I grew up with The Care and Keeping of You, an American Girl book all about puberty. Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang have created a modern, feminist, inclusive take on periods with Welcome to Your Period!

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The summary, from Amazon:

This frank, funny guide to getting your period gives preteens all they need to master—and even celebrate!—menstruation.

Getting your period for the first time can be mortifying, weird, and messy—and asking questions about it can feel even worse. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This taboo-free guide is packed with honest advice and big-sisterly wisdom on all the things girls need to know: from what cramps feel like to whether you can feel blood coming out, to what you should do if your pad leaks onto your clothes. Welcome to Your Period includes case studies, first-person accounts, questions from real teens, and answers from health journalist Yumi Stynes and adolescent health specialist Melissa Kang, MD. Cheerful illustrations keep the tone fun, and help with how-tos on different period supplies. There are even suggestions for throwing a first-period party. With its inclusive, body-positive message, pocket size, and reassuring vibe, this must-have menstruation manual will make girls feel not only normal but proud.

Buy Welcome to Your Period! here.

Wow, what an informative and inclusive read. This book is geared towards those waiting for or who have just gotten their period, but as someone who has menstruated for over 15 years, even I learned some things from this book. This is also a great read for allies and parents, especially fathers, and includes chapters for that purpose.

What most impressed me about Welcome to Your Period is how inclusive it is. This book includes information for those with disabilities, trans boys, and children living in poverty. It goes a step above and beyond any other books on the topic I have read. I also liked how this book talked about period activism and making more environmentally friendly choices to the best of your ability depending on your chosen method of sanitary product.

Welcome to Your Period! was just published in the states this year, but was originally published overseas. I do think some of the information could have been updated for America. (For instance, diagrams showing tampon use only show applicator-free tampons, while most American girls will use a tampon with an applicator at first or for their whole lives.) I also had some debate about the cover with other readers. We liked how the book was small, making it a discreet and easy to carry read. The cover is very bright and it’s obvious what the topic is about. Now, Welcome to Your Period! talks about ending the stigma and shame associated with periods, but it might turn off a more nervous reader from picking it up.

Overall, this was such an excellent, informational, and inclusive book. 5 stars!

Find out more about how I rate books here.

Welcome To Your Period by Yumi Stynes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A solid, feminist, thorough, inclusive introduction to periods. I love this one.

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Book Club Questions

1. Did you use any of the resources provided in this book? What did you find helpful?
2. Have you gotten your period? What was your first period like? How do you deal with your period? Share your wisdom and stories.
3. How did you feel about getting your first period? Were (or are you) worried? Excited? Nervous?
4. What do you wish allies (like your father, boyfriend, or brother) knew about periods? How can they help you during your period?
5. What is something you learned from this book that surprised you?

Interested? Buy Welcome to Your Period!
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