Do you like talking with kids about sex? Neither do I. It’s an awkward topic, but one that every parent has to take on at some point in their child’s life. I’m a big fan of starting these talks early. I feel that as soon as my kids can ask questions, they deserve answers. Because everyone in my house loves to read, books play a central role in getting that information across.
The books serve two purposes: they provide a starting point for conversation with kids, and a safety net if the conversation totally fails. The first time my husband tried to talk to his adolescent son about sex, they had a short, mutually monosyllabic conversation. But at the end of that talk, my husband gave his son a book about sexual health and safety. Even if he wasn’t willing to talk about it, we knew the kid had access to the information should he need it.
Here are the books we've shared with our young kids:
by Robert Brooks, illustrated by Susan Perl
This book covers exactly what the title says: how babies are born. It’s another one with cartoon-like illustrations, and an overall soft, comforting aesthetic. This is the book we had around the house when I was growing up, and I remembered it fondly and wanted to share it with my kids. Some of the text is euphemistic and dated ("when a mommy and a daddy really love each other..."), but it’s still heartwarming.
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley
Robie H. Harris has written three books about sexuality for different age groups. They all feature clear, straightforward factual information combined with humorous cartoon images and candid questions. This one, for preschoolers, covers the basics of how bodies change during adolescence and how parents make babies. It also contains a very short passage about appropriate boundaries for touch and personal privacy. If you are going to buy just one book about sexual health for this age group, this is the one.
by Babette Cole
This book is hands-down the kids' favorite. It's a hilarious tale of befuddled parents trying to teach their kids the facts of life. The parents tell the kids that babies are squeezed out of toothpaste tubes, grown in flowerpots and delivered by birds. Finally, the kids set them straight with a funny, straightforward account of sexual development, sexual relations, pregnancy and birth. Most-repeated phrase around my house: "...and the Mommy gets fatter, and fatter, and fatter."
by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley
This is the book to give your child for his or her 10th birthday. Another tactic a friend of mine took was to leave a copy of it lying around the house until it disappeared into her adolescent child’s bedroom. This book, a follow-on to It’s Not the Stork, answers questions kids have about their changing bodies, emotions and desires with clarity, honesty and humor. It’s accurate and thorough without seeming overwhelming, and a great resource for teens to keep going back to.
by Ruth Bell
This book, from the publishers of Our Bodies, Ourselves, provides the same kind of exhaustive, encyclopedic answers to teens health concerns that Our Bodies, Ourselves offers to women. Every family should have a copy of this on their bookshelves. It’s a vital resource for teens and the adults who care for them.
by Rebecca Odes, Heather Mcdonald, Esther Drill
I gave this book to my little sister when she hit puberty. It has a fun, cool approach to girl’s questions about bodies, sex, self-care and growing up as a girl. I liked the punk aesthetic of the book, and the tone felt very real to me as a teen girl. It was like a conversation with another teenager, but one who was not as confused and ill-informed as most teenagers really are. One with answers, and accurate, smart answers at that. A definite win.
Flashlight Worthy
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. more...
About Sierra Black
Sierra Black writes about parenting, homeschooling and green living at Child Wild. She has a big rowdy family, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and a lot of pregnant friends.
Stay in Touch
Newest book lists
President Obama's Favorite Books of 2017
Books for an Adventurous Childhood
Visiting Venice Through (Mostly) Fiction
Childhood Remembered: Books Of Indelible Childhood Memories
Novels on Art, Artists and Art World Shenanigans
Picture Books with Fun (and Sometimes Friendly) Monsters
Robert Rodi’s Favorite Books About Italy
Fractured Novels that Mirror the Uncertainty of Everyday Life