This friendly, reassuring overview has been updated and discusses everything from how to choose sanitary supplies to what to expect from a pelvic exam. The authors' every-girl-is-wonderfully-different philosophy is reinforced with simple drawings of a diverse group of girls. Included are straightforward definitions and diagrams, teen testimonials, and a parents' guide. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr. 5^-7. The most obvious change in this revised edition (originally published in 1979 by Volcano Press) is the artwork. The design and the black-and-white line drawings, this time by Chris Wold Dyrud and Marcia Quackenbush, are far more appealing than those in the earlier book. The organization is also much better, with clear subheads setting up answers to questions about such basic, very practical matters as "What do I do when I get my period for the first time?" and "What kind of exercise can I do?" The text has undergone a few changes, too (there's acknowledgement of PMS, for example), though much is the same in its coverage of topics ranging from tampons and cramps to a pelvic exam. New to this edition are a calendar for photocopying and an index (awkwardly positioned before the helpful guide for parents). Unlike Robie Harris' It's Perfectly Normal (1994), the focus here is strictly on menstruation; this is not a book about puberty or an introduction to sexuality. But it's a warmly encouraging book, that tells it like it is for young girls. --Stephanie Zvirin

A Girl's Guide by JoAnn Loulan and Bonnie Worthen, first published in 1979 and newly revised and updated, thoroughly covers questions about puberty and menstruation. The authors emphasize the positive (e.g., "Being comfortable with your own body is important") and use diagrams to familiarize readers with the inner workings of their bodies, including what happens during menstruation. A question-and-answer format in the last three chapters allows girls to locate easily the information they seek. A parent's guide bound into the back suggests how to begin a conversation about puberty, what to cover, etc. A thoughtful approach for young women facing changes. ; Jan. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved