The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls
Deeply informative, reassuring puberty handbook for girls.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
Kids say
Based on 12 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls is a concise yet detailed guide for girls going through puberty. Written by pediatrician Cara Natterson, it's the sequel to American Girl's companion book for younger girls. The book does not touch on sexual behavior: It doesn't explain intercourse, address sexually transmitted infections, discuss choices about sexual activity, or reference hetero or same-sex relationships. It does, however, provide a wealth of information about how girls' bodies change through puberty and how to embrace -- or at least adapt to -- these changes as gracefully as possible. Colorful illustrations depict ethnically diverse girls with a modest range of body types, and show basic female anatomy, how to do a breast self-exam, and how to insert a tampon.
Community Reviews
For older girls- read book one first
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What's the Story?
THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 2: THE BODY BOOK FOR OLDER GIRLS is a comprehensive overview of self-care for girls going through puberty. The first section reviews the basics: girls' changing appearance, staying clean, coping with acne, good sleep habits. The second section dives into female anatomy, hormones, breast development, periods, and infections. Then it's on to brain development, emotions, and body image. The final section discusses relationships, peer pressure, body modifications (like ear piercing), and learning to love your changing body.
Is It Any Good?
Puberty will always be both a little exciting and anxiety provoking, but this easy-to-read guide makes it less mystifying by explaining exactly what's going on -- and how to roll with the changes. The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls -- written by pediatrician Cara Natterson -- equips girls with the biological information they need to better understand why they're changing and how to adapt.
Natterson's reassuring, knowledgeable style makes the content matter-of-fact and accessible, with a boost from Josée Masse's friendly illustrations. The book offers some excellent tips on preserving closeness with family, respecting privacy, and when to break a friend's trust. Originally published in 2013, the book barely touches on screen use and social media, and it provides outdated advice on breast self-exams. It also sidesteps sexual behavior, so families seeking information on sexual activity will need to look elsewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the biological details in The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls. Does knowing how and why your body is changing make it easier for you to embrace it?
Do you feel as if you're treating your body respectfully? What changes could you make?
Do you feel confident about yourself? Do you compare yourself with other girls? How can you cultivate a healthy body image?
Book Details
- Author: Dr. Cara Natterson
- Illustrator: Josee Masse
- Genre: Body Awareness
- Topics: Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: American Girl Publishing, Inc.
- Publication date: February 26, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 12
- Number of pages: 96
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 21, 2017
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