Growing Up – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Informative, adolescence, puberty, honest, inclusive.
Children’s book title: Growing Up: Adolescence, body changes and sex.
Children’s author: Sam Baer.
Children’s illustrator: Julia Dürr.
Genre: Non-fiction.
Published by: Usborne.
ISBN: 9781805313014.
Recommended for children aged: 11-14 year-olds.
First published: Paperback February 2025.
This children’s book is ideal for: Learning about changes you to expect during puberty.
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Our review:
Before you hit puberty, you’re treated like a child. But, by the time you’ve finished, you’ll probably feel like a grown-up.
Growing Up: Adolescence, body changes and sex is a new edition of the classic and award-winning Usborne Facts of Life book, that has helped generations of pre-teens understand what is happening to their changing bodies and emotions. First published in 1985, this new edition has been thoroughly revised to address the concerns of modern childhood and adolescence.
Written in consultation with both medical professionals and experts in sex education and gender studies, Growing Up presents an inclusive, positive guide to the pre and early teen years. With a large focus on biology, the book uses the medical terms for body parts to explicitly dispel the sense of embarrassment that often accompanies such discussions.
Growing Up contains a wealth of factual information covering topics such as:
- What happens during puberty, including growth spurts, hormones and periods
- Sex, contraception, consent and STIs
- Gender identity and sexual orientation
- Body image and peer pressure
- Exercise
- Healthy eating
- Stress and looking after your mental health
Clear diagrams and copious colourful illustrations help to explain the information, which is broken up into easy to digest chunks and bullet points. The text speaks directly to young readers in a non-patronising manner that presents clear facts in modern language.
There is a welcome theme of diversity throughout the book. The illustrations portray people of different ethnic backgrounds, body shapes and visible physical abilities. The sections on gender identity and body image are sensitively handled and inclusive.
As well as being highly relevant to young readers, the book would also be of use to parents and teachers who are looking for a clear, nonjudgmental way to explain puberty to those in their care.
There is a helpful glossary and a QR code for more information at the back of the book.
At the end of puberty, you’re still you – just a little bigger, a little older, and maybe a little wiser.
Growing Up is a positive, relevant guide that will be highly beneficial to young readers who want the facts about puberty rather than the playground rumours.
Many thanks to Usborne for the review copy.
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