Description

Ages

My Body! What I Say Goes!

By Jayneen Sanders

A book to empower and teach children about personal body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, secrets and surprises, consent, and respectful relationships.

3 – 11 years old

My Underpants Rule

By Kate & Rod Power

A fun, easy way to teach children how to protect their private parts. Using a superhero theme, colourful illustrations and child-friendly humour, it helps parents, carers and educators gently and effectively teach children their Underpants Rule!

3 – 8 years old

Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept

By Jayneen Sanders

A picture book that sensitively broaches the subject of safe and unsafe touch. Written as a fable, this story seeks to teach children, in an age-appropriate way, what to do if they are ever touched inappropriately. A timeless tale that will empower children to speak up when they feel unsafe.

3 – 11 years old

Description

Ages

Any Body: A Comic Compendium of Important Facts and Feelings about Our Bodies

By Katharina von der Gathen, illustrated by Anke Kuhl

An honest, humorous and factual book for children and early teens who want to understand and feel at home with their own bodies. This book covers interesting facts about skin, hair and body functions alongside the questions that may affect us through puberty and beyond—gender identity, beauty, consent, self-confidence, how other people react and relate to us, and how they make us feel.

Pre-teen (Year 5 – 8)

Everyone’s Got a Bottom

By Tess Rowley

Everyone's got a bottom is a story about Ben and his brother and sister learning and talking together about bodies. It is a tool for parents and carers to gently start a conversation with children about self-protection. It's about children keeping safe in a style that is fun, positive and protective.

3 – 8 years old

Girl Stuff

By Kaz Cooke

With almost 600 pages and heaps of cartoons, Girl Stuff has everything girls need to know about: friends, body changes, shopping, clothes, make-up, pimples (arrghh), sizes, hair, earning money, guys, embarrassment, what to eat, moods, smoking, why diets suck, handling love and heartbreak, exercise, school stress, sex, beating bullies and mean girls, drugs, drinking, how to find new friends, cheering up, how to get on with your family, and confidence.

13+

Growing Up - An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body

By Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen

In this honest, accessible illustrated guide to puberty, young readers can find out exactly what may happen as they grow from being a child to becoming a grown-up. From getting taller and discovering hair growing in new places to developing breasts, experiencing periods or having wet dreams, this book provides the perfect stepping stone for every caregiver to have an open conversation about what it really means for a child to be growing up.

6 – 12 years old

Hair in Funny Places

By Babette Cole

Puberty being a particularly unsettling time, Babette Cole has made this the subject of the fifth title in her bestselling series of ‘family dilemmas’. Who else but Babette would have the temerity to tackle this subject in a picture book and the genius to carry it off! In Hair in Funny Places her artwork is without exaggeration some of the best she has ever done; it is brilliant. The text takes the form of a conversation between a small girl and her teddy bear, and is ingenious and funny.

7 – 9 years old

Do Animals Fall in Love?

By Katharina von der Gathen, Illustrated by Anke Kuhl

This illustrated compendium is based on questions asked by children in sexuality education classes. It is frank, humorous, and with something to amaze on every page, including seduction methods, physiology and mating, the most devoted fathers and the sweetest animal babies on Earth.

7 – 12 years old

More Secret Girls’ Business and Secret Boys’ Business

By Fay Angelo, Heather Anderson, Rose Stewart and Julie Davey

These books help young people understand the changes they go through when reaching puberty. This book aims to: Present a simple brief account of puberty as part of a life; Celebrate changes to the female body; Dispel myths, legends and fears by presenting accurate information in a colourful, child friendly format; Promote comfortable discussion; Enhance confidence and self-esteem; Provide hints for parents, teachers and carers.

8+

Puberty and Special Girls

By Rose Stewart, Heather Anderson and Fay Angelo

The author's Girls’ and Boys’ Business have also published a book specifically to simplify the process of puberty for young people with cognitive disability.

8+

Sex is a Funny Word

By Cory Silverberg

This book is a comprehensive guide to bodies, relationships and sexuality for young readers. It provides inclusive, clear and age-appropriate information for kids of all genders and orientations.

8+ years old

The Autism Friendly Guide to Periods

By Robyn Steward

This book is described as being aimed at Autistic people age 9-16 who will experience periods. It covers the topic of periods in a clear but gender-neutral way. There are photo step by step guides for using menstrual cups, cloth pads, tampons and disposable pads. The book has a flap system so you can limit how much you see at once (or at all). The book is designed to be as Autism Friendly as possible.

9-16 years old

The Everybody Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies and Families

By Rachel Simon

This illustrated book helps children 8 - 12 and their families explore topics such as puberty, consent, sex, pregnancy and safety.

8 – 12 years old

Welcome to Your Boobs

By Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang

A guide to dealing with boobs, bras and more for tweens and teens. This book is packed with honest advice on all the things you need to know: from the easiest way to put on a bra, to the nitty gritty of the titty, to why boobs get so much attention.

8+ years old

Welcome to Your Period

By Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang

This book for pre-teens and teens is packed with honest advice on all the things you need to know about periods: from what cramps feel like to whether you can feel it coming out, to what you should do if your pad leaks onto your clothes.

8+ years old

Vagina and Periods 101

By Christian Hoeger & Kristen Lilla

A fun and creative way to learn more about vaginas and periods. The book uses pop-ups and colourful graphics to normalize anatomy aesthetics and menstruation. It also describes various menstrual product options beyond just tampons and pads. We want all young people to feel comfortable in their bodies throughout puberty and into adulthood!

9 – 12 years old

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

By Robie H. Harris

Inclusive and accessible, this newest edition of It’s Perfectly Normal provides young people with the knowledge and vocabulary they need to understand their bodies, relationships, and identities in order to make responsible decisions and stay healthy.

10 + years old

Description

Ages

Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect

By Jayneen Sanders

A book to teach children about body ownership, respectful relationships, feelings and emotions, choices, and recognizing bullying behaviors. Included are in-depth Discussion Questions for parents, caregivers and educators to further enhance the learning, and to initiate important conversations around body boundaries, consent and respect.

3 – 11 years old

Kit and Arlo Find a Way: Teaching consent to 8–12 year olds

By Ingrid Laguna & Vanessa Hamilton

This book is a consent teaching resource for Grades 3 to 6. It is a fictional chapter book that contains all of the complex components of consent and includes respectful relationships education in an age-appropriate format.

Teachers can read the story, chapter by chapter, in class, and then use the discussion points and ‘read and respond’ notes to facilitate conversations around consent in child-friendly ways with their students. For schools, there is a dedicated Kit and Arlo teaching resources platform with classroom activities and resources that tie into consent and respectful relationships curriculum.

8–12 years old

Welcome to Consent

By Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang

An inclusive, frank and funny guide to navigating consent for tweens and teens of all genders, from the award-winning authors of Welcome To Your Period. Adolescent health experts Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes have written a guide to figuring out the rules of consent. Whether you’re a curious 11 to 14-year-old, or the parent of someone with a bunch of questions, this book is reassuring, interesting, and full of the info you need!

10+ years old

Can We Talk About Consent?

By Justin Hancock

This book breaks down the basics of how to have healthy relationships in every aspect of life for readers aged 14 years and older. Consent is a powerful word, but not everyone understands exactly what it means. This clearly written, stylishly illustrated guide explains clearly what consent means and why it matters - for all of us.

14+ years old

Description

Ages

No Difference Between Us

By Jayneen Sanders

Teaching children about gender equality, respectful relationships, feelings, choice, self-esteem, empathy, tolerance, and acceptance. Throughout the text, open-ended questions are provided so children can voice their own experiences. Further in-depth discussion questions are provided encouraging the reader and the child to consider each scenario and engage with the message.

3 – 11 years old

Pearl Fairweather, Pirate Captain

By Jayneen Sanders

Teaching children about gender equality, respect, respectful relationships, empowerment, diversity, leadership, recognising bullying behaviours and the prevention of violence. The aim of this book is to empower young girls to be strong, assertive, self-confident and self-reliant, and for boys to respect that empowerment, and to embrace and value it. Comprehensive discussion questions are included to further draw out the learning.

3 – 11 years old

What’s the right way to dress like a girl?

By Patricia Toht

A playful and fashionable slumber party takes an empowering turn in this gorgeous picture book. In this story, a diverse cast of slumber party participants considers the most time-honored traditions for how to dress. Uplifting and resonant, and with a variety of interests ranging from sports to science to politics, this book is sure to inspire any young girl, instilling the idea that the best way to dress like a girl is the way that makes you feel most like you.

4 – 8 years old

Description

Ages

The Family Book

By Todd Parr

This book celebrates families and all the varieties they come in. Whether big or small, look alike or different, have a single parent or two, Todd Parr assures readers that every family is special in its own unique way.

3 – 6 years old

Julian is a Mermaid

By Jessica Love

A story about a boy and his Abuela, and about being seen for who we are by someone who loves us. While riding the subway home with his Nana one day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train carriage. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies and making his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Nana think about the mess he makes – and even more importantly – what will she think about how Julian sees himself?

3 – 9 years old

Red. A Crayon’s Story

By Michael Hall

A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book. The story is about finding the courage to be true to your inner self and can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.

4 – 8 years old

Here and Queer: A queer girl’s guide to life

By Rowan Ellis

This book is a helpful, friendly guide full of support and advice about living your best queer life. This vibrant, inclusive guide, designed for all kinds of girls, is designed to help you be the strongest, proudest, happiest version of yourself! A celebration of the gift of queerness, it's packed full of heartfelt advice, comforting stories, and stylish illustrations, and will give you the tools you need to explore your own identity, on your own terms.

14 – 18 years old

Description

Ages

How Babies are Made

By Philip Bunting

This is a book created to help apprehensive adults answer that age-old question, without any of the dodgy metaphors. How Babies Are Made aims to present the process of human reproduction with as little adornment – or cringe – as possible.

6 + years old

Making a Baby

By Rachel Greener, illustrated by Clare Owen

This inclusive guide to how every family begins is an honest, cheerful tool for conversations between parents and young ones. To make a baby, you need one egg, one sperm and one womb. But every family starts in its own special way. This book answers the “Where did I come from?” question no matter who the reader is and how their life began. From all different kinds of conception through pregnancy to the birth itself, this candid and cozy guide is just right for the first conversations that parents will have with their children about how babies are made.

5 – 8 years old

Mummy Laid an Egg

By Babette Cole

Just how are babies made? Erm Well. . . they're delivered by dinosaurs squidged out of tubes and found under stones! In this story the kids put their embarrassed parents straight and dispel the myths surrounding baby-making, growth and birth. Babette Cole careers through the facts of life with her no-nonsense text and funny illustrations.

7+ years old

The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made

By Fiona Katauskas

A book for parents wanting help with that talk. It's one of the most amazing stories ever told -- and it's true! Funny, frank, embarrassment-free and updated for the 10th anniversary edition, The Amazing True Story of How Babies are Made gives a fresh take on the incredible tale of where we all come from.

5 + years old

What Makes A Baby

By Cory Silverberg

Geared to readers from preschool to age eight, What Makes A Baby is a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid. It is a twenty-first century children’s picture book about conception, gestation, and birth, which reflects the reality of our modern time by being inclusive of all kinds of kids, adults, and families, regardless of how many people were involved, their orientation, gender and other identity, or family composition. Just as important, the story doesn’t gender people or body parts, so most parents and families will find that it leaves room for them to educate their child without having to erase their own experience

3 – 7 years old

Where Willy Went

By Nicholas Allen

A simple introduction to reproduction. Every single day, Willy, a small sperm, practices for the Great Swimming Race. But, when the day arrives, will Willy be able to swim faster than his 300 million friends? He'll have to if he stands a chance of meeting the marvelous egg.

3 – 7 years old

Welcome to Sex

By Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang

This introductory guide by 'Dolly Doctor' Dr Melissa Kang and journalist Yumi Stynes (Ladies, We Need to Talk) is packed with honest advice on everything you need to know about sex: how to know when you're ready, reasons not to have sex, and exploring pleasure on your own – as well as frank, clear information about becoming sexually intimate with others, staying safe, and how to communicate (including talking to your parents about sex – this is really important). Plus everything you've ever wondered about wobbly starts and awkward moments!

10+ years old

You Know Sex

By Corey Silverberg and Fiona Smyth

Centering young people's experiences of pressures and joy, risk and reward, and confusion and discovery, there are chapters on body autonomy, disclosure, stigma, harassment, pornography, trauma, masturbation, consent, boundaries and safety in our media-saturated world, puberty and reproduction that includes trans, non-binary, and intersex bodies and experience, and more. Racially and ethnically diverse, inclusive of cross-disability experience, this is a book for every kind of young person and every kind of family. You Know, Sex is the first thoroughly modern sex ed book for every body navigating puberty and adolesence, essential for kids, everyone who knows a kid, and anyone who has ever been a kid.

10-14

Description

Who this is for

Legitimate Sexpectations

By Katrina Marson

Legitimate Sexpectations exposes the limits of the criminal justice system and the fault lines in our society when it comes to sex, sexuality, and relationships. Through storytelling that moves between heartbreak and hope, Marson makes the case for a cultural shift towards valuing sexual wellbeing and preventing sexual violence in the first place. In doing so, she calls on us all to play our part to ensure that young people's sexual experiences are not just free from violence, but far from violent.

Parents & carers

Talking Sex: A conversation guide for parents

By Vanessa Hamilton

In Talking Sex, Vanessa Hamilton explores the complex topic of human sexuality. Drawing from extensive experience and contemporary research, this groundbreaking book challenges readers to reconsider outdated beliefs about sex and sexuality education. It’s packed with conversation starters, tips and strategies to empower adults to provide the accurate, comprehensive, age-appropriate information children need for a fulfilling and safe journey through life. Talking Sex covers a variety of topics including sexual safety, diversity, reproduction, pleasure, consent and sexual health — because, after all, most conversations about human sexuality have hardly anything to do with what we commonly think of as ‘sex’.

Parents & carers

Talk Soon, Talk Often: A guide for parents talking to their kids about sex

Published by: Government of Western Australia Department of Health

Following feedback that parents needed support in their role as the primary sex educators of their children, WA Health has developed Talk soon. Talk often: a guide for parents talking to their kids about sex. This free resource has been developed to help parents initiate regular and relaxed conversations with their children about relationships and sexuality education.

Parents & carers

The Sex Ed you never had: A fun, empowering and shame-free guide to sex and your body

By Chantelle Otten

For too long, talking about our anatomies and experiences has been taboo. Normal functions have been seen as embarrassing and even shameful, affecting people's mental and physical health. In this amazing and comprehensive guide filled with helpful facts and illustrations, Chantelle refuses to leave these conversations languishing on the fringes any longer. From breaking myths about reproductive health to exploring ideas of consent, The Sex Ed You Never Had will teach everyone something new about their body, and the fun and pleasurable ways to use it.

Young adults +