![the caring and keeping of you for older girls the caring and keeping of you for older girls](https://g.christianbook.com/g/slideshow/5/580421/main/580421_3_sam.jpg)
And it was, without a doubt, better than any health class I ever took as a kid. It was (and still is) designed to be a guide to navigating puberty in an approachable, almost fun kind of way.
![the caring and keeping of you for older girls the caring and keeping of you for older girls](https://g.christianbook.com/g/slideshow/5/580421/main/580421_2_toc.jpg)
![the caring and keeping of you for older girls the caring and keeping of you for older girls](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1434814190372343811/1pTBARPz_400x400.jpg)
In case you aren’t familiar with the American Girl book I’m referring to, it’s called “The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls,” and it was originally published 20 years ago in 1998. And after weeks (months?) of building up the courage, I grabbed it off the shelf during a “free read,” found a secluded nook, slipped it behind a physically larger book about something mundane like tree frogs, and tried to speed read while on the lookout for–well, anyone. As a girl, I’d been too embarrassed to ask my parents for the book, but I’d spotted it at the library right after its publication when I was 13. (Fun fact: a friend from high school is a senior editor there! Definitely check out her stuff she’s insanely talented.) And a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the article titled “The Puberty Book Embraced by Preteens, Parents, and Sex Educators Alike” - the above artwork prominently displayed alongside the headline. One of my favorite publications is The Atlantic. Few things take me out of the seriousness of adult life–and remind me of the importance of play–like a good, hourlong American Girl make-believe session. And yes: I’ve also loved having an excuse to play with the dolls again. What can I say? I’ve loved being able to pass the joy on to my daughter and watch her discover the magic herself. From Gammy giving Emma her first Bitty Baby for her second birthday ( #omg) to this feature I published on my new friend Sydney’s awe-inspiring artwork, it’s clear that I’ve reverted back to my eight-year-old self. I’m going to go ahead and admit that there has been a lot of “American Girl” talk around these parts lately.