On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow!: A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Boys – A Warm Guide to Puberty and Physical Changes

This book was suggested to me by my Pastors Wife to use with my boys. After years of use, I jumped back online to give a review since I am so pleased with the results. If you as a parent are looking for something 'appropriate' yet, truthful and educational, AND fun, then this is a great book to begin conversations with and go over some basics. I think the best part of this whole process is that going through the little things, helps open doors for more difficult and complex subjects later. I added my own personal thoughts to our conversations when I felt it appropriate...like when the book talked about hard on's and why boys get them. The most important thing boys can get from this book is that it's ok to experience change and that it's actually OK to have open discussions about sex and pubic hairs and such. For those interested, I broke this book into three parts, 3 chapters at a time, letting the boys read one section at a time, 3 chapters, knowing then we would go on a Mother/Son date, have a short discussion about the book content, review the chapters he's read (discussed in the car, or while walking or doing something privately where face to face eye contact doesn't HAVE to occur. Then after the summary of the book, we would go do something fun together on our date, like go check out a local book store, buy a coffee or hot cocoa and talk, go see a funny movie, go have lunch, etc. Whatever the child wanted to do, within reason and my budget at the time. Then, we would repeat chapters 4,5,6 date, then 7,8,9 then finish with a last date. What I have found in both sons (which are pretty much polar opposite kids) is that it has kept communication lines open for such topics as early stages of dating, and talking about future hopes for dating more and even marriage. Good stuff and it all started with this simple, educational and straight forward book about changes in the boys bodies. Happy Dating!

this is a great book to introduce & inform little boys about changes which happen to their bodies during puberty and great fun for mom or dad to read with them !It also has some good info on how to properly take care of their bodies. The author and the boys adding thoughts in the book at different stages really make it quite humorous at times and thus easy to talk more about things in as much detail as you want as you go along. My son is 9 & I would highly recommend this book to anyone his age and older !!!

I wanted a boy's version of The Care and Keeping of You for younger girls. I looked at several different books and ended up choosing this one. The other one I liked was The AMA's Boys' Guide to Becoming a Teen. I choose this one because it felt a little younger and more playful. I liked the way it was laid out so it didn't feel clinical. The other books I read cover intercourse, reproduction, and STDs. I didn't want to cover those topics just yet so I was pleased this book left them out. I also wanted a book with pictures of anatomy and what to expect at different stages of puberty. This book had simple illustrations of both, as well as other pictures scattered throughout. I took off one star because I found the single color illustrations were boring compared to the fun cover. I think full color illustration would have made the book more engaging for kids. I did like that it covered lots of different aspects of puberty from physical to social to emotional. I was pleased and my 9 year old liked it as well.

I think this is a well written book for boys who are near puberty. Issues are discussed clearly with a young boys comprehension level in mind. It covers a lot, from body changes to sexuality; from use of steroids to good hygiene and communication and feelings. I think the author has done an excellent job. The anecdotes from other men and boys looking back on their own puberty brings out feelings that a boy might be experiencing but unable to verbalize easily. Very good book.

I had trouble finding a good book that didn’t explain sexual intercourse for my son while covering puberty changes but THIS IS IT!!! All about puberty for a curious preteen with out talk about sexual intercourse perfect for my 9.5 year old. Talks about the change in itself differences being normal and even cover in light detail sexual harassment and being open with your parents about what’s going on and if anyone has touched them in any kind of way that’s inappropriate! When it’s time to learn about sex there are other books for that but until then I am thankful for this book not giving my son more information than he needs

It appears to be marketed to younger boys, 8-10, but it’s a little too much detail at this point for my 8 yr old. It’s comprehensive, and I get that the author is trying to make it fun with cartoon drawings, but it makes it a little weird for me. Maybe my son is just a little too young for this one. I’ll revisit it in a year.

I bought this for my 10.5 year old grandson and his parents read this book first--they even learned something. My grandson then read it and although a bit shy about telling me about it, he said it helped him understand a lot about his body and what to expect. He seemed happy to have the information and I was worried it was too early--but it was perfect timing. I plan to give a copy to my next grandson who turns ten next year.

My 9 year old son recently said - mom, I feel different. I said how so? He said - different, older, grown up. I remembered a conversation with a group of moms when my son was 3. They were telling me about a great book for boys to read themselves. I went and looked it up - What's Going on Down There. I wasn't sure and ended up ordering 3 books. I gave them to my husband, said you have the parts, please read and pick the book and tell our son about it so he can read it. My son started and came to me and said - Mom there are some things in here making me uncomfortable, can I read this with Dad. He read the page which discussed his sex organ and that made him uncomfortable. So now my husband is reading this to my son and they are having a great time and my son is loving this book. It is in sections - and reminds him of his graphic novel. They are discussing body parts, puberty, body odor, and getting into what's happening with his body. I skimmed the book and it may not be written for a 9 year old to read to himself. It is a great book for a parent to have conversation with his/her child. It helps explain things and while some of it isn't appropriate yet for my child, it may be for yours. I do recommend reading it prior to giving it to your child to read alone. Also know, your child may do what mine did - feel uncomfortable. The books I got really do include information that I'm not sure my 9 year old is ready for, this one seemed to have mostly information it is time for him to understand. He isn't getting words, language from siblings so we are supporting him and this book is a great start to making sure our child learns in a healthy and productive way.

My 11 year old son (year 6) read about everything he needs to know about puberty in a way that didn't scare him. He was able to ask questions afterwards but that was only a few because the book covered everything. There was no information regarding girls bodies and their changes so I explained that to him. The only negative side to the book was the fact that it was American so the page that explains about people touching you in certain areas and then saying don't tell anyone gave a telephone number in America.

This book supported the conversations we were already having with our son and eased his mind that all if it is "normal!"

Just right for my 12 year old boy Who can finish the book in a very short time And can keep revising it Covers all topics in a good way giving lot of assurance to kids

Brilliant .....really helped my lad! Able to leave him to read in his own time and space and ask questions if he needed to! Gave him a great understanding of what was happening to his body in laymans terms!

My son read this is one seating and it opened the door for conversation between us.