WAY TO WOMANHOOD

Dr. Bauer and his wife address their advice and information to a ""you."" ""And now, suddenly it seems you are becoming a woman. If you look at dolls at all, it is on the sly."" That opener seems to predicate an audience of 11 and 12 year old and in the beginning chapters the facts offered are very basic -- menstruation, feminine hygiene and the physical and psycho-sexual differences between boys and girls. The not so subliminal message the Bauers bring in addition to the fact is that the ""you"" on her way to womanhood had better get busy and do something about it. To this end, they have included discussions of dating practices, mate selection, pregnancy information and finally a crack at the genetic possibilities. Surely it is well to plan ahead, but this really seems too much to burden the pubescent and pre-pubescent girl with -- even in our sped-up society. We still prefer Duvall over any other contenders in this subject area for its insight and its impersonal, straightforward handling of adolescent fears and concerns about sex.