Ted tells his mistress all about Mr. and Mrs. Hormone and the changes they made in her mother and father. Told with lighthearted frankness, this hilarious look at growing up takes the mystery out of puberty and the fear out of an often embarrassing subject. FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly Brandishing her outrageously sly sense of humor, Cole (Mommy Laid an Egg) tweaks the topic of puberty in all of its glory, with predictably boisterous results. Here, in response to a girl's query to her teddy bear about the process of growing up, she whips up "Mr. and Mrs. Hormone" and their dog, a vile little trio who "live inside you" and "mix the potions that turn children into adults." Typical of Cole's no-holds-barred approach, the girl's parents are used as examples ("your mom sprouted small bosoms and hair in funny places"). She touches briefly on everything from menstruation ("She found a tiny drop of blood in her underpants") to acne and body odor ("He wanted to kiss the girls but Mr. and Mrs. Hormone had made him pimply and smelly"), erections ("Inside his penis, Mr. Hormone was lurking with another dollop of the mixture. This made it grow big and small whenever it wanted") and nocturnal emissions ("some sticky stuff actually came out"). The watercolors are equally candid, and the gleeful depictions of naked bodies may raise adults' eyebrows but children will laugh out loud. Cole's madcap style leaves no room for embarrassment; it could pave the way for more informative discussions between kids and adults. Ages 7-up. (June) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. | Children's Literature - Childrens Literature A young girl asks her teddy bear, "When will I grow up?" Being a knowledgeable fellow, knowing about hormones and such, and also understanding how to tell a youngster about her future without frightening her, her tells her about the way puberty happens. If you have seen other works by Cole, you will not be surprised to find the most simple, direct text with large type and page after page of her scatty, engaging colored drawings. Although she shows naked people, with hair in all the usual places, and mentions monthly bleeding, she also creates a wild laboratory where "Essence of Pube" is made, and a family of nasty-looking creatures called The Hormones. The book deals with natural growth changes honestly but in a way that uses humor to defuse the usual anxieties of emerging teens. 2000, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 8 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Ken Marantz-Children's Literature Children's Literature - Children's Literture In an attempt to present a serious topic in a humorous manner, Cole has produced a tasteless book. The text and supposedly humorous illustrations are geared for a seven-year-old reader, yet the topic is one for which most children this age are not ready. Yes, parents and caregivers should provide information for children's questions about their changing bodies; but this book is not the one to be used as an aid. "Mr. and Mrs. Hormone" are presented as hairy, ugly monsters with menacing faces--enough to frighten children and squelch their questions. Pictures of nude developing bodies would only bring snickers and off-hand remarks from child readers. This book cannot be recommended at all. 2000, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 7 up, $15.99. Reviewer: Jenny B. Petty School Library Journal Gr 2-4-While there is a plethora of sex-education books for young readers, this picture book concentrates on how hormones affect young people during puberty. Ted, an animated stuffed bear, explains to his young owner about her parents' entry into adolescence. "Mr. and Mrs. Hormone-are in charge of growing up-[they] mix the potions that turn children into adults." The physical and emotional effects of their concoctions are discussed, including hair growth, pimples, etc. Published at Sixteen Dollars.  Hyperion 0-7868-0590-0 / 9780786805907
Hardcover As New  As New Book Jacket New York, New York, U.S.A. 

Price: 15.75 USD