As a parent and an educator I love to read books, blogs and websites that have been personally recommended to me. This page contains a carefully selected collection of links to books and resources I highly recommend. I encourage you to look through the selection and delve deeper into some of the topics and areas. This page is a 'work in progress' so please email me with suggested additions. I am always interested in hearing feedback and reviews of such resources, so please do feel free to contact me with your thoughts.
Books For Children and Adolescents:
Books for Adults:
Menstrual Products
In my school workshops I show the students a full range of products that can be used for periods. When I was at school, the 'period lady' came and showed us disposable pads and tampons. In hindsight, she was obviously employed by Johnson & Johnson to get us hooked on using their products earlier. (We even got free pad samples, and the boys liked to steal them and place them in weird places). I just remember feeling really embarrassed and (probably unsuccessfully) trying to be aloof and cool. I am not sponsored or aligned to any commercial company, and I want to ensure that parents (who usually initially pay for these things!) and girls understand the huge range of options available to them. (NB: Any product name I mention I am endorsing purely because I think they have good hearts and have given me exceptional service, I do not profit from such endorsements)
Books For Children and Adolescents:
- Where Did I Come From? and What's Happening To Me? By Peter Mayle
Oldies but goodies! Most parents I mention these to are familiar with them from their own childhood. First published in the 1970s, these cartoon picture books appeal to a wide age-range and cover the basic facts in a fun and humourous way. Great to use as a low-key introduction to bodily changes or if you are struggling to answer the "where did I come from?" question.
- My Little Red Book, by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
This is my favourite book to help girls understand how 'normal' periods are. It's also a wonderful read for adults - I read it cover to cover the day I bought it.
"My Little Red Book is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. Whatever a girl experiences or expects, she'll find stories that speak to her thoughts and feelings. My Little Red Book aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. Royalties from sales of the book are being donated to charities promoting women's health and education. Let the dialog begin!" - Cycle Savvy, By Toni Weschler
Wonderful book aimedat teen girls, helping them to understand the intracacies and wonders of menstruation. Highly recommended.
Books for Adults:
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler
This is a comprehensive overview of women's health and an invaluable resource for learning about women's fertility. It has been described as "one of the most influential books in women's health available today". It is a very user-friendly, informative “how-to” fertility book - excellent for women who are trying to achieve pregnancy, or avoid pregnancy. The book has great illustrations to help clearly explain the fertility awareness method (FAM) of birth control. This is one of the books that I promote as "compulsory reading for every woman, and every man who knows a woman" (i.e. everyone!).
- Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom, By Dr Christiane Northrup
A qualified obstetrician, Northrup advocates for an holistic approach to reproductive health based on emotional, mental, spiritual, societal, as well as physical factors. She strongly believes in the healing power of women's own wisdom and explains how the systems of the body have an exquisite physical response to emotional and environmental stressors, which can contribute to health or illness. Health issues specific to the lives and bodies of women are examined, with a particular emphasis on childbirth and menopause. This is the second of the two books that I promote as "compulsory reading for every woman, and every man who knows a woman" (i.e. everyone!). - The Butterfly Effect, By Dannielle Miller
This is a captivating book, offering a positive approach to raising girls. The challenges and pressures faced by girls and their parents are explained and backed up with research as well as Miller’s own extensive experience as an educator and founder of Enlighten Education. But far from adopting an ‘end of the world’ approach, Miller breaks down the different aspects of raising girls, and provides realistic solutions and advice. I wrote a full review of this book here. - What Is Happening to Our Girls, By Maggie Hamilton
Maggie Hamilton interviewed girls, teachers, school counsellors, psychologists, and law enforcement and medical personnel to get an insider’s view on what girls are experiencing at present from birth to the teenage years. Informed, revealed, compassionate and at times shocking, this is a book for parents and all those who want to better understand and support girls. - Raising Boys, By Steve Biddulph
Fantastic book on growing great boys, by Austrialian psychologist and author, Steve Biddulph.
Menstrual Products
In my school workshops I show the students a full range of products that can be used for periods. When I was at school, the 'period lady' came and showed us disposable pads and tampons. In hindsight, she was obviously employed by Johnson & Johnson to get us hooked on using their products earlier. (We even got free pad samples, and the boys liked to steal them and place them in weird places). I just remember feeling really embarrassed and (probably unsuccessfully) trying to be aloof and cool. I am not sponsored or aligned to any commercial company, and I want to ensure that parents (who usually initially pay for these things!) and girls understand the huge range of options available to them. (NB: Any product name I mention I am endorsing purely because I think they have good hearts and have given me exceptional service, I do not profit from such endorsements)
- Re-usable Cloth Pads
These are a far cry from the cloths your grandmothers would have used! Comfy and funky, they even come with wings : ) The girls in my workshops LOVE the look of these. Cost-effective, good for the environment, easy to use and simple to clean (put in a bucket of cold water to soak, then rinse and put in washing machine when you next do a load). The samples I use in my workshops come from Moontime. Green Beans make cloth pad DIY kits which are very cost-effective. - Mooncups
The mooncup is a silicon cup worn inside the vagina as a tampon-alternative. Although the initial cost is NZ$55, you only need one and it will last for years. Definitely a cost-effective option! Particularly useful when travelling and camping, as there is no need to worry about carrying supplies, nor is there anything to dispose of. The samples I use in my workshops come from Go With The Moon.
