Bodies
- Adolescence
- Bodies
- Body image
- Consent
- Contraception
- Disabilities
- Emotional literacy
- Families
- Family and domestic violence
- Friendships
- Gender
- Gender diversity
- Guidelines
- Health education
- Health literacy
- Help seeking
- Immunisation
- Intersex variations
- Intimate relationships
- Law
- Media literacy
- Mental health
- Multicultural
- Online
- Parenting
- Pornography
- Protective behaviours
- Puberty
- Reproduction
- Research and reports
- Safer sex
- Sex education
- Sexting
- Sexual diversity
- Sexual health
- Sexual abuse
- Sexualisation
- STIs and BBVs
Bodies
A secret safe to tell
A picture book that tells the author's personal story of child sexual abuse. The story is told gently without specifically mentioning sexual touch specifically. It encourages conversations about body safety, the importance of not keeping secrets and confiding in trusted adults if something is making you uncomfortable.
Everyone's got a bottom
A picture book to start conversations about public and private body parts, introducing the concept of protective behaviours. Written in a light and positive tone.
Girl stuff for girls aged 8-12
A 176 page non-fiction book.
Hair in funny places
A 32 page picture book. Light-hearted book outlining the changes during puberty.
How to talk to kids about bodies
Non-fiction
A 38 page guide for parents showing them how to have shame-free conversations with their child about their genitals.
Age: Parents and teachers of children 0 to 12 years.
It's not the stork!: a book about girls, boys, babies, bodies, families and friends
A 64 page book with illustrations that tackles questions young children have about how they were born and their bodies.
Let's talk about sex
Non-fiction
Biological and psychological information about sex: from puberty and conception to birth control and STIs, including sections on the body, families and babies, and sexual health. New edition includes expanded information on internet, texting safety, contraception and LGBT.
Let's talk about the birds and the bees
Non-fiction
Cartoon illustrated book for parents to read to children about differences between male and female reproductive systems, private body parts, sexual intercourse, love, puberty, what touching is ok/not ok, families. Simple facts as a starting point for conversations.
Book review by Cath Hak 6min (external link)
Age: Parents and teachers of 4 to 11 year olds.
Let's talk about where babies come from
Non-fiction
Comics and cartoons outlining: similarities and differences between girls and boys, growing up, reproductive organs, how babies are made, what sex is, what is love, same sex attraction, conception, pregnancy, different types of birth, genetics (e.g. hair colour), different kinds of families, keeping safe (consensual touch), HIV (but not other STI/BBVs). A book that parents/teachers can read to younger children, or older children can read themselves.
Book review by Cath Hak 4min 36sec.
Age: 7 to 11 years.
Making sense of sex: a forthright guide to puberty, sex and relationships for people with Asperger's Syndrome
A paperback book for teenagers and young adults with Asperger's Syndrome who have questions about puberty, sex and relationships.
Menstrupedia Comic: the friendly guide to periods for girls
Menstrupedia Comic is an online resource, but there are also book versions available. The website and the book contain answers to questions about periods and provides useful information on menstruation, changing bodies and growing up.
More secret girls' business
Topics: puberty, menstruation.
Non-fiction
Uses simple text and colour illustrations to explain how to manage periods. It includes notes for parents, teachers and carers.
Age: 8+
My body belongs to me
Fiction
A straightforward story of a young girl that was sexually abused by a friend's uncle. The young girl tells her mum and dad who help her. Explains that it is not her fault. A rhyming book.
My underpants rule!
Fiction
A story that explains to children that what is under your underpants is private. No one is allowed to touch private parts and how to say no.
No means no!
Fiction
A story about bodily autonomy, personal space, consent and protective behaviours.
Play and learn: Paperdolls anatomically correct
Non-fiction
Anatomically correct paper dolls for learning about the human body. A series including paperdoll friends, paperdoll families and paperdoll superheroes.
Purchase Play and learn: Paperdolls (external site)
Cath Hak's review of Play and learn: Paperdolls (6min 8sec) (external site)
Puberty and special girls
A simple yet sensitively written picture book that covers changes in bodies and appearance during puberty, good hygiene and other issues including protective behaviours and feelings for young women with special needs.
Puberty booklet
A WA Department of Health booklet addressing the changes that happen during puberty and how to look after yourself during this time. Recently updated in 2021 to combine the 'Girls and puberty' and 'Boys and puberty'. Aimed at ages 10-13 years.
Puberty Boy
Puberty Boy explains the transitions that boys need to go through to become healthy young men in a unique, colourful and commonsense way.
Puberty Girl
A practical guide for teenage girls on understanding the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty.