Hair in Funny Places

The workings of the pituitary gland have seldom had such a wittily upfront version of their activities presented to young readers as in this entertaining picture book. Narrator Ted (a large teddy bear) explains to his (female) owner how her parents would have developed in puberty when Mr and Mrs Hormone ('They are in charge of growing up.') got to work mixing their potions and sending them round their bodies. The resulting 'hair in funny places' and other potentially embarrassing developments (periods, ejaculation, spots etc) are explained in Cole's eminently tactful text so that young readers are both informed and reassured about what Mr and Mrs Hormone have in store for them. At the same time they will be greatly amused by the wild humour of Cole's portrayals of the sinister Hormones about their business and the way she captures the changes puberty brings. One cavil - while Cole does tell us that 'Mrs Hormone's mixtures do not affect everyone at the same time' she has female development taking place at 'about eleven' and male at 'about eight'. In fact, girls tend to develop earlier and faster than boys.