showed her what will be happening in the future so she won't be so confused. The little cartoons in it were so funny. They helped keep it light. We talked very openly about everything. I am so glad that we got this book. I think it is going to make this whole thing much easier...espcially on me!My baby is growing up! BUY THIS BOOK!