Is this still how we talk/educate girls?

[ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble]

DD is not quite at puberty stage , but definitely on the way there. We talk about it quite a lot(and we have talked about bodies,periods etc since she was little) but I thought I'd get some books too that we can either read together or she can read by herself.

Luckily I read through them before giving them to her.

One of them in particular is focused on looks, repeated gorgeous,fabulous ,babe comments, matching knickers and how jeans will fit much better once you grow.

They call breasts boobs, who knows why.

AIBU that 9yos (the age they claim most girls start puberty) don't and shouldn't care about matching knickers, skin care routines or how their jeans are filled.

‘Small and perky’ and ‘big and bouncy’ sounds like language from erotica, or tags for searching porn!

Good grief that’s horrendous! Please tell me that wasn’t from something written this century! I really thought we’d moved on from this crap....

Plain girls?!

This is appalling

@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble

There is a page I didn't take a pic of where it refers to said "boobs" as either "small and perky" or "big and bouncy".

I find the whole language ... quite disturbing.

Oh my god!

I agree OP that the correct words should be used in these situations. People can 'titty' and 'tata' and 'vajayjay' and 'flower garden' anyother time though but children should know real names of the parts of their body.

Knowing vagina, vulva, breast, penis, etc shouldn't be any different from knowing arms, legs, eyes, etc.

Awful !

Absolutely terrible op. Yanbu!!

That is hideous, I'm not usually for burning books but no way would give that to any girl...

Ugh creepy.

Burn it.

Jesus H. Fuckin. Christ. That is awful.

Dreadful plain girl into gorgeous woman dear god I was plain then and still am what an awful book I’ve seen the rest.

Just despicable. And dishonest. We can't all be babes with fantastic figures, we still all go through puberty. I hate shopping, I've never had a matching pair of pants and bra, definitely not a pretty one. And yet mysteriously somehow I still function.
Utter patronising sexist bullshit. "Plain girl" grows "boobs" and - ta-ta- "attractive young woman." Really really cross. YADNBU.
My very british response would be to "write in." Is there somewhere you can email, like the publishers? See if it's still in print and if so complain.

How pathetic. Just give them the facts and explain what to expect. Other stuff is unnecessary and sexist.

It’s putting pressure on girls. ‘When puberty hits, this MUST happen. And it WILL make you look more attractive.’

Urgh that's awful. Sounds like Jackie magazine!

(I say boobs, I think boobs too, like 'my boob is itchy'. Does everyone else think 'my breasts'? That sounds so formal to me. Like saying faeces instead of poo)

Jesus that is hideous! would have made me feel like shit as a flat chested 13 year old!

That is grim

Reminds me of puberty books from the 1980s...when was this written?

It’s a spoof right??

Ew ew ew. Creepy and wrong.

These words are just creepy. Gives me a mental image of a pervert wanting to write a book on puberty but getting carried away thinking of all the ways a girl will "become beautiful" once puberty hits, catches himself with a hand down his trousers while daydreaming.

It's made me feel utterly uncomfortable and these things rarely get to me.

It definitely sounds like it’s been written by a creepy man.

This is awful. If it takes the growing of 'boobs' to turn the plainest girl into an attractive young woman, I hate to think what kind of adult is judging that scale of attractiveness. Creepy and revolting. If you bought the book online I hope you leave an appropriately critical review.

Gives me a mental image of a pervert wanting to write a book on puberty but getting carried away thinking of all the ways a girl will "become beautiful" once puberty hits, catches himself with a hand down his trousers while daydreaming.

Yes it did have a feel of man writes woman so googled the author and she is a woman. Victoria/Vic Parker .

Get that book in the bin where it belongs.

Op it’s funny I’m looking for similar books for my 9yo. I have discussed the basics with her in a factual way and am in women’s healthcare so she’s grown up around correct anatomical language and focus on our bodies’ abilities and strength etc. However she is not as keen to chat with me as she grows and I thought she might like a book to dip into.

I was sorely disappointed in what was available. I looked at this site for recommendations and also the “A Mighty Girl” website. So glad I read the reviews and excerpts as frankly all of the ones I looked at before giving up were like this in some way. Constant suggestions that girls will be awkward, embarrassed etc about their bodies which my daughter absolutely is not. Big focus on what they call self care but actually meant preening. Fine if that’s something a girl chooses to do but it felt on reading the excerpts like it was just something you must do and needed to do to be acceptable.

These books (and the fact that like you noted, the majority of the reviews were positive) are depressing.

I’ll be sticking to frank and factual discussion for now