The Breast Book: A puberty guide with a difference – it's the when, why and how of breasts

When breasts first start to grow, no one talks about it. There aren't any greetings cards that say, 'Woo Hoo! Your breasts are developing!' but you get a birthday card when you are ten and that's just about planet Earth going around the Sun ten times.

Why don't we say, 'Woo Hoo!'? Because we live in a society where we often get uncomfortable and look at the floor when it comes to talking about breasts. They seem to be important in lots of ways but then there are these confusing rules that say when we're allowed to notice them and talk about them, and when we're not.

This book tells you all about breasts and helps you to feel confident about their arrival. They are much more than just a pair of bumps that can fit into a bra. Breasts can do amazing things that scientists are only beginning to understand.

This book says, 'Woo Hoo!' and 'Wow!' and 'Isn't that amazing?' It says, 'Congratulations!' and also says, 'I know this feels a bit weird too.' Your body has looked the same for a long time and now things are changing. That can take some getting used to.

Let's get to know more about our two lifelong buddies with the WHEN, HOW and WHY of breasts.

Message for parents/carers

There are lots of books about growing-up and puberty. This one is a bit different. It's not trying to cover the multitude of different topics that some do but just one (or should that be two?).

For many women in the UK, the first time they reflect on what their breasts were created for is in the few months between discovering they are pregnant and when the baby is born. We spend a lifetime considering breasts as either to do with sexual attraction, or not a subject to discuss at all. Then suddenly, when preparing for motherhood, women are bombarded with information and told to rethink all their previous assumptions about breasts.

Aside from a discussion on breastfeeding, it's a chance to talk about some other issues. How do breasts arrive? Is it OK if I don t look like my friend? Why do people buy bras and when? How do women feel about having breasts? How can social media and advertising impact on how we feel about our bodies?

Our girls will be growing up in a world full of selfies and videos and Snapchat and online discussions that make old-fashioned worries about magazine covers and billboard advertising pale in comparison. Tween and early teen girls aren't too young to understand that they are in control of their images and that messages from others aren't always helpful. Understanding how the commercial world aims to push them around isn't a conversation that can start too young.

This book also contains the story of Jack who grew up having breasts but is trans and now identifies as a he. In the 21st century, it feels like we should be ready to hear his story at this age. However, this may be something you want to talk about with the owner of the book before they read this section on their own. Girls experience changes at different times and one 9 or 10-year-old can look very different from another. They may also be ready to look at the world in different ways at different ages. For some, this book will be right at around 10 years old, while for others it will be a better fit at around 12 or 13.