From Popping Out To Moving Out

<p>While the texts are virtually identical there are two differently illustrated versions of A Guide To Growing Up Good. Acting on the advice of many reviewers of all races it was felt that readers of color might better relate to characters with whom they most often interact in their own immediate family circles. For that reason the version with the Black suffix when ordering and with a small letter B in the lower right hand corner of the cover shows the main narrator their family and the majority of others with key roles in their lives as primarily people of color. By contrast in the version without the Black suffix the main actors are White or light skinned. This is meant to make clear the critical message that character decency and universal truths of love goodness and importance of family are absolutely color blind. That self evident fact having been made about the messenger let's get to the book itself and its unique way of delivering its message.</p><p>Suddenly I'm rudely evicted from Mommy's moist dark but totally protective care. Strangers with blue masks are oohing and aahing. Then they spank me! I can't talk but I sure can see what's going on. Attacking a defenseless little creature. Wow! Then time goes on. I tell you about every bump in the pot-holed road of life as I grow up. Like how I feel when Mommy is having another baby. When bribed to use the potty. When schoolmates make fun of kids who look different. When my body starts to change. When one of my best friends gets cancer. When I learn to drive. Or scariest of all when high school days are over and the time has come to leave the loving nest in which I had been shielded by my family since that first spank. Some milestones are light and cutesy; others really touching and emotional. But such is life......</p>