Hair in Funny Places

Babette Cole caused something of a stir when she published Mummy Laid an Egg: it was described by The Bookseller as: "Funny, factual and frank... a superb book... the ideal ice-breaker for parents". Dealing with the facts of life it was indeed an ingenious and ground-breaking book which perfectly combined explanations about sex with a wit and humour that tickled adults and informed the child.

In Hair in Funny Places Cole hits home again in a canny little volume which takes a sideways glance at what happens to the body when it is hit by puberty. Hilarious illustrations of Mr and Mrs Hormone wreaking their revenge on the body, mixing their "Essence of Pube" and making mischief in the unsuspecting bodies of boys and girls as they fight their way towards adulthood will certainly raise a smile. But it is the frankness and simplicity of the text that really bites, encouraging an understanding of one of the most difficult phases in a human being's life.

As in Mummy Laid an Egg Cole deals with the changes the body undergoes in a matter-of-fact way and without a hint of embarrassment, allowing the words to tell the story while the crafty and comical illustrations run riot through the book to conjure up unforgettable images of the human body at its most vulnerable and confused.

An absolute gem that will have parents everywhere breathing a sigh of relief, Hair in Funny Places crosses the divide between picture book for the very young and informative light relief the older child, and is an absolute must-have for anyone pondering the progress of puberty. (Age 6 and over) --Susan Harrison

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Depends on your situation - Rated
I ordered this book for my 9 year old daughter, and it was definitely too young for her (though it didn't sound it from the synopsis and other reviews etc) - very much broadbrush strokes, pictures, not much text. The other thing to watch out for was - it may not be quite the ticket depending on your circumstances. It talks about "mummy and daddy loving each other very much and making YOU", not v appropriate if you're divorced etc. Anyway, just my personal opinion!

Hair in Funny Places - Rated
We bought Dr Dog first and my son loved it so I thought I would try more by Babette Cole. Hair in funny places is wonderful. It explains things in a way that can't possibly be seen as embarrassing and has made for some interesting conversations with my 9 year old son!!!

Highly recommended for boys and girls.

This is a lovely book which hits just the right note - Rated
I read this book with my nine year old daughter and she was very interested in it. It doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, and tells just enough for the child to take in in one go. The way the author includes a teddy takes away any fear of "leaving" childhood and becoming "like mummy". A very good book.

A MUST for boys and girls alike. - Rated
I bought this book for my two boys (ages 7 and 8) who adore it and have bought it for a friend with girls. I remember being mortified and ashamed by what was happening to my body at puberty (we didn't talk about THAT kind of thing at home!). I wish I'd had this book then... A library isn't complete without it.

A good ice-breaker - Rated
Read this book with a view to introducing the subject of puberty and "hair in funny places" to my 8 year old daughter. Good for children who already know a bit about growing up but doesn't deal with everything you need to tell your children. Good for making children feel there's nothing wrong with having "hair in funny places"