On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!

May 1, 2008
Gr 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"

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