Yumi Stynes

This is a great introduction to bleeding, and I managed to learn a few things even as I race towards menopause. It's cheerful and matter of fact, recognizing but never catering to the taboos around menstruation and puberty. In short and energetic sections accompanied by diverse illustrations it tells what to expect, what is going on, variations that are normal, questions that often come up, options and how to evaluated each on (options on different sanitary supplies to different ecological show more concerns to different pain relief possibilities, etc). Transgender people are included, as are different cultural expectations.

This would be great to share with anyone, although I guess girls would get the most practical use from it. Boys would learn a lot and maybe know how to be better allies.

I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing EarlyReviewers program. show less

Welcome to Your Period contains excellent information on all methods of handling menstrual flow, from paper pads and tampons through period underwear, cloth pads, moon cups, and even free bleeding. That alone makes it unique. It also has many helpful practical suggestions for preparations and precautions. I'm going to start shopping for black panties in my granddaughter's size right away, and starting a "Period Pack" is a fabulous idea too, (although I do draw the line at stocking it with show more chocolate which is hard to store for reasons of heat, fragility, and non-hormonal cravings -- or sibling theft). Sections on the environmental impact of various menstrual products and on "Period Poverty" are also valuable in helping girls to understand the wider implications of their menarche.

The sections on various period challenges are absolutely great. This is the sort of thing women have all dealt with and wish someone had helped us prepare for. Four pages on the monthly hormone cycle? Outstanding.

However, I have serious reservations with some other elements in the book. The section on transgender is far too little information for a genuinely dysmorphic child and far too much for a girl trying to understand what it means to be a woman, which is a very important journey that could have been given more coverage herein. I think perhaps if they want to be sensitive to both, the authors should have written two versions of the book. And while the coverage of puberty and its manifold effects on body and brain is excellent, there's no mention that birth control pills (suggested as a PMS treatment, or an option for stopping menstruation if you don't want to bleed) and puberty blockers may irreversibly damage or prevent some of this necessary body and brain development. Just saying "see your doctor" about artificial hormones doesn't make it okay to suggest highly dangerous treatments. The authors were apparently trying to be inclusive here; in a further gesture towards inclusiveness, the "Period Vocabulary" section includes non-period trans-friendly words, for example "misgendered" which doesn't even appear in the text.

All in all, it's a very useful and wonderful book which I cannot recommend just handing off to a 10 year old, but which I can recommend for reading along with a pubescent girl and for parents and parental figures who want to know what children (of both sexes) and adults need to know to navigate this interesting time of life. show less

This is a great introduction to bleeding, and I managed to learn a few things even as I race towards menopause. It's cheerful and matter of fact, recognizing but never catering to the taboos around menstruation and puberty. In short and energetic sections accompanied by diverse illustrations it tells what to expect, what is going on, variations that are normal, questions that often come up, options and how to evaluated each on (options on different sanitary supplies to different ecological show more concerns to different pain relief possibilities, etc). Transgender people are included, as are different cultural expectations.

This would be great to share with anyone, although I guess girls would get the most practical use from it. Boys would learn a lot and maybe know how to be better allies.

I received a free review copy from LibraryThing EarlyReviewers. show less

My eleven year old daughter read this book and then gave it to me and wanted me to read it right away. She said it was much more informative than the short presentation they received at school and that she learned a lot from it. She loved the format with text bubbles and questions and stories from real kids.

This is a fantastic book to open discussion with your daughter regarding puberty and getting their period. The authors talk very conversationally and frankly about a wide variety of show more subjects and really encourage kids to discuss periods and growing up with each other and the grownups in their lives. The book has short sections which often refer to other sections of the book. This means you can either read the book straight through (my daughter's choice) or you can simply turn to an area that you have questions about. My daughter plans to keep this on her bookshelf so she can refer to it often and also to share it with her little sister in a couple of years when she starts going through puberty.

I love the body positive message throughout the book that periods are completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed to discuss. The authors really encourage girls to be open with their friends and to help each other out when periods hit at school or in other social situations. Being prepared with a "period pack" is fantastic advice.

One note to parents: This book does contain references to various forms of birth control, sex, and gender identity issues. I had no issues with my daughter learning about these things so we can openly discuss them however I recognize that all parents do not feel the same. show less