What is the main difference between Volume 1 and Volume 2 of The Care and Keeping of You?

Volume 1 targets younger girls (ages 8–11) and focuses heavily on personal hygiene, hair care, body changes, and periods. Volume 2 targets older girls (ages 10–13) and expands into changing social dynamics, emotional health, peer dynamics, and deeper physical shifts.

Does Volume 1 cover sex, sexual orientation, or reproduction?

No. Volume 1 intentionally restricts its scope to basic anatomy, physical growth, hygiene habits, and menstruation. It leaves out sexual activity, orientation, and masturbation, serving strictly as a body care reference.

Should I buy a newer edition or is an older copy fine?

Opt for the updated edition. Revised versions feature updated, inclusive artwork and medical language while removing older, dated references to dieting and calorie tracking.

How should I give this book to my kid without making them uncomfortable?

Place it on their bookshelf or bedside table without turning it into a formal event. Let them know it is theirs to explore whenever they want, and keep yourself open for questions when they decide to ask.

The Care and Keeping of You – WISE Score & Parent Review

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

First published by American Girl in 1998, The Care and Keeping of You remains a premier owner's manual for pre-teen girls adjusting to changing bodies.

It treats puberty as a series of straightforward maintenance steps—deodorant, hair care, body changes, and first periods—without preaching or creating shame. Its clean, approachable tone makes it easy for a kid to keep on a nightstand and read privately.

While it skips complex topics like sexuality or dating (reserving broader social dynamics for Volume 2), it gives 8- to 11-year-olds a grounded, stress-free foundation before physical shifts hit full swing.

Age Fit

Ideal for 8- to 11-year-olds who are approaching or entering puberty. Older pre-teens (10+) usually benefit more from Volume 2, which covers emotional shifts and social dynamics in greater detail.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Deals with body changes, hygiene, and growing up with a reassuring, clinical-yet-friendly tone that demystifies puberty.

Imaginative

55

Functional, non-fiction reference book designed for practical body literacy rather than creative or imaginative play.

Safe

95

Zero explicit content, violence, or sexual themes. Keeps its focus strictly on basic anatomy, personal hygiene, and healthy habits.

Enriching

92

Delivers foundational health education, hygiene habits, and emotional self-awareness in an easy-to-digest layout.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Normalizes puberty basics like body odor, hair growth, and periods using clear, matter-of-fact language and supportive illustrations.
Direct and approachable layout lets kids read at their own pace without feeling put on the spot during a formal talk.
Focuses on self-care habits like washing your face, fitting a first bra, and maintaining personal hygiene routines.

⚠

What to Watch For

Omits topics like sexuality, masturbation, or sexual orientation, keeping the focus strictly on physical growth and hygiene.
Older print editions included occasional calorie framing or weight notes that feel dated compared to modern body-positivity standards; grab a recent edition.

Conversation Starters

"Which topic in the book was surprising or completely new to you?"
"What questions do you have about your body that wasn't answered in these pages?"
"How are you feeling about the physical changes happening as you grow older?"

Deep Dive

The Puberty Manual That Stands Up

When American Girl published The Care and Keeping of You, they solved an inherently awkward parenting hurdle. Instead of a high-pressure sit-down lecture, they provided an accessible, visual guide that frames physical changes as routine body maintenance.

What It Covers (And What It Skips)

Volume 1 focuses tightly on physical self-care literacy. Key areas include:

Skin care, hair hygiene, and sweat management
Breast development, bra selection, and body shape shifts
Menstruation basics, pad usage, and daily hygiene
Sleep habits and emotional mood swings

It intentionally leaves out sexual activity, masturbation, and orientation. That specific boundary makes it appropriate for younger elementary kids, though parents seeking comprehensive sex education will want to supplement it with additional titles.

How to Use It at Home

Skip the formal reading session. Put the book on their nightstand or bookshelf, let them know it belongs to them, and leave them to explore it privately. Most kids prefer flipping through it on their own timeline first, which removes the pressure before they bring questions back to you.

What Parents Ask

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Related Guides

Teaching Boundaries: Consent Books for Tweens

Age-appropriate books that help preteens understand personal boundaries, bodily autonomy, and healthy relationships.

The Ultimate Reading List for 6th Grade Girls (2024-2025)

Books that tackle friendship, identity, and growing up—with what parents should know before handing them over.

Books to Read at the Perfect Moment: Timing Literature for Life's Big Transitions

Match the right book to your child's developmental stage, challenges, and questions about growing up.

Is 'Keeping 13' Appropriate for My 15-Year-Old?

The "13" is a jersey number, not an age rating—here’s why this trauma-heavy BookTok hit is a lot more mature than it looks.

Is Keeping 13 OK for an 8-Year-Old?

Don’t let the number in the title fool you—this viral 'New Adult' novel is a gritty, 800-page gauntlet of trauma meant for mature readers.

Writing about The Care and Keeping of You? Put this WISE score on your site