The Care and Keeping of You 2

This book is ideal for that age group where they need to know about periods and their changing bodies but discussing details about sex and other adult topics would be inappropriate. This book does not handle the topic of sex. This book is specific to the changes of puberty in regards to friendships and hygiene. I wanted to write a review because some reviews stated that this book is graphic and made the adult writing the reviews uncomfortable. I want to be clear that this book does not contain anything sexual or something that is not appropriate for a child 10-12 years old. The illustrations in the book regarding breasts and genitals are a VERY basic cartoon illustration to show anatomical parts, how to insert a tampon, and perform a breast exam. It uses no sexual words and only scientific terms. I think it’s worth noting that any child who reads this book and sees the diagram can just as easily look in a mirror and see the same parts. I find it highly suspect and strange that a parent would give this instructional book a negative review or be uncomfortable with their child seeing a diagram of their own body parts. Throughout the book there are tips and advice on hygiene, maintaining friendships, having mature conversations with parents, staying healthy, not giving in peer pressure, and doing well in school in spite of the trials of puberty. Throughout the book it encourages the reader to get guidance from trusted adults if they are confused or worried about something they don’t understand. One important section of the book is about pressure from friends during visits and sleepovers to do things they aren’t allowed to do at home or things that are not age appropriate and it gives wonderful advice on what to do in these situations. This book is a valuable resource for growing children and I recommend purchasing prior to puberty, especially if you already have the first Care and Keeping of You. This book is similar, it’s just more informative to a slightly older age group. After this book I highly recommend The Period Book and the other American Girl books about self care and mental health. At this age kids are very sensitive and dealing with friendships and peer pressure and those books give very wise advice.

I have purchased most all of these books by American Girl. They are very helpful with appropriate depth of information. I purchased the version 2 for my 10.5yo. She liked the first book. The language in these books is nuetral, which I appreciate. Ex- dark leg hair is normal. Everyone has leg hair and some people's is darker than others. Talk with your trusted adult or parent about when is the right time to remove it. -- Nuetral language that consistently instructs the girl to talk with her parent. It doesn't classify the changes happening as good or bad, but rather as a normal part of growing up.

We had bought the first in this series "The Care & Keeping of You" when our daughter was about 7years old. That may seem early but they have questions all the time like "When can I start wearing a bra?" I found that I wanted to explain things the anatomically correct way to our daughter in regards to her body but found that she seemed somewhat confused after our discussions. These books are a wonderful resource based in fact and explains the "gray" area of the "black & white" in regards to our bodies and self esteem. For example showing basic age appropriate drawings of the beginning stages of breast development while also letting girls know that every BODY is different and that any of these stages can begin at any point in maturity. There is no "certain stage" you should be at according to your age. A wonderful conversation starter for any parent that feels timid bringing up the "facts of your body". That being said I would also like to say that these books do not explain intercourse or "how to make a baby". We bought this second edition "The Care & Keeping of You 2" for our daughter's 10th birthday. I would consider my daughter a somewhat mature for her age 10 year old in regards to her mind, not body. While looking thru it before giving it to her I felt that some of the content may be a little more advanced for her age than I was comfortable with (like how to insert a tampon) it was realistically all content that she had thought about at some point. That is where it is a wonderful resource and conversation starter. She was able to come to me and ask about starting her period-which hasn't happened yet. She knew of girls at school that had and she had questions about it. This is also where I let her know that while the book covers something like tampon insertion I didn't want her using them when she does first start her period. I would also like to reiterate that this book is wonderful for young girls' developing self esteem. It really lets them know that everyone is different at all the stages of maturity. I couldn't be happier that we purchased these books. I hope that some day I can find something similar when my boys are older.

This is a great addition to the material covered in the #1 book. I got the #1 book for by daughter to help prepare her for what was coming. I ordered this one the day she got her first period. Having already read the first book (and talked about it) she knew what it was when it happened and knew she could talk to me about it. Just like the first book, I read the book myself first (it's a quick read, probably took me less than an hour). I really appreciate the anatomical/medical names being used for parts of the body and a good list of words and definitions in the back. There are some pictures that are cartoony but appropriate in my opinion for an 11 year old. They do a good job covering how puberty affects girls as a whole, not just getting their period. The book cover social and emotional changes as well. I really appreciate how the book consistently refers young girls to talk to their parents if they have questions or concerns. I've liked having both these books to supplement what my daughter and I have talked about as it relates to puberty. I highly recommend them.

Covers all the awkward conversations preteens may not want to have with parentals

The book is written quite clearly and with nice pictures. I think it-s a good way to start having a conversation and bring up questions about puberty and adolescence.

A friend recommended this book for my 12 year old daughter and it's been excellent. The Care and Keeping of You version 1 was also excellent when my daughter was a little bit younger. We have since recommended it to all of our same-aged family friends - it's age appropriate and very thoughtfully written. My daughter often comes back and reads it again every few months.

Es la continuación de una excelente guía sobre el cuerpo y la mente de las jovencitas y los cambios que experimentan.

This is a best reference book to answer any question your daughter has during puberty. I had went through alot of reviews then a couple of years later, my daughter got her first period on her 12th birthday. Then I decided it was the right time to explain everything to her. She had already read the Care and Keeping of You 1 book so I decided to order it's second part as a birthday gift to her. She started reading it with enthusiasm and understood everything and gained alot of knowledge. (Better than her receiving half baked knowledge from her friends.) This book talks on your changing body, puberty, changing brain, changing emotions (hormonal imbalance) It also helps you understand how the more mature you fit into what feels like a changing world around you. This guide is filled with helpful facts, doctor tips (real medical advice from a doctor itself!) and answers to questions from girls. This book talks about treating your body in the right way, nutrition and food, skipping meals and junk food, nutritional contents, how to measure your height, body mass index, growing pains, the importance of sleeping, how many hours you should sleep, keeping your hands clean, deodorants and antiperspirant, armpit hair, zits and pimples, weight measurement, hormones like estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, (I am a science teacher myself!!) thyroid, insulin, growth hormone, breasts and self-exam, check for breast cancer, bras, folliculitis, pubic hair, shaving, depilatory, tweezing, waxing and bleaching, periods and menstruation (more emphasis on female reproductive organs and scientific function.) how to treat period pains, middleschmirtz, irregular periods, overflow, anaemia, how to insert a tampon, tampons vs pads, infections like UTI, yeast and TSH and how to treat them. panty liners, vaginal discharge, good touch and bad touch, how to manage your moods, body image, eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia and how to treat them, improving your self esteem, body benefits and sports and fitness, emotions, family time and sibling situation and how to ask for help, peer pressure, different rules, temporary and permanent change and how to acclimatize to different sizes. It does not contain any age inappropriate topics like sex etc. which I'm not comfortable explaining to my daughter just yet. As a science teacher, I recommend this book for your kids to make them understand about human body. TIA

Great and simple book, suitable for kids without any assistance in reading it. Amazing resource!