avaritchie's review against another edition
1.0
Didn’t like it. Sexualizes children. Don’t recommend.
larrys's review against another edition
1.0
How da fuck does this have such a high star rating? My ten year old found it on our bookshelf. I don't remember reading it myself but I kept our family's childhood books. My daughter happened to leave it on the coffee table upside down and I noticed it had been created by three dudes in the 70s. Something -- not sure what! -- made me check it myself to see it if was terrible.
Yeah, it was terrible. It was terrible in the most terrible of ways, and not just because of 1970s heteronormativity. We now know much more about hormones, for instance. The illustrations are very male gazey. While kids are encouraged not to worry! Don't be embarrassed! Don't be ashamed! it hadn't actually occurred to my kid that she should be ashamed. The very worst part, which my husband even gasped at as he ambled past, is the page about girls' breasts and how they're for looking nice and boys and men love them. No no, maybe the worst part is the page where girls are told that other girls may tease them about their breasts but it's only because they're 'jealous'. Oh man, I just can't decide.
So I sat down with the kid and explained page by page all the reasons why this book is terrible. Then I told her to shove it in the bin. She asked if maybe she should cut it up first with scissors in case someone found it. But since it has been improved with the addition of coffee grounds and chicken juice I figure we're good.
Yeah, it was terrible. It was terrible in the most terrible of ways, and not just because of 1970s heteronormativity. We now know much more about hormones, for instance. The illustrations are very male gazey. While kids are encouraged not to worry! Don't be embarrassed! Don't be ashamed! it hadn't actually occurred to my kid that she should be ashamed. The very worst part, which my husband even gasped at as he ambled past, is the page about girls' breasts and how they're for looking nice and boys and men love them. No no, maybe the worst part is the page where girls are told that other girls may tease them about their breasts but it's only because they're 'jealous'. Oh man, I just can't decide.
So I sat down with the kid and explained page by page all the reasons why this book is terrible. Then I told her to shove it in the bin. She asked if maybe she should cut it up first with scissors in case someone found it. But since it has been improved with the addition of coffee grounds and chicken juice I figure we're good.
mckklccc's review
5.0
I remember this book clearly, almost to the page! It's been about 20 years since I read it....so it had an impact. Just after having "the talk", my parents gave me the book to consult if I had more questions. I studied every page, giggled over some of them with my cousins, and really got a lot of info from it.
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