Talking to children about their bodies and consent from an early age is important in order for them to develop a positive body image and understand that their body only belongs to them. When questions about where babies come from, puberty and sex arise, it is always helpful to have a book to go through together with your children, or for tweens and teens to read on their own.
This extensive list offers a wide range of multicultural children’s books for all ages. And we have included a section on helpful books for parents at the end, too!
45 Multicultural Children’s Books About Bodies, Sex & Consent
Babies & Toddlers
Being You: A First Conversation About Gender
by M. Madison & J. Ralli
Research shows that talking about issues like race, gender, consent and body positivity from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness and self-esteem. Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, the First Conversations board book series offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp. Being You begins the conversation on gender. Backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion. ~ Diverse – Babies & Toddlers
Also available: Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent
My Body is Special and Private
by Adrianne Simeonne
My Body Is Special and Private introduces the concepts of privacy and body safety to the youngest readers. In ten short pages the board book teaches them: 1. Their bodies belong just to them 2. Some parts are private 3. Private is a word that means its not meant for sharing 4. Proper terminology for genitalia 5. It is a rule that privates are not for looking, touching or playing games 6. All adults know the rules about private parts and if a rule is broken, it is always right to tell. ~ Diverse – Babies & Toddlers
Also available: My Body is Special and Private – Teacher’s Edition
Preschool
The Bare Naked Book
by Kathy Stinson
A delightful celebration of all kinds of bodies, The Bare Naked Book has become a beloved classic since its original publication in 1986. This revised edition reflects current understandings of gender and inclusion, which are also showcased in the brand-new, vibrant illustrations by Melissa Cho. ~ Diverse – Preschool
ABC of Body Safety and Consent
by Jayneen Sanders
With simple text, age-appropriate questions and engaging illustrations, The ABC of Body Safety and Consent teaches young children about body boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, and the difference between secrets and surprises. Also included are Discussion Questions for parents, caregivers and educators. ~ Diverse – Preschool
C is for Consent
by Eleanor Morrison
With colourful illustrations and simple text, C Is For Consent teaches young children that it is okay to say no to hugs and kisses, and that what happens to their body is up to them. This helps children grow up confident in their bodies, comfortable with expressing physical boundaries, and respectful of the boundaries of others. ~ Diverse – Preschool
Who Has What?: All About Girls’ Bodies and Boys’ Bodies
by Robie H. Harris
First in the popular Let’s Talk About You and Me series, Who Has What? follows siblings Nellie and Gus on a family outing to the beach. With humorous illustrations, engaging conversations between the siblings, and simple text, the book reassures young kids that their bodies are perfectly normal, healthy, and wonderful. ~ Diverse – Preschool
Also available: What’s in There?: All About Before You Were Born
Let’s Talk About the Birds and the Bees
by Molly Potter
Filled with fun illustrations, Let’s Talk About the Birds and Bees uses clear, easy to understand language to answer complex questions about sex and relationships, and covers all manner of tricky subjects from puberty to consent with delicate accuracy and honesty. Includes helpful advice for parents. ~ Diverse – Preschool
My Body Belongs To Me!: A book about body ownership, healthy boundaries and communication
by L. Rhone & T. Foster
My Body Belongs To Me gets the conversation about body autonomy and body safety going in an engaging, rhythmic, and entertaining way. By the end of the book, children will have a better understanding of their rights, their bodies, their private areas, and the importance of telling a trusted adult if someone makes them uncomfortable. ~ African – Preschool
Also available: My Body Belongs To Me!: A Coloring & Activity Book for Girls // My Body Belongs To Me!: A Coloring & Activity Book for Boys
It’s Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends
by Robie H. Harris
Why are some parts of girls’ and boys’ bodies the same and why are some parts different? How was I made? Where do babies come from? Is it true that a stork brings babies to mommies and daddies? Through lively language and engaging artwork, It’s Not the Stork! helps answer the endless and perfectly normal questions that preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school children ask about how they began. ~ Diverse – Preschool
Bodies Are Cool
by Tyler Feder
“My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!” From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party comes this exuberant celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types, Bodies Are Cool is a truly inclusive book that helps instill body acceptance and confidence in young children. ~ Diverse – Preschool
Making a Baby
by Rachel Greener
“To make a baby you need one egg, one sperm, and one womb. But every family starts in its own special way.” With gorgeous, inclusive illustrations, Making A Baby 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 first conversations about how babies are made. ~ Diverse – Preschool
What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns
by Katherine Locke
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity
by Theresa Thorn
Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good To Be Yourself is a sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity that will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. ~ Diverse – Preschool
Elementary School
The Gender Wheel
by Maya Christina Gonzalez
“This is our world. Like many things in nature it’s round and holds everyone at the same time. This is the Gender Wheel. Like our world it’s round and holds everyone at the same time too…” This school edition takes the original book and puts clothes on all the kids to be more conducive to school environments. The Gender Wheel offers a nature-based, holistic non-western framework of gender in a kid-friendly way. Also included are Teacher Tips on how to hold a holistic perspective on gender in the classroom. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
They She He Me: Free to Be! is a powerful companion book that uses pronouns as a place to expand ideas about gender and celebrate personal expression.
Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU
by Cory Silverbird
A comic book that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for elementary school children as well as their parents and caregivers. Much more than the “facts of life” or “the birds and the bees,” this engaging book opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
Beautiful Girl: Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body
by C. Northrup & K. Tracy
Beautiful Girl presents a simple but important message: that to be born a girl is a very special thing and carries with it magical gifts and powers that must be recognized and nurtured. Through these empowering words and illustrations, little girls will learn how their bodies are perfect just the way they are, the importance of treating themselves with gentle care, and how changes are just a part of growing up. Includes meditations. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
It’s So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families
by Robie H. Harris
How does a baby begin? What makes a baby male or female? How is a baby born? Children have plenty of questions about reproduction and babies—and about sex and sexuality, too. It’s So Amazing! provides the answers with fun, accurate, comic-style illustrations and clear, lively text that reflects the interests of children age seven and up in how things work, while giving them a healthy understanding of their bodies. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
by Jayneen Sanders
Teaching children about body boundaries, both theirs and others, is crucial to their growing sense of self, their confidence and how they should expect to be treated by others. It is equally important a child understands that they need to respect another person’s body boundary and ask for their consent when entering their personal space. Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect explores these concepts in an easily-understood manner, providing familiar scenarios for children to engage with and discuss. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
Inside Out: Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only To You
by Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski
Inside Out: Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only to You is an empowering activity book for children to work through, ideally with their parents or caregivers. A group of diverse children talk about important body safety topics, from private parts and feelings and tricky secrets and trusted adults. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls
by Valorie Schaefer
This best-selling body book for younger girls just got even better! With all-new illustrations and updated content The Care & Keeping of You Body Book for Younger Girls answers girls’ questions about their changing bodies, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. ~ Diverse – Elementary School
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families
by Rachel E. Simon
The Every Body Book is a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ inclusive kid’s guide to sex, gender and relationships education that includes children and families of all genders and sexual orientations. It covers a wide range of topics, from puberty and hormones, to consent, sex, pregnancy and safety. ~ Diverse – Elementary School, Middle School
Related: 75+ Multicultural LGBTQIA Books For Children & Teenagers
Middle School
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health
by Robie H. Harris
Inclusive and accessible, this fully updated 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. Updates include gender-neutral vocabulary throughout, an expansion on LGBTQIA topics, the latest on sexual safety and contraception, a revised section on abortion, a section on the benefits and pitfalls of social media, and a sensitive expansion on the sexual abuse, consent, and HIV/AIDS. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!)
by Sonya Renee Taylor
Covering everything from bras to braces, Celebrate Your Body is a reassuring puberty book that encourages girls to face the changes with excitement and empowerment. From self-care tips to social skills, this inclusive sex education book provides the answers in a way young girls can relate to. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Growing Up Great!: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys
by Scott Todnem
Growing Up Great! is an inclusive, body-positive guide to puberty for boys ages 8 to 14. It doesn’t only cover the basics of body changes and hygiene but also how to deal with strong emotions and handle today’s challenges like social media and peer pressure. A wonderful guide that helps boys confidently navigate adolescence! ~ Diverse – Middle School
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys
by Cara Natterson
From the author of the bestselling Care & Keeping of You series comes a book that will help boys take care of themselves better, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to shaving, acne to voice changes, and everything in between. With dynamic illustrations and engaging text, Guy Stuff is the perfect puberty book for boys. ~ Diverse – Middle School
The Care & Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls
by Cara Natterson
This thoughtful advice book will guide you through the next steps of growing up. With illustrations and expert contributors, this book covers new questions about periods, your growing body, peer pressure, personal care, and more! Written for girls 10 and up, The Care & Keeping of You 2 follows up the original bestseller with even more in-depth details about the physical and emotional changes girls experience during puberty. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Puberty—and Shouldn’t Be Googling
by Morris Katz
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Puberty — And Shouldn’t Be Googling feels like it’s written by the cool, older brother and takes boys from their first armpit hair to their first wet dream—and beyond. Facts about developmental changes to tween and teen boys’ bodies and brains are presented in a fun and edgy graphic novel format. Boys do not only learn about health, hygiene, and sexuality, but also about important related topics such as social media, cyberbullying and respecting girls and women. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Guy Talk: The Ultimate Boy’s Body Book with Stuff Guys Need to Know while Growing Up Great!
by Editors of Cider Mill Press
Guy Talk gives tween boys answers to questions they don’t know who to ask or are too embarrassed to. From body changes, personal hygiene, and healthy eating, to peer pressure, social media safety, consent, and self-confidence, this inclusive book teaches boys about physical as well as emotional health in an engaging way. ~ Diverse – Middle School
The Period Book: A Girl’s Guide to Growing Up
by Karen & Jennifer Gravelle
The author and her fifteen-year-old niece have written a down-to-earth and practical book that answers any questions young girls might have about their period, from what it is and what it feels like, to how to choose pads and tampons, to how to talk to your parents about it. With funny and sympathetic cartoons, The Period Book guides girls through all the physical, emotional, and social changes like a trusty friend. ~ Diverse – Middle School
The Period Comic: A Girl’s Easy Guide to Puberty and Periods
by Florence Igboayaka
The Period Comic includes everything girls need to know about growing breasts, acne or pimples, their periods, hair in private areas, feelings, nutrition, managing period cramps, preparing for your first period, period poverty, and so much more. Positive, judgment-free, and medically accurate, this book discusses puberty in a way that young girls can relate to. ~ Diverse – Middle School
What’s Going on Down There?: A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up
by Karen Gravelle
Part manual, part older brother, What’s Going on Down There? gives boys the facts they need to feel confident about this new phase of their lives. With funny illustrations and engaging text, this puberty guide addresses the physical and emotional changes boys can expect, discusses what puberty is like for girls, and prepares readers to make smart choices about sex. This revised edition includes sections on body image and confidence, sexual harassment and consent, and using social media safely. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up
by H. Corinna & I. Rotman
Love Your Body: Your body can do amazing things…
by Jessica Sanders
All bodies are different and all bodies are good bodies. There is no size, ability, or colour that is perfect. What makes you different makes you uniquely you! Love Your Body encourages young girls to celebrate their bodies for all the amazing things they can do (like laugh, cry, hug, and feel) and to see that they are so much more than their body. Featuring a special surprise poster on the jacket. ~ Diverse – Middle School
Celebrate Your Body 2: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Preteen and Teen Girls
by Dr. C. Leff & Dr. L. Klein
Girls will love discovering their bodies’ awesomeness with this wonderful puberty guide for tween and teen girls ages 10 to 18. Celebrate Your Body 2 goes beyond other puberty books for girls by not only exploring body changes but also how to increase self-esteem and how to choose the right friends, finding a trusting ear, and the importance of consent. ~ Diverse – Middle School, High School
High School
Sex, Puberty, and All That Stuff: A Guide to Growing Up
by Jacqui Bailey
Sex, Puberty, And All That Stuff talks to teens in their own language about a wide range of topics: crushes, controlling parents, pimples, kissing, dating, hormones, menstruation, sexual activity, condoms, contraception, pregnancy, STDs, sexual impulses, and more. New to this edition is information on social networks, protecting yourself online, maintaining a positive body image, mental health, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. ~ Diverse – High School
S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens & Twenties
by Heather Corinna
From the founder of sex education website Scarleteen, comes this no-shame, no-judgement, straight-forward guide for teens and young adults. S.E.X. tackles everything young people want to know about sex, from self-image, sexual health, gender and sexual identities, to relationships, boundaries, consent, and abuse. ~ Diverse – High School
The Pride Guide: A Guide to Sexual and Social Health for LGBTQ Youth
by Jo Langford
The Pride Guide explores the unique issues LGBTQIA+ youth face during adolescence, from what puberty looks like (particularly for trans youth), dating skills and violence, to activism, personal safety, and above all, pride. Presented in a factual and humorous way, this guide teaches queer youth how to protect themselves, find resources, explore who they are, and interact with the world around them. ~ Diverse – High School
Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers
by Nancy Redd
Teaming up with a leading physician specializing in adolescent health issues, Harvard graduate and former Miss Virginia Nancy Redd offers a down-to-earth, healing, and reassuring response to all the damaging myths about women’s bodies. With informative facts, moving personal anecdotes and hundreds of un-retouched photographs, Body Drama gives girls insight into the issues they are often too ashamed to raise and shows them all the many versions of “normal”. ~ Diverse – High School
Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)
by E. Moen & M. Nolan
Covering relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education, and more, Let’s Talk About It is the go-to handbook for every teen navigating adolescence. Inclusive, accessible and honest, this graphic novel guide is perfect for any teen starting to ask…Is what I’m feeling normal? Is what my body is doing normal? Am I normal? How do I know what are the right choices to make? How do I fix it when I make a mistake? ~ Diverse – High School
Books for Parents
The Sex Education Answer Book: By the Age Responses to Tough Questions Kids Ask Parents About Sex
by Cath Hakanson
With the revised Sex Education Answer Book, parents can meet their children’s questions confident and without awkwardness. The opening section explains why asking questions is so important while putting to rest any fears you may have. Content is organized by age group and includes answers to over 200 commonly asked questions, from reproduction, sex, bodies, and pregnancy, to sexual diversity, gender, masturbation, STIs, and more.
Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids: A guide to raising sexually healthy, informed, empowered young people
by Melissa Carnagey
Sex Positive Talks to Have With Kids is your guide to creating an open, shame-free connection with the young people in your world. Melissa Carnagey, renowned sexuality educator for youth and families, walks you through over 150 conversation starters, reflection exercises, and activities on topics such as: bodies, consent, pleasure, sex, menstruation, gender, sexual orientation, safe & unsafe touch, pornography, feelings, relationships, and media literacy.
The Parents’ Guide to Puberty: Proven Parenting Tips for Talking About Sex, Body Maturation and Teen Anxiety
by Cath Hakanson
Sexual health professional and owner of the influential website Sex Ed Rescue, Cath Hakanson shares her no-nonsense approach to turning awkward family talks into bonding opportunities. The Parents’ Guide to Puberty: Helping Your Child to Thrive provides parents with a foolproof techniques to reduce the stress and ensure nothing gets lost in translation. By following her innovative, down-to-earth methods, you’ll soon be building an environment with free-flowing information and understanding.
Sexuality and Relationship Education for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
by Davida Hartman
Sexuality And Relationship Education for Children & Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders offers practical teaching advice on puberty, sexuality and relationships, geared towards the needs of young people on the autism spectrum. Beginning with information on good practice, policy, teaching methods and recent research, the book then divides into key sex education topics that assist professionals in developing their own individualized and developmentally appropriate curricula. Covering issues of gender, public and private, puberty, hygiene, emotions, sex and more, each topic provides an overview of the difficulties that children with autism might experience, discussion and activity ideas and photocopiable resources including instructional stories, checklists and illustrations.
Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between
by Shafia Zaloom
When it comes to sexuality in adolescence, it’s crucial that teens be able to ask hard questions about how to take care of themselves, make decisions that reflect their values, and stay safe. Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between acts as a conversation starter to discuss a wide variety of sex-related topics with your teens, including how to get and give consent, what it means to have “good” sex, how to help prevent sexual harassment and assault, how to stay safe in difficult situations, and what to do if a teen experiences assault or is accused of it. Includes stories from survivors of sexual assault.
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