Can anyone recommend a good book for a pre-pubescent 9yo please?

[earlgrey]

The only ones I've found so far are a Babette Cole style one (far too babyish) or one aimed at older children which explains far too much (HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, etc).

I've a feeling dd1 is going to be an early starter

little house series? ballet shoes? narnia?

the hobbit? lotr? the michele paver series? caroline lawrence roman series? swallows and amazons?

the Usborne ones are good. Cannot remember what they are called (there's one for girls and one for boys). Will look, hang on.

bk, I'm sorry but your humour is wasted on me. I don't understand it.

what humour? those were book suggestions!

earlgrey -- am I guessing from your OP taken in conjunction with your response to bk that you want a book about human reproduction/periods/facts of life?

Only, you see, you didn't actually say that anywhere...

what's happening to me

my nine year old is reading a series of unfortunate events there are quite alot of books in the series shes on the fourth one and she enjoys the narnia books shes got all seven she is mature for her age as well

She's read the Narnia series. What does that have to do with a hairy bit appearing?

H bathed dd1 last night, and he's just asked me if I'd explained puberty to her. I was so taken aback - apologies bk!

I don't think earlgreys DD will find anything relevant to the subject which is implicit in the OP in narnia or Swallows and Amazons! Was there ever a 'Five play Mummys and Daddys and become Six'?

My 8 yr old DD still likes Babette cole... chose Mummy Laid an Egg the other evening for my book to read to her. Still at the stage where the thought of daddys will going somewhere in mummys bottom is 'eewugh' - correct response at that age!

People are taking your original post as asking for recommendations for a good book (any good book) for a 9-year-old. Which isn't quite what you meant, I think.

Girls Only is good, I bought it off amazon for dd. Very clear without being too graphic and scary. Doesnt go into some older type stuff, just the basics.

Thanks, FIS. I like the look of the Girls Only! one.

if you want her to learn about whats happening to her the best bet is for you to tell her ive just had to explain to my girl that having discharge isnt a bad thing (she had started hiding her knickers in her room )i think she is going to start soon she has already developed breast and has hair down there

God, I'm so sorry everyone. Thanks for your advice and I'm sorry for being so stupid.

BTW, bk, I always thought there was more to Mr Tumnus than meets they eye. Wouldn't touch him with a bargepole!

oh! no wonder my recommendations made no sense! good luck with it

The Period Book (everything you don't want to ask)(but need to know) by Jennifer Gravelle & Karen Gravelle.

Written by aunt & teenage daughter - it is modern, practical & very readable by girls - think my DD had it at about 9y. Covers puberty in good practical detail (eg advice about what to do if you get blood on your skirt at school).

I agree batgirl I had that one for my eldest when she was 10 (now 12) & starting to get puberty talks at school. I wanted her to have the chance to hear it from me first. We started with Babete Cole's Hair in Funny places as a gentle introduction & then moved on to the Period Book. We now all read it together with my youngest who is 10 & it brings up some interesting discussions-usually from school yard gossip & misinformation!!