cover image Girl to Girl: Honest Talk About Growing Up and Your Changing Body

Girl to Girl: Honest Talk About Growing Up and Your Changing Body

Sarah O’Leary Burningham, illus. by Alli Arnold. Chronicle, $12.99 paper (136p) ISBN 978-1-4521-0242-9

Burningham builds on her previous titles, Boyology and How to Raise Your Parents, in this guide for girls approaching puberty. In chapters devoted to the face and skin, bodily changes, breasts, menstruation, and physical and emotional health, cozy cartoons show girls cheerfully navigating new experiences that include shaving, flossing teeth while wearing braces, picking out glasses, and finding a bra that fits right. Burningham offers compassionate, clearheaded advice about handling the emotional ebbs and flows of puberty and includes actual letters from preteen girls asking questions about body development and other topics (“How can I convince my mom to let me shave?”). Candid reflections from girls on overcoming embarrassing scenarios, learning from first experiences, and developing confidence in their bodies make the content especially approachable. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)