On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!: A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Boys [Paperback]

Lynda Madaras (Author), Paul Gilligan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 13, 2008 | Age Range: 8 - 10 years | Series: What's Happening to My Body?

Hi. My name is Lynda Madaras. I write books about growing up. I get tons of letters from boys. They tell me just what they’re thinking. They ask questions. Many of the things they say are here in this book. Many of their questions are here, too, along with my answers. So boys like you helped to write this book.

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

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

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–6—In this obvious but much-needed companion to her Ready, Set, Grow! (Newmarket, 2003) guide for girls, Madaras draws on her experience teaching sex education (called puberty classes here) to inform boys about the physical changes they will experience as they start to mature. Formatted to include quotes and frequently asked questions from the male students in her classes, the age-appropriate presentation includes cartoon art on almost every page and a sprinkling of humor. Along with covering sex-organ growth, height, weight, and muscle gain, Madaras also discusses health and nutrition, hygiene, and "becoming your own self." A reassuring tone pervades the text with the buzzwords "normal" and "perfectly normal" frequently appearing. Apart from a few odd artwork choices (a frog is a recurring character), this is an excellent resource for both children and parents.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Lynda Madaras' books superbly pinpoint the changes of puberty while providing sensitive reassurance about what's normal." —School Library Journal

"Young people can't help but like the books…visually very appealing for readers this age." —The San Diego Union-Tribune

"[Madaras'] easygoing, straightforward style appeals to young people who trust [her] to answer their most intimate and sometimes embarrassing questions." —L.A. Parent

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 - 10 years
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 1 edition (February 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557047812
• ISBN-13: 978-1557047816
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.3 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Maturing

More About the Author

Lynda Madaras is the author of twelve books on health, child care, and parenting. For more than twenty-five years, she taught puberty and health education to young students in Pasadena and Santa Monica, CA. Her daughter, Area Madaras, was just eleven years old when she assisted her mother with the first "What's Happening to My Body?" book. Now a communications consultant and the mother of two young girls, she lives in California and continues to work with her mother on the series.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars On your mark get set grow was a hit. March 29, 2008

By R. A. Tubbs

Format:Paperback

On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!: A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Boys (What's Happening to My Body?)I purchased this for my godson. He is starting to wonder what will happen to his body next and his mother was concerned because he was trying to look it up on the internet. She is a single parent since his father passed away and she didn't know how to help him learn about his own body. She is very pleased with this book because it provided plenty of information without being too graphic like the books meant for older boys. They have many healthy discussions based around what he has read and they read together also. He is turning 10 this month and is well on his way to understanding his "stage" of development and what is to come.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Good timing June 4, 2008

By Anne T. Toslosky

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for my 10 year old son but as a mother who had only sisters I read it, too. This book was very readable, good pictures with just the right amount of information for a pre-teen. My son read the whole book in one sitting. The timing was right for him. He then asked a few questions and it provoked some thoughtful discussion. I would highly recommend this book.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not too early to tell the boy what will happen... February 5, 2009

By Mary D. Haper

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for my 10.5 year old grandson and his parents read this book first--they even learned something. My grandson then read it and although a bit shy about telling me about it, he said it helped him understand a lot about his body and what to expect. He seemed happy to have the information and I was worried it was too early--but it was perfect timing. I plan to give a copy to my next grandson who turns ten next year.

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Informative but why so crude? June 3, 2010

By Swamp Yankee

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book for my 10 year-old and will not be giving it to him.

The book was certainly informative. The cartoons were a nice touch. The majority of quotes from boys about their experiences and feelings during puberty were largely ones that discussed fear and negative impressions. By the end of the book, they somewhat belabored the point which I think could influence a kid who doesn't worry to think he maybe should.

The use of slang is my main problem with this book. If the target audience includes 8 year-olds, why are words used other than medical terms? Some words were quite hardcore especially pertaining to erections and ejaculations. How does that contribute to a quality educational and emotional read of the book? Is this an attempt to be inclusive to kids who don't know the right words? They aren't buying this book for themselves, trust me. Usually it's a parent or other adult role-model buying this book on behalf of the child. Why would an adult buy into that and want kids using casual slang or vulgarity to describe their body parts?

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect intro ! February 15, 2009

By K. Patten

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

this is a great book to introduce & inform little boys about changes which happen to their bodies during puberty and great fun for mom or dad to read with them !It also has some good info on how to properly take care of their bodies. The author and the boys adding thoughts in the book at different stages really make it quite humorous at times and thus easy to talk more about things in as much detail as you want as you go along. My son is 9 & I would highly recommend this book to anyone his age and older !!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Tries too hard to relate to a kid. March 6, 2013

By Lisa Montana

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I kept this book and gave it to my 9 year old boy only after I cut out certain pages and took a sharpie to parts I felt inappropriate. The writing seems to be disrespectful toward our bodies. My kid doesn't have to know all the slang (cum, dick, etc.) from a book meant to educate. He doesn't need to know the proper way to measure his penis, and, as far as masturbation goes, I don't want him to pick up any new hobbies just yet. Since this book is meant for 'younger boys,' just the facts, please.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A little too crass July 11, 2012

By Mom of two

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved the concept behind this book. Prior to my purchase on Amazon, I looked at the index and this book seemed to cover all of the topics I was hoping to cover. So I purchased it. The illustrations in the book were great. The quotes from previous students did not add to the usefulness of the topics in the book. I agree with one fo the other reviews, the slang terms used in the book were a bit much. THe book went in to great details on covering many slang words for the body parts and what happens during puberty. I don't consider myself uptight but I don't plan to discuss puberty with my son and automatically teach him every slang word that is out there. I know he will hear them in time but he needs to get a solid foundation of what is going on before we make light of it. Thankfully I purchased another book at the same time that I like a lot more than this one. I have no intention of sharing this book with my ten year old son anytime soon.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and educational December 1, 2012

By Debbie Heinzer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I wanted to find a book that my kids could read and have as a reference when they are experiencing different parts of puberty. Its very comical with the pictures too.