Polish / Poland
Twoje ciałopozytywne dojrzewanie. Przewodnik po zmianach w ciele, pierwszej miesiączce i ciałopozytywności
(Your body-positive puberty. A guide to changes in the body, first menstruation, and body positivity)
Pietruszczak, Barbara
(text)
Rudak, Anna
(illus.)
Warszawa: Moonka, 2021. – 196 p. + [12] p.
ISBN 978-83-959865-0-5
Body | Gender | Girl | Puberty | Sexuality | Sex education | Non-fiction
Reading age: 8+
White Ravens issue: 2022
This fundraised book on puberty for girls – written by Barbara Pietruszczak, a journalist specializing in body-related topics – fills a gap in the Polish children’s book market, as schools in this country do not include sex education in their curricula. The author covers a wide spectrum of topics – from changes in the body to emotions and relationships – which are presented in a thorough but not overwhelming manner. Sharing her expert knowledge on female puberty, the author is both insightful and respectful of her readers. The book itself is also appropriately subtle, both textually and visually. The pastel-coloured illustrations, in particular, perfectly express the idea of body positivity and directly address issues some would consider taboo. Another valuable aspect of this book is its inclusivity, manifested through different skin tones, various body types, and references to menstruating people, even if they do not identify as women, including trans men and non-binary persons. [KR]