Reviews (25)

WONDERFUL BOOK
I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY DAUGHTER WHEN SHE WAS 5 YEARS OLD. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT HER BODY AND I HAVE ALWAYS EXPLAINED IT TO HER THROUGH A MEDICAL ASPECT. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I HAD NO INFORMATION WHATSOEVER ABOUT MY BODY AND WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. I FELT WHEN I HAD MY GIRL SHE SHLD BE PREPARED FOR THE CHANGES. THIS BOOK WITH IT'S WONDERFULLY INFOMATIVE AND PLAIN LANGUAGE WAS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED. NOW THAT SHE IS 11 AND ON THE VERGE OF STARTING HER PERIOD, SHE ISN'T IN THE DARK ABOUT IT AND SHE SEEMS MUCH MORE CONFIDENT WHEN WE DISCUSS IT.
I'M AM VERY GLAD THERE ARE BOOKS OF THIS TYPE ON THE MARKET FOR YOUNG GIRLS TODAY. I WOULD RATHER MY GIRL TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS SUBJECT THAN TO GO TO GIRLFRIENDS OF HER OWN AGE WHO DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OR INFORMATION.

Excellent, Wonderful However you want to put it.
Every young girl who is worried or just curious about her period should have this book. It explains what happens to your body during puberty, the what ifs and freaquently asked questions from many girls.Parents- if you are looking for a book on this type of thing, this is the book you are looking for. "It's A Girl Thing" by Mavis Jukes is great, too.

Great for teens and pre-teens
This book has definitely helped me understand and feel comfortable with having my period. I didn't find this book inappropriate at all. It tells you about normal stuff that should be happening. I, personally, would recommend it to all pre-teens and teens!

Wow! Too Much!
My mom bought this book for me when I turned 12, and we looked through it together. Wow, I could not believe what I had read! It was way too innapropriate for pre-teens. I would reccomend "The Care and Keeping of You". By American Girl.

Best Book For Girl's Afraid To Ask!
I went to the library today, and my mom picked up this book. I read it today, and it answered all the questions that I was always afraid to ask! Every mom out there should get this for their daughter, no matter what they say! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

Great message for girls
Jada Pinkett-Smith is a terrific role model for girls.She is accomplished in her professional and personal life.Her book is another testimony to her great attitude for girls to follow.Any book that aims to help girls feel better about themselves and to stand up for themselves is commendable.

A Must
this book is a book everyone who has a daughter, niece, granddaughter, cousin..or even know a young girl or child should own. i would definitely recommend this book to EVERYONE!

pretty good
I found this book to be pretty good indeed, Nothing like a book to make one feel worth while, a truly feel good about yourself book, I would recommend this book to many females that just don`t have the self esteem that they should have, FOR WE ARE ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

A recommendation from my point of view:
Poetry that holds, Stories untold,
Another wonderful book, that I would recommend to any and everyone!

A Luminous Tribute To Girls And Women Everywhere
"We are sisters of this Earth-members of one powerful tribe. Every color, age, and size, we're united by beauty inside." With girls comparing everything about themselves to others - and often forced to take a back seat to boys - books like this one are a treat. Author Jada Pinkett Smith celebrates women's diversity as well as our unity. We are magnificent, the author seems to be saying, each and every one of us. It's a thoroughly inclusive book; women and girls of all ages and ethnic backgrounds are lovingly photographed here. Delightful photographs illuminate the author's lovely, lyrical poem and show the many faces of girlish and womanly beauty. The effervescence of one cartwheel-performing child is simply delightful.

This is a book about warmth, caring, love, and the strength we get from female friends and family members. It's perfect for mothers and daughters to read together, and for girlfriends to share.

But it's not just a feel-good book. Feeling good about ourselves also takes effort: "We girls hold up this world as we build our self-esteem. We know that discipline will turn a princess into a queen."

Those who enjoy this book may also enjoy another picture book entitled: Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee - A Bee's Bit of Wisdom. In it, a young girl is encouraged to believe in her own abilities and inner strength. Books like Girls Hold Up This World and Ruby Lee the Bumble Bee are valuable tools in teaching children (especially girls) the importance of developing a strong character.

... Read more

Reviews (98)

Terrific book for Pre-Teens
I bought this book for my 9 (soon to be 10) year old and was impressed by the head-to-toe body care topics it covered. It touches on everything from hair care, to face cleansing, to washing your hands, to exercising and nutrition. I was wondering how I was going to broach the topic of starting her period with my daughter and this sure helped relieve my anxiety. It covered it honestly, straightforward and not intimidating at all. I think it helped because it was only a minor focus of the entire body-care book. (A brief introduction to what a period is and how to handle it and the fact that it is completely NORMAL and all girls go through it). I told my daughter that she was now in the "girls club" and could talk to me anytime about any of these topics she had questions about...she carried the book around for hours and immediately started cleaning her face, brushing her hair and being more conscious of her overall body care.
I highly recommend this book for preteens and am happy I bought it.

Absolutely the BEST book of its kind for pre-teen girls!
This book is truly on-target with its holistic approach to a girls understanding of her whole body, the changes she is undergoing, and good health and grooming. Topics are delighfully illustrated and cover head to toe care includng everything a girl needs to know about teeth and braces,facial care and zit tips, breast development, periods and feminine hygene, exercise, nutrition, and even taking care of "the girl inside."
It's upbeat, wholesome, candid, and very readable. I've reviewed most of the available literature for preteens and teens, and this book is a stand out. Your daughter and her friends will love it. Mine does! A great jumping off place for your own conversations about life with your special girl.

Great Way to Break the Ice
I bought this book the day my oldest daughter started her period. I wish that I had bought it before so that she could have been better prepared for what was coming.
I sat down with my nine year old and my eleven year old and we read the book from cover to cover. They learned so much from the book. I even learned a couple of things.
It is an easy read that covers many aspects of grooming and the menstrual period. Awesome read!

This Book rocks!!!
actually my friend had this book, she showed it to me, i was just to embarrased to ask my mom for the book,( i shouldnt be but for some reason i am) but i might ask my mom, because it looks very good, so im probably going to get this book. The only little thing was the tampom section. Anyways i thought it rocked, its perfect for preteens. I recommend it!! :)

FABULOUS BK FOR 9 YR OLD GIRLS!
My daughter (9 yrs, turns 10 in Nov) found this bk ON HER OWN at the Library on Friday and her nose hasn't come out of it since. It has opened up conversation betw her and I, where otherwise, I probably would have waited til her first session of "sex ed" coming up in 4th grade this coming year.

She is really interested in it - and has even been better about putting her own deodorant on - flossing her teeth and using mouthwash - and yesterday she said "Mom smell my arms", she said, "I used vanilla lotion!!"!!!

She is missing her fingers on her right hand so putting her hair up in a pony is a bit difficult, I have always done her hair. Yesterday she asked me to use my hair dryer - and she did her hair ALL ON HER OWN!!!!!!!!!!! I was so impressed! She has really learned a lot from this bk!

She's so proud - and for her - a child who hasn't shown a great deal of interest in personal hygeine, it has been a great bk!!

I HIGHLY RECOMMENED! I think I'll actually buy a copy since I have 3 girls..... ... Read more

Book Description

"Mom, where do babies come from?" Many parents live in fear of the day their child asks that question—which inevitably happens,often as early as the preschool years. Here is a picture book designed especially for youngchildren who are becoming sexually aware but aren’t ready to learn about sexual intercourse.Written with warmth and honesty, Amazing You! presents clear and age-appropriate informationabout reproduction, birth, and the difference between girls’ and boys’ bodies. Lynne Cravath’swhimsical illustrations enliven the text, making this a book that parents will gladly share with their young ones. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Nancy Holyoke's user-friendly guide to manners, brought to you by the beloved American Girl Library, is for girls who are "getting older, going new places, and doing new things." The introduction explains that "Manners can help. Manners are a common-sense guide to getting along with other people. They prevent you from being selfish or annoying. They remind you to be kind. They make you better company--and a better person." This cleverly designed, comically illustrated 116-page manual covers topics such as first impressions, introductions, invitations, thank-yous, table manners, good sports, embarrassing moments, family gatherings, and more. Holyoke's tips and suggestions, enlivened by numerous, humorous cartoons, are funny, easy to digest, and informative without being heavy-handed. Girls will be happy to know what to do and how to act in different situations. No doubt this tool will help them radiate confidence even when eating gristle, meeting new people, or having tea with the Queen of England. (Ages 9 to 12) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

If you want to improve your manners....
...then get this book! It's filled with tons of practical advice for ages 8 and up. If your manners need some polishing up, then I would suggest reading this book. Like all of the American Girl Library books, it's in a fun-to-read, easy-to-understand format and includes valuable information that girls really can use.

"Oops!: The Manners Guide For Girls" includes ettiquette advice for basic manners, greetings and introductions, manners with friends, gifts and presents, table manners, special occasions, embarrasing moments and horrors, and so much more. Sprinkled throughout the book are quizzes to test your ettiquette, answers to questions sent by real girls, and advice for sticky situations. This is one of the best books I've read for improving your manners. If you're a girl (or parent of one) with manners you think could use improvement, read this book.

Prim and Proper
I got this book when I was twelve. I knew I had to improve my manners yet I didn't want to go to to a school for etiquette. This book teaches girls the fundmentals of having good manners (i.e. first impressions, body language, house guests, nosy questions, etc. ) without being fussy and too prudish. They have quizzes that you can take to test your etiquette when it comes to hosting parties, the outdoors and how to deal with horrible house guests. The book is divided into chapters that put you in compromising positions where your manners can make or break you. They cover absolutely everything you could possibly think of; traveling in a foreign country, how to write the perfect party invitation, how to act in public, everything. They even have solutions on how not to interrupt people when they are talking and how not to bore people when you're initiating a conversation and how to address unmarried women, married women and young girls (i.e. Mrs. Ms. or Miss?) Since reading the book, I am no longer intimidated by how to act at a wedding, funeral, at a friends house, a fancy dinner or even meeting presidents and royalty. I even know how to make the perfect curtsy since reading "Oops!: The Manners Guide for Girls".

GREAT BOOK
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! I'M 10 AND I READ THE BOOK, I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK! IT IS ABOUT ALL DIFFERENT PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. THE BOOK HAS FUN QUIZES. IT TELLS YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANNERS IN A FUN WAY. IT HAS CARTOONY PICTURES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU. IT IS A LONG BOOK, BUT DOSEN'T GET BORING. YOU SHOULD BUY IT.

Soooooooo Totaly Coooooool
I love this book.I have read it a lot of times very thoroughly.I usually look at it when I am going to go to a nice restraunt.I like it because it has lots of tips,letters from girls,cute illustrations,and quizzes.Even though it's supposed to be for girls,I think boys could probably learn some things from it.Also if you get it for your child, you might want to look at it.Once my family was hosting a fancy dinner, so my mom had to look at it to remember which silverware and drink glasses go where.I love this book!!

Every child (not just girls) needs this book!
We purchased this for our 8-year-old daughter, and I wish we would have had it years ago. It teaches all children to correct way to act in many different situations. This book has been great for our daughter, but also for me to teach our four sons the same manners lessons! ... Read more

Book Description

From the award-winning author of the best books on puberty — A completely new book written especially for 8-11-year-old girls, playfully illustrated in an appealing, two-color design.

Young girls before the onset of puberty have a curiosity about their soon-to-be changing bodies that needs addressing in a simpler way than for their older sisters. In the proven, trust-worthy, Madaras-friendly voice and style, this entirely new book now brings them the same kind of thoughtful, down-to-earth information—but at a reading and understanding level that's just right for them.

Responding throughout to real-life questions and observations from younger girls, Madaras explores the strange and thrilling changes that are happening, or about to happen, to them, including: the development of breasts, body hair, and body fat; the changes in their reproductive organs, both inside and out; their first period and all the complex feelings surrounding it; the unwelcome appearance of acne and new body odors; and, perhaps most important, how to respect and celebrate their unique bodies, even when the outside world is not always so accepting.

Lively cartoon drawings throughout make the book not only helpful, but fun to read, too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

What a great help!
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!

Ready, Set ,Grow
I bought this book for my nine year old daughter. This book is informative and not too technical or too mature for her level. We are reading this book together in steps and talking about it. It's a great choice for a young girl who may be a little embarrassed about the changes she is starting to experience or not starting to experience yet . I'ts great for self esteem, because it lets girls know they are all normal just different.
It's a good book !

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this book is great for any girl going through puberty. It answers everything you need to know but can't ask! Go but it NOW!
I would reccomend it for ages 8 and up.

Hey, you're still here. Go buy it!!!!!!

Ready, Set, Grow!: What's Happening to My Body? Is GREAT!!
I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter, who has recently been developing in area that were never thought of before. She had been asking questions and I was afraid to give too little or too much information. We read this book together and let me tell you what a great experience. I recommend this book to all parents/guardians of girls between 8 - 11 that are possibly thinking they aren't quite "Normal", because of these changes that are naturally happening to their bodies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite their glaring absence from history books, women have beenresponsible for countless remarkable discoveries, from the X and Y chromosomesto a 3.5 million-year-old hominid skull to the dark matter of the universe. Inthis compelling, cleverly illustrated tribute to the curious and brilliant womenwho have changed the world with their findings, readers will meet the NASAprogram manager who came up with the idea of using a small "microrover" on Mars.They'll also meet the 19th-century Spanish girl who discovered 15,000-year-oldcave paintings that cast a new light on Stone Age people. More than a dozenstories reveal the monumental contributions to science and history made by the"fairer sex"; a selected timeline ranging from the 1300s to the present coverseven more territory. Although by no means comprehensive, this compilation byCatherine Thimmesh presents a respectful glimpse at the stunning, too-oftenoverlooked accomplishments and revelations of women--and girls--through time.Especially with the stories about 11- and 12-year-old girls, Thimmesh offersinspiration for young readers to rock the world with their own creativediscoveries. Illustrator Melissa Sweet uses collage and scraps of notebook togreat effect, evoking the painstaking long hours behind each breakthrough. (Ages8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Women and Girls of Science
A thoroughly enjoyable look at some women and girls in science. Well written and interestingly presented research. Mentions some well known and some lesser known scientists. Has a section on top science fair projects prepared by girls. Superb book design. Uses collage and watercolor creating a log book/scrap book effect.

What an interesting book!
I love the writing in this book. I read Catherine Thimmesh's other book, Girls Think of Everything, and I was really surprised to learn how much girls have contributed to this world. So I was happy to know that they've discovered lots of stuff, too. What they don't tell you in history class!! Thimmesh is a snappy writer, putting only the most interesting parts into her descriptions. GREAT GIFT for any girl you know. Maybe that's EVERY girl you know. Read it ... GIRLS ROCK!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ophelia Speaks by Sara Shandler is a clever response to Mary Pipher's bestselling Reviving Ophelia. Shandler reveals telling portraits of teenage girls in this book, a compilation of essays, poems, and true-grit commentary from a cross section of teenage girls (or Ophelias), throughout the country. The book succeeds because it gives voice to their deepest concerns and their too-often frenzied lives. Because she's a college student, Shandler considers herself a peer of these adolescent girls, able to tap into their collective consciousness.

Shandler is as determined as she is a sharp reporter in chronicling the lives of these young women. To research the book, she sent out a mass mailing of 7,000 letters to high school and junior high school principals, counselors, and teachers explaining her book project and urging them to encourage teenage girls to contribute.

The topics covered run the gamut, but they include parental expectations, racial relations, and faith, among others. Sadly, eating disorders are an all-too-popular topic. The good news is that Shandler's contributors offer up some real insight for their peers. In one essay titled "Food Is Not My Enemy," Elizabeth Fales "calls us to a new feminism. In the old feminism, our mothers fought for the right to choose abortion. In our generation, we must fight for the right to eat."

The book also gives practical insight for parents who may find it hard to relate to their teenage daughters. In a nutshell, it appears that adolescent girls want unconditional love from parents who can be confidants without being overly critical. --Peg Melnick ... Read more

Reviews (90)

Jed Davis Girls' Basketball Coach/AD jlori81@gte.net
Ophelia Speaks is a literary response to Mary Pipher's bestselling and sometimes controversial work Reviving Ophelia which was published in 1994. In this book psychologist Pipher, who works closely with adolescent girls, documented what she thought were the key issues and struggles for teenage females growing up in America. She did this through cases studies and careful analysis. Author Sara Shandler, a high school student at the time, took it upon herself to recruit girls from all over the United States to write about all aspects of being young and female. She was not opposed to Mary Pipher's work. In fact, it spoke to her positively in many ways. She just thought it would be a good idea for girls to speak for themselves. The result is Ophelia Speaks, a collection of essays on a variety of topics that girls chose to write about...family, friends, diseases, sexuality, death, depression, religion and others. The book is excellent in two regards. First, the stories often take you deep into the heart and mind of adolescent girls. You are struck by how insightful and analytical theses girls are, then thrown back by how fragile and complex their feelings are. The stories, picked by Sara Shandler, are well-written and sincere although a few of them were written in the abstract and therefore lacked the clarity to fully understand the issue at hand. The second part of the book I found to be outstanding were the introductions to each topic. These were written by Sara Shandler herself. They gave perspective on the topic in question and introduced each contribution by giving the reader a taste of what was in store. She also adds a little of her own experience so you get to know her a bit. My life revolves around coaching teenage girls in basketball. I also coach young girls in basketball. A book like this adds to my understanding of teenage girls and therefore helps me work with them more effectively. One of the things Shandler says in the introduction is that teenage " girls are incredibly complicated. " When you read the stories and begin to understand this, I believe it lends itself to patience and understanding. But the book's greatest value probably lies in the support adolescent girls can feel from reading these stories. These girls do not hold anything back and many of their reactions to life's experiences are probably universally felt by a lot of teenage girls. Any teenage girl who is feeling isolated or finding life to be difficult would probably benefit from reading this book. I highly recommend it.

unbalanced
While I commend the editor for putting together this project, and respect the girls whose stories are included, I feel that the book is unbalanced. Almost all the girls included seem to be going through some pretty extreme experiences. An adolescent-psychologist told me that 1/3 of teenagers have major problems, 1/3 have minor problems and 1/3 navigate adolescence fairly smoothly. This book seemed to focus on teens in the first two groups. Perhaps they are the ones who responded to the editor's request for articles on eating disorders, drug abuse, suicide attempts, etc, and on down the list til her last and only strongly positve category, Why I am proud to be female. Perhaps girls who are enjoying life and involved in more positive activities aren't as inclined to sit down and write about it. Was the editor's aim to show that teenage girls are ill-fated, in line with the thesis of Reviving Ophelia? Also, some of the writing in these responses is poor and not really worth reading whatever the content.

Telling it like it is
In reading this book, I found it to be exactly like the life of a teenage girl. Anyone could read this book and get something out of it. In idea, it reminds me of the Chicken Soup series, but I enjoyed how it only focused on teenage girls and the struggles that they face. Excellent Read! Get it today!

Ophelia Speaks:Stereotyping all female adolescents
'Ophelia Speaks' by Shandler is a poor attemp at writing on Shandler's part. I had to read this book for my SOC 204 class, but otherwise I would have never picked this book up to read. I found the book to be only a collection of letters, stories and poems that Shandler had collected from adolescent girls. Most of these entries did not capture the true life of adolescent girls but instead glamourized the stereotypes that society has about female adolescents. The author, at the time of collecting these reading, was only 17 and it seems as if she was just putting this book together to make a few extra bucks. As well, I believe that since she sent out a letter asking for submissions for the book, I feel that the girls that wrote the entries, were meerly looking for some sort of fame by having their entries in this book. I also cannot stand how the author's experiences never reflect the experiences of the writings; this further indicates that the writings are not accurate. The author also never comes to any conclusion after a chapter. She could have given some psychological/sociolgical/physiological reasoning behind some of the girls experiences.
I would not refer anyone to read this book. It was a waste of time and money.
Save your money and spend it on better things.

Widen The Search
'Ophelia Speaks : Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self' is an essential addition to the vital library focused on teenage personal development. I gave Sara Shandler's book to my daughter and suggested that while she was searching for self, she might also look for her homework sheets, the four overdue library books I've been ordered to pay for, the banana skin I'd seen in her closet two months ago, the family cat last heard meowing under a mountain of crumpled jeans on her floor and her best friend, Marsha Pippens, missing, presumed piled, since last Saturday's sleepover. ... Read more

Book Description

Life is a tangle of
twisting paths.
Some short.
Some long.
There are dead ends.
And there are choices.
And wrong turns,
and detours,
and yield signs,
and instruction booklets,
and star maps,
and happiness,
and loneliness.
And friends.
And sisters.
And love.
And poetry.

Life is a maze.
You are a maze.
Amazed.
And amazing.

Reviews (1)

Richie's Picks: A Maze Me
"Ringing


A baby, I stood in my crib to hear
the dingy-ding of a vegetable truck approaching.

When I was bigger, my mom took me out
to the street
to meet the man who rang the bell and
he tossed me
a tangerine...

...the first thing I ever caught.I thought
he was
a magic man.

My mom said there used to be milk trucks too.
She said,
Look hard, he'll be gone soon.And she was right.
He disappeared.

Now when I hear an ice-cream truck chiming
its bells, I fly.
Even if I'm not hungry--just to watch it pass.

Mailmen with their chime of dogs barking
up and down the street are magic too.

They are all bringers.

I want to be a bringer.

I want to drive a truck full of eggplants down
the smallest street.

I want to be someone making music
with my coming."

And so she is. And so she does.
A great joy that accompanies a new book of poems by Naomi Shihab Nye is the expectation that she will begin reappearing at national conferences and conventions, reading aloud from her latest collection. The good feeling I've taken away with me from her past workshops is about as close as I get to church these days.

A MAZE ME contains seventy-two of Naomi's latest poems. Younger teens will find these pieces easy to read and relate to. Hopefully, many will be intrigued and inspired by Naomi's ability to create poetry from such sources as a car manual, a newspaper article, a taco sign, "the hair on the head of the girl in front of me in school," Julia Child's patting potatoes, or a vapor trail "X" that a pair of planes have inadvertently left in the sky.

Being a book of "Poems for Girls" there are also the requisite handful of "longing" poems:

"High Hopes


It wasn't that they were so
high, exactly,
they were more
low-down,
close-to-the-ground,
I could rub them
the way you touch a cat
that rubs against your ankles
even if he isn't yours.

So yes I feel lonely without them.
Now that I know the truth,
that I only dreamed someone liked me,
the cat has curled up in a bed of leaves
against the house and I still have to do
everything I had to do before
without a secret hum
inside."

Despite being a guy, I really enjoyed the images and memories conjured up by these poems. Whether reading "Visiting My Old Kindergarten Teacher, Last Day of School," "Turtle" (about the persistent creature that had walked for twenty years), or "Across the Aisle" (about the little girl who coughed "every 30 seconds for seven whole hours" on a transatlantic flight), I've repeatedly interrupted Rosemary's reading on the couch and Shari's grading papers at the kitchen table in order to have an audience with whom to share the poems aloud.
"Big Head, Big Face
(what my brother said to me)


If your head had been smaller
maybe you woulda had less thoughts in it,
maybe you wouldn't have so many troubles.
This is just a guess but seems to me
like a little drawer only hold a few spoons
and you can always find the one you need
while a big drawer jammed with tongs
strings corks junky stuff receipts birthday cards
you never gonna look at
scrambled and mixed so one day
you open that drawer
poke your hand in and big knife go
through your palm
you didn't even know a knife was IN there,
well, that's why I think
it might not be so bad to have a little head
with just a few thoughts few memories few hopes
maybe if only one little one came true
that be enough for you."

Luckily for us, Naomi Shihab Nye has carefully sifted through that drawer to provide an entertaining assortment of poetic images, thoughts, stories, and yoga poses. ... Read more

Book Description

The Ultimate Teen Girl Bible
What do you do when . . . you're at the lunch table and you knock your soda over into someone's lap? Or, you need a job? You hate your clothes? You're broke? Inside, more than 100 experts tell you how to deal with these problems and so much more. GirlWise is one-stop shopping for all the stuff you want to, you need to, you MUST know!
GirlWise includes contributions by:
·Hillary Carlip, author of Girl Power
·Atoosa Rubenstein, editor-in-chief of CosmoGIRL!
·Nancy Gruver, publisher of New Moon
·Laura McEwen, Publisher of YM
·Marci Shimoff, coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul
·Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries
·Brandon Holley, editor-in-chief of ELLEgirl
·Isabel González, senior associate editor of Teen People
You'll find great tips from experts in fashion, business, etiquette, sports, and more to help you become the Ultimate Teen Girl—confident, capable, comfortable, cool, conscious, and taking control of your life. No more helpless females here! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of the Best Books I've Read!
I'm a freshman in highschool and I wish I would have had this book even before middleschool. It is the best, for anything! It teaches you things from confidence and starting a band, to being a good shopper and unclogging a toilet. It has things I didn't even expect. Even the topics I wasn't interested in I read, and it helped me in the future. Its easy to navigate, and not even boring once. I've read the entire thing, and keep it around for a refresher once and a while.

it ROCKS!
I just got this book for early Christmas. I cant put it down.Its really good! Ive been reading it for 2 days. My sisters 17 and she got a copy too and totally loves it too. its all out straight up the truth. My friends and I have been sitting in the lunch room reading the book out loud to know all this new stuff like fashion and like doing laundry and giving a speech in school. Theres nothing out there like it.

Got a daughter/grand daughter? THIS book is a must!
Where was this book when I was growing up? If your are uncomfortable with yourself, find yourself in awkward situations or just don't know what to do in quasi-emergencies as, I admit, happened to me more than once, Girlwise is the book to go to. Not only is it full of advice on such diverse topics as self confidence to creating your own web site to, my favorite, what to do about a clogged toilet, but it is witty and a great read. Situations are dealt with by not only professionals in the field but by teens themselves.
This grandmother is giving Girlwise to all the girls she knows from preteen (be prepared) up.

This book is incredible
GirlWise covers just about any situation I might be in where I need to be cool and calm and make a good impression. From job interviews to party planning, this book has it all. My fave is "How to write a poem." Very inspiring. All the women who give advice in this book are so cool and amazing. Awesome role models. It's like getting 100 mentors for different parts of life that are so important, all in one.

I wish I was teenager now!
I always said I would never want to relive my teenage years. Now that I have read this book, I would love to go back. This book could have saved me from a lot embarassment and depression. It is a must have for any teenage girl today. It's like having a user manual for teens. If you are a parent of a teen girl, you have to get this for her. She will love you for it. It answers the question every teen has, "Am I the only one that feels this way?" or "Does this only happen to me?". ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A very good book for the young girl!
I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter who has yet to start her period. I wanted to give her some information without boring her or confusing her. This book covers many good topics in such a wonderful way! It explains things I wouldn't of thought to explain (emergency situations, bra sizes etc.) I did read this book with my daughter since it does cover the topic of intercourse which I don't feel she needs to know the details of yet. It explains the parts of her body without being overly graphic (pictures are of female organs only) which is wonderful. Overall it has given her confidence in what she is and will be going through. She asks questions and is no longer afraid of what is to come. I'm so glad to have found this book!! I will be using it again with my younger daughter when the time comes.

Perfect first "growing up" book for the preteen girl
I have been searching for a book for my daughter (she turned 10 today!) that will help me to explain some of what will be happening to her body over the next few years. So many of the books contain too much information about sex, birth control, etc., that I feel is more appropriate for an older girl (say, 13 and up). This book, though, is just perfect for her age. It touches on all the things I think are important (breast development, first period, pubic hair and so forth). The information, language and tone of this book are just right for a girl who is still a little girl but who will not be for much longer. I am totally comfortable with reading this book to my daughter and then discussing it with her over time. I am sure she will want to take it to read on her own later, too. A wonderful book that I cannot recommend strongly enough for 9-13 year old girls.

Patronizing, lacks good illustrations
I was extremely disappointed in this book, given the glowing reviews it has received here. The introduction describes the author's fond memories of her uninhibited mother asking her to fetch sanitary napkins, walking naked around the house, and positioning her breasts in her bra. Perhaps this book is best suited to the daughters of similarly uninhibited women. I found the semi-burlesque description embarrassing, and worried my daughter will feel deprived because her mommy values a modicum of privacy. The cartoonish diagrams were vague and unhelpful. I'm afraid the introduction set the whole tone of the book, and I found the rest just plain annoying. I will save this book for when my daughter is 13, she may find it amusing. In the mean time I'll get a good anatomy book, explain what all the "parts" are for, and go from there.

Informative book for girls
My daughter is 9 and found this book to be very interesting. It answers alot of questions girls have and are afraid or embaressed to ask. This book opens the doors to communication, a must have for all girls to read!

Not what I expected...
I was very disappointed when I receieved this book that I ordered for my nine year old daughter. In fact, I have decided not to give it to her at this time. I think it is for a little bit older girl or one who is already "maturing". I was looking for a "first" book about periods, growing/changing bodies, etc. From the reviews I read online, that is what I thought it was. It seems more geared towards girls who are already experiencing these life changes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"I kept wanting it to happen. When it did I remember thinking, 'It'sabout time.'"

"I was worried at first. Then it really wasn't so bad after all."

"I remember my brothers weren't allowed to hit me in the chest anymore. I waskind of pleased about that."

What mysterious condition are these now grown-up girls talking about? Ah, yes,puberty! With scads of personal stories and an abundance of useful, detailedinformation about girls' changing bodies and feelings, author Lynda Madaras andher daughter Area Madaras have expanded their guide for girls on the verge ofchange. First published in 1983, the bestselling classic has been revised andupdated several times over the years to keep up with ever evolving facts andwisdom about puberty in girls. In this third edition, the authors continue theirstraight talk on the menstrual cycle, reproductive organs, breasts, emotionalchanges, puberty in boys, body hair, pimples, masturbation, and all the otherfun, scary, and interesting things that go along with growing up. Filled withanecdotes, illustrations, diagrams, and honest, sensitive, nonjudgmentalinformation for the young girl, the revised edition also addresses the newscientific facts about when a girl actually begins puberty (earlier thanpreviously thought), advice on "female athletic syndrome," eating disorders,unwanted attention because of early development, and information on eatingright, exercise, AIDS, STDs, birth control, and so much more. A welcome,reassuring book for parents and daughters, designed with the understanding thatsome girls and parents will want to read it together, and some will want to readit on their own; without a doubt, though, all will benefit. Got boys?Don't miss What's Happening to MyBody? Book for Boys. (Ages 8 to 15) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Good info, but better for older readers...
I have to agree somewhat (not completely) with one of the reviewers... This book is not well suited for girls who are nine or ten (my daughter is nine and a half). It's got a lot of good information, but some of the illustrations are too graphic (my daughter found the ones of male genitalia very disturbing, and she is not immature for her age). The age span on this book should be adjusted upwards to more like 12 and up, not 9 to 13.

That being said, this book covers a lot of ground, and for the most part does so well. It has a lot of important information found in books of this type: stages of puberty, signs to look for, the female reproductive cycle, bras, getting one's period, and so on. All these things are presented clearly, although again, I feel they're geared more towards older girls, rather than pre-teens.

All in all this is an ok book, but not excellent, and is not appropriate for the age range it's listed for. Buy this book for a 12 year-old or up, but don't push the envelope with younger girls, they don't need the pressure that such graphically displayed information provides, which can overwhelm them.

All girls should be as lucky as I was...
I am 21 years old now and stumbled upon this page looking for "our bodies, ourselves". When I was about 10 years old my mother gave me this book as a way to help bridge our inability to communicate well on personal topics. It helped me immensly, as well as a few of my girl friends who's mothers (gasp!) never said a word to them about anything they were going through. I had one friend who didn't understand when her mother told her their were "napkins" in the hall closet when she needed them, and that's all she ever said to her daughter. I reccomend that ALL mothers (and fathers, too) give their daughter at least one book like this, in addition to open, frank conversations. There is nothing pornographic about the pictures in this book. They are NOT photographs - they are drawings that are informative, rather than specific examples. Madaras is careful to explain that her illustrations are not what every girl's body looks like - and explains how things can vary. I read this book over and over again when I needed it, and was able to easy navigate to the information I was looking for. One of the most important aspects of this particular book for girls is that is has information about what is going on with their male counterparts, which helps girls feel less insecure when they read about how embarrassing things can be for the boys. I highly reccomend this book to girls 9 and up, but if your daughter is immature for her age, 10 or 11 might be a better age to introduce her to some of the information, as the book deals touches on topics such as sex and AIDS - which are better left to the parents' disgression at that age.

Great
My Mom bought this book for me when i was 12 and it really helped. It answered all of the questions that i wanted to know but was too embarrassed to ask. Plus it had things that other girls my age had writen in. I recomend it to girls 12 and +

ALL A YOUNG GIRL NEEDS IN A BOOK ABOUT BECOMING A WOMAN
This book covers every topic a girl is curious about as she enters puberty, (a few she might not be curious about yet, but will need to know about BEFORE she is twelve. With children becoming sexually active at 13 and not knowing how easily a girl become pregnant and teen AIDS on the rise--this is information that every girl needs to have. Buit are parents ready to let them have it before they need it, so they can be prepared to make informed choices and know why NO is the correct answer???

ONLY FOR PARENTS WHO WANT THEIR DAUGHTERS WELL INFORMED
This book has draeings and diagrams and honest language about body changes and sexuality and it answers many questions that most 9-14 year old girls are thinking. (Many don't ask because they are either too shy or too afraid). Warning, if you think giving children information is going to cause them to be sexually active, don't buy this book. Because it has all the information a preteen could want. ... Read more

Book Description

With compassion and insight, an expert counselor shows teen girls how to find the solutions to stress and anxiety that lie within

Parents, schoolwork, boyfriends, college . . .it's enough to make any teenage girl wish she could just snap her fingers and make it all go away. But with the click of her heels, she'll soon discover that the means to dealing with stress were always within her power. Dealing with the Stuff That Makes Life Tough helps teenage girls find the wisdom within to overcome stress in their lives.

A serious self-help guide for teenage girls that is neither preachy nor condescending, Dealing with the Stuff That Makes Life Tough uses real-life anecdotes to help readers triumph over difficulties. Common teen anxieties include:

• Body image
• Dating
• Divorce
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Friends and bullies
• Substance abuse
• Gay and lesbian issues

The book also includes short introductions of each subject, expert quotes, statistics, key points, reading lists, Web pages, and toll-free numbers.

Reviews (4)

Excellent True to Life Book. Would highly recommend
I read this book two weeks ago and it has really changed my attitude about myself. It was extremelly helpful and I would recommend it to anyone. This book will definetley help you with all of life's little problems.

Practical advice for teens, insight for parents
I found this book really useful. It speaks directly to teens and offers specific techniques for handling problems like peer pressure, sleeplessness, sadness and others. A lot of the advice still applies to me as a grown woman - I tried some of the suggestions for insomnia, and they really worked! It was also eye-opening for me as a mother to read the anecdotes from teen girls and understand their problems from their point of view. I think it is so useful that I have also bought copies for each of my teenaged nieces. I recommend it to any teen girl and her parents.

I write for a teen magazine and I see a lot of books...
but this is one of the best advice books to come across my desk. Jill helps me with my advice column in ym, Ask Anything, and, like this book, her ideas are always clear, succinct, non-condescending, and creative. It's very hard to find something new to say about typical teenage dilemmas like talking to parents who won't let you date, but Jill manages to have fresh takes on all of the problems she addresses. I'd definitely recommend this for any teenager who finds herself stressed and confused by the ins and outs of life.

Awesome and refreshingly honest with concrete solutions
This author gets right to the core of insecurity with body image, friendships and the painful process of dealing with divorce when you love both parents. In a gentle but experienced way, this therapist has an acute awareness and sensitivity to an adolescent's concerns.

As a teacher and mother of two daughters, I found this book to be a "bible" of knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

After discovering that teens don’t read the Bible, Thomas Nelson found that teens do read magazines! Thus, the idea to put the Bible in a magazine format with the purpose of showing teens that the Bible could be relevant and understandable. Revolve – the complete New Testament for teen girls – became America's #1 selling Bible in less than 3 months after it was originally released. This phenomenon of a “Bible that looks like a magazine” surpassed all expectations but most importantly, teen girls love Revolve! Now, this best-selling Bible has been updated and revised with all new sidebars, features & images but the same Bible text! This is the perfect Bible for any teen girl who is trying to figure out what in the world the Bible has to do with her life today!

Amazon.com

Soldiers, scientists, performers, writers, entrepreneurs, politicians, quilt makers, pilots... as author Lynne Cheney writes, "America’s amazing women have much to teach our children--and much inspiration to offer us, as well." Coming on the heels of America: A Patriotic Primer(Cheney’s previous collaboration with illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser), A Is for Abigail celebrates the achievements of women in American history, with a special emphasis on the individuals who helped win equal rights for women. As with America, Cheney uses an alphabet book format to introduce hundreds of remarkable real women: "O is for SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR and others who were first." In addition to the first woman Supreme Court Justice, the "O" page includes Wilma Mankiller, first woman chief of the Cherokee Nation; Jeannette Rankin, first female member of Congress; and Nellie Tayloe Ross, first woman governor. Glasser’s playful illustrations are lively and busy, inviting readers to explore Abigail Adams's farm or the crowded city block that houses "V is for VARIETY," with its DNA lab, dance studio, dentist office, and "PERSONS at WORK" sign. Snippets of information about each featured woman give a taste; ideally, readers will seek more in-depth biographies about the historical figures who pique their interests. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A is for Amazing
This is a wonderful primer on the history of women in America. It paints a very vivid picture, using wonderful and engaging illustrations to draw you into what is a picture narrative. In spite of what some reviewers have said, the diversity in this book is wonderful. Harriet Tubman and Sacagawea are on the front cover of the book, two of five women featured, and Rosa Parks is featured on the back cover alongside Sandra Day O'Connor and Eleanor Roosevelt. As someone who works in the educational publishing field, it is obvious that a lot of thought was put into representing women from various ethnic backgrounds. Apart from the real non white women featured including: Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida Wells-Barnett, Sui Fin Far, Madame C. J. Walker, Harriet Tubman, Bessie Coleman, Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey, Judith Jamison, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno, Hazel Harrison, Annie Dodge Wauneka, Charlotte Ray, Zora Neale Hurston, Euphemia Lofton Haynes, the list of women of color and other backgrounds depicted in this book (the list goes on and on), the illustrator has worked hard to include depictions of minorities in the incidental art. I honestly don't understand the diversity complaints at all; they must have been looking at another book. I would recomnd A is for Abigail to girls and women of all ages and men as well. It's just a whole lot of fun to look at and you'll learn a few things about the amazing women who did great things for our country.

A Beautiful Tribute To Women
In this beautiful book, the accomplishments of women throughout American history are described briefly but with great attention to detail. Women from all walks of life, as well as all backgrounds and generations are represented, and it is a little surprising to discover how many women achieved greatness even before the current generation. As a woman and mother of 4 girls, I find this book delightful, informative, encouraging, interesting, and lovely to look at. The illustrations are colorful and lively, perfect for children of all ages. I strongly recommend adding this book to your home library.

A lovely and meaningful book.
"Remember the Ladies," Abigail Adams told her husband in a 1776 letter. In fact she went so far as to warn him, "If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation." Unfortunately it was not until the 1900s before women were able to vote. Still, they found many ways to make their mark, have their say, and get their way.

Presented in the format of an alphabet book, A IS FOR ABIGAIL is a remarkable collection of stories about women who have made a difference in the history of the United States. Each beautifully illustrated, often annotated, page is packed with information and quotes. We are shown how women have been able to make a difference in various aspects of life, despite opposition. They have been fliers, artists, business people and inventors, to name only a few occupations.

Robin Preiss Glasser finds the most extraordinary ways to present this information. For example, the letter F stands for "First Ladies." Portraits of them are shown on teacups, milk jugs, sugar bowls, coffee pots, and teapots. The women who made their mark in the press are shown on the front of a newspaper, while those ladies who gained fame as performers are shown on a stage.

By the time we close this extraordinary book we feel empowered, knowing that women have achieved so much in a world that has not always been hospitable to their successes. We should all be proud of and grateful to Lynne Cheney and her wonderful illustrator for creating such a lovely and meaningful book.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com)

Wonderful Children's Book
My daughter loves to look through this as I read it to her. She loves alphabet books and this one teaches her about her country.
I would highly recommend this book.

Abigail Adams and hundreds of other American women
You might think that from the title of "A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women," that Lynne Cheney (yes, the wife of the Vice President of the United States), is going to introduce us to twenty-six women, one for each letter of the alphabet. You might be wondering if Cheney is going to go by first names or last names, since Abigail is Abigail Adams (the wife of the first Vice President of the United States) and you could go either way. The answer to the second question is the Cheney uses last names but more importantly on the first point she introduces us to a lot more than twenty-six American women. For example, "D" is for Emily Dickinson, the country's greatest poet, but the names of other poets from Edna St. Vincent Milay to Sylvia Plath, while "F" is for the First Ladies from Martha Washington to Laura Bush, and includes a great quotation from Barbara Bush's great commencement speech at Wellesley College in 1990. Then you should see the four page spread that opens up to show all the performers for "P," from Carol Burnett to Katharine Hepburn, or everything that is crammed into the two pages on "U" for US history.

The back of this book includes Notes on the Text that provides details about all 28 of those poets and some of the First Ladies. The illustrations are by Robin Preiss Glasser, who collaborated with Cheney on "America: A Patriotic Primer." Hopefully one day young readers will be able to appreciate the details that Glasser puts into her art, such as having Carol Burnett in the infamous curtain dress from the "Gone with the Wind" parody and doing the painting of Mary Cassatt in the style of a Mary Cassatt painting. This book intends to bring to light the "remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women." Young readers should be captivated just by what they learn about Abigail Adams on the opening spread of this engaging volume, and if what little they learn here about Althea Gibson, Elizabeth Peabody, Jane Addams, Nellie Bly, Anne Sullivan and the rest of these American women inspires them to find out some more details about even a half-dozen of them, that would certainly be a step in the right direction. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

"Young Woman" a Great Book, But Slightly Dissapointing
This is a great book for any Christian teen girl to work throgh. It is divided up into different sections that focus on purity, serving, etc. Each gives real life examples and discusses how teens can make a difference at school, home and church with their faith. George provides lots of information and helps teens to easily apply these concepts to their life. A lot of girls would benefit from this book! I have learned more from this devotional from any other I've read.
However, some of the "work" in this book seemed like school. Readers look up a lot of scriptures and write a lot, and it's a bit irritating. I'm also surprised that George is writing a book for teen girls when she is much older. Sometimes I felt like she had unreasonable standards, was a bit old fashioned and was talking down to readers. (EX: She was telling readers to keept their rooms clean.) This is a better devotional for girls than most others out there, but still has its down points. Overall, though, girls will benefit from George's insights.

Great Lessons, but we're teenagers
This was a great book except Elizabeth George talks to you as if you're in kindergarten. It bothered me when she would say things like "precious one", "dear friend", etc. But other than this I learned a lot from the book and have grown closer to God. I disagreed with some things she said, but it made think and figure out my beliefs.

Every young woman should read this!!!!
I think every young woman should read this. Great readability-you get the feeling the author is speaking right to you-on subjects any young woman could use input on. Any parent would want their daughter to know about, and take to heart, the contents of this book.

A Young Woman After God's Own Heart
This book is brilliant with loads of insight to help teens develop their own personal walk with God.
George writes in a warm engaging manner encouraging the reader to be proactive in their pursuit of a heart that marches to the beat of Gods drum!
Each chapter is filled with helpful suggestions rounded off with with a challenging heart response, a practical "to Do List" to help motivate & a short bible study.
I am presently working through this book with my 11 year old daughter & it's providing her with the tools to move on in her christian walk without me being there. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Sensitivity in text and illustrations = charming book
Dear Ms. Barnes,

Thank you so very much for A LITTLE BOOK OF MANNERS: COURTESY AND KINDNESS FOR YOUNG LADIES. It has made all the difference in our lives.

One evening my husband and I experienced one of the most embarrassing moments of our entire lives when we took our granddaughters out to dinner. I suddenly realized that they simply had not been taught some pretty basic manners. Modern parents are so busy with two careers and hectic schedules, I suppose.

Imagine how thrilled I was to find this book and how even more delighted to discover that when they read it, both girls took the lessons to heart and began to practice them. It saved me the further embarrassment of telling their parents about the painful incident. You back me up on that one: "Don't point out other people's bad manners," -- remember? Of course, grandmothers have special advantages in that area, but tact and sometimes even reticence is often the better part of valor.

"Five good reasons to write thank you notes!" and
"The heart of all good manners is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What brave and wonderful things to write to youngsters in a society that sneers at manners and religion as "sentimental" and "old-fashioned."

Because of the lessons here -- from thank you notes to how to entertain friends to telephone manners to introductions and party manners and more -- we are now proud to take the girls anywhere. Their introductions (which we had fun practicing) are truly graceful.

Another very important point you make is to treat brothers and sisters like friends. That is, with respect. Practicing that one little idea can change the entire atmosphere in a home.

Thank you, Emilie Barnes, for a very important book. This one was so successful for us that I bought the companion volume, A LITTLE BOOK OF MANNERS FOR BOYS and look forward to seeing equally triumphant results among our grandsons.

Michel Sparks's illustrations are colorful and delightfully whimsical. The visual appeal and emphasis they add to the text makes this a very special book indeed.

Thank you again for the lovely and sensitive addition to our children's library and to our lives.

I wish she would write a book for boys too.
Excuse me, could I please tell you about a book I just read? Well, this is what Emilie Marie would say if she could walk off the pages and into your life. She also believes that the heart of all good manners is the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a little girl you would happily invite over for a tea party!

This is just an enc