Books for All Bodies

When it comes to bodies, kids have a lot of questions. Toddlers want to know what body parts are called, preschoolers may ask how babies are made, school-aged children are starting to wonder about puberty, and teens need to understand sex, relationships, and consent. Many of the books that parents in this generation have grown up with, however, tended to leave a lot of bodies and families out of the conversation. Luckily, we’re now seeing a whole range of diverse and inclusive body books emerge, for young people of all ages.

Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries has partnered with Parents of Trans, Two Spirit, and Gender Diverse Kids peer support group to bring you some of our favourite inclusive titles about bodies, babies, puberty, and sex.

[Note: An earlier version of this article appeared in The Telegram (October 16, 2021) as part of NLPL's monthly column. It can be accessed with your library card via PressReader. It has been updated to add newly published titles as of June 2022.]

Updated June 14, 2023
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Bodies are cool.
Feder, Tyler.
Paper Book
This cheerful love-your-body picture book for preschoolers is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over.   From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party and Roaring Softly, this picture book is a pure celebration of all the...

Ages 2-7

A vibrantly-illustrated picture book that is beautifully body-positive and inclusive of human physical diversity, including size, race, disabilities, scars, body hair, gender, and family types. The illustrations are colourful and joyful, with small details that kids will delight in finding. The book celebrates many body parts - skin, hair, eyes, faces, fingers, tummies, legs, and scars. The only addition (or sequel?) we hoped for was a fuller portrayal of anatomy - similar to the now three decades-old Bare Naked Book - because we think these authors would have a wonderfully inclusive approach to genital anatomy. One of the best we’ve seen

The bare naked book /
Stinson, Kathy
Paper Book
Bodies, bodies! Big and small, short and tall, young and old--Every BODY is different! The Bare Naked Book has been a beloved fixture in libraries, classrooms, and at-home story times since its original publication in 1986. Now, this revised edition is ready to meet a new generation of...

Ages 2-7

This important classic picture book about parts of the body has gotten a wonderfully inclusive update and new illustrations that reflect a range of diversity. Similar to "Bodies Are Cool" in style, but (as promised by the title), this book also features bare naked bodies with a spread about genitals. Body parts aren't named specifically beyond the term "genitals," and aren't identified by gender, which makes this book great for anyone. Parents and caregivers can choose to add additional naming language as needed

Making a baby
Greener, Rachel
Paper Book
Every child deserves to see their birth or family story reflected in books about where babies come from, and this is what Making a Baby is all about. All families start in their own special way, and every family is amazing.

Ages 2-7

A wonderfully straightforward picture book about how babies are made, with much inclusive language, and one unfortunate omission. Parents rmay want to edit their reading of the introductory page about babies and body parts to make it more genderinclusive (we hope to see this in future editions, plus a change to the language of “biological sex” in the back matter). That said, the rest of the book uses inclusive language like “the womb of the person who is going to grow the baby.” The biological explanations are simple, accessible, age-appropriate, gender-inclusive, and include specific descriptions of sexual intercourse, artificial insemination, IVF, surrogacy, and adoption. Great representation of diverse families.

What makes a baby : a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid /
Silverberg, Cory
Paper Book
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 21st century children's picture book about conception, gestation and birth, which reflects the reality of the modern era by being inclusive of all kinds of kids, adults,...

Ages 2-7

A simple yet engaging narrative that provides a framework for families to fill in their own details about how their child came into their family. The wording is gender-inclusive (“some people have a uterus”) and inclusive of all family types and conception/birth/adoption stories. However, if you are looking to introduce names of body parts, or how the sperm gets to the egg, you may find this book lacking in details.

Sex is a funny word : a book about bodies, feelings, and YOU /
Silverberg, Cory
Paper Book
A comic book for kids that includes children and families of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities; an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for children ages 8 to 10 as well as their parents and caregivers. Much more than the facts of life' or 'the birds and the bees,'...

Ages 8-12

An engaging and inclusive graphic novel about bodies and body changes, gender identity, consent, crushes and relationships. This book discusses sex through the lenses of respect, trust, joy and justice, with ongoing discussions of consent and privacy. It includes diverse representations of gender, sexuality, culture, race, and ability, and uses inclusive language like “some bodies have vulvas and some don’t.” The section on safety and ‘secret touching’ has suggestions for talking about unwanted touch and ideas for alternatives to hugs. One caveat - kids in the older range may have questions that go beyond the scope of this book. Though ‘sex’ is in the title, the book does not describe sexual activity, and sexual identities are only defined in the glossary. (Good news — a third book in this series is coming in 2022 called “You Know, Sex.”)

The every body book : the LGBTQ+ inclusive guide for kids about sex, gender, bod
Simon, Rachel E.
Paper Book
AASECT Book Award for Children under 18 years old American Library Association 2021 Rainbow Book List Top 10 Title for Young Readers This vibrant and beautifully illustrated book teaches children sex, gender and relationships education in a way that is...

Ages 8-12

This thorough informational guide discusses bodies, puberty, reproduction and sex. The language is accessible, gender-inclusive, and matter-of-fact, and this book gives satisfyingly clear responses to the main questions this age group will want answers to, including simple descriptions of sexual intercourse and types of sex. While there is racially diverse representation in the illustrations, however, the cultural context is definitively American and there is no discussion of culturally diverse understandings of gender and sexuality (Two Spirit roles are not mentioned, for example). One surprisingly outdated element in the book is the depiction of labour, with the birthing parent lying flat on their back with their feet in stirrups, being shouted at to push.

You Know, Sex : Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things.
NULL
Paper Book
A completely new approach to learning about puberty, sex, and gender for children 10+.

Ages 8-12

This is the latest from Cory Silverberg, with more of a focus on puberty, gender and changing bodies.

"The puberty, anatomy, and reproduction chapters include trans, nonbinary, and intersex bodies and experience, and all of it takes place in our contemporary, media-saturated world (aka, there’s lots of smart phones and social media). Racially and ethnically diverse, inclusive of cross-disability experience, You Know, Sex is a book for every kind of young person and every kind of family—essential for kids, everyone who knows a kid, and anyone who has ever been a kid." [Publisher's Description]

Let's talk about it : the teen's guide to sex, relationships, and being a human
Moen, Erika
Paper Book
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 know how to behave? How do I fix it when I make a mistake? Let's talk about it. Growing up is complicated. How do you...

Ages 14+

An appealing book in graphic novel format for teens who want to know more about how sex and relationships work, and are comfortable getting into the specifics of both. The illustrations are inclusive and joyously body-positive, with diverse representation of gender, body size, sexuality, race, and ability. Topics are explored in a series of short dialogue-rich comics that cover consent, types of romantic relationships, body image, gender identity, safe sex, masturbation, fantasies, climax, sexting, and much more. Features in-depth descriptions of anatomy and puberty that are genderinclusive, with language like “generally testosterone rich body.” A supportive sexpositive book that centers consent, respect, communication, and emotional wellbeing.

A quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities [graphic novel] /
G, Mady
Paper Book
A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys! In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBT+ world! Covering...
A quick & easy guide to asexuality [graphic novel] /
Muldoon, Molly, 1987-
Paper Book
"An engaging and essential handbook for anyone interested in gaining insight into an oft-misunderstood community." -- Library Journal This book is for anyone who wants to learn about asexuality, and for Ace people themselves, to validate their experiences. ...
A quick & easy guide to consent [graphic novel] /
Rotman, Isabella.
Paper Book
A quick, easy and important educational illustrated guide to giving and receiving consent in sex, relationships, and other physical contact.  How do you tell someone you want to do stuff with them? How do you ask if they want to do stuff with you? How do you know what stuff...
A quick & easy guide to they/them pronouns /
Bongiovanni, Archie
Paper Book
A quick, easy and important educational comic guide to using gender-neutral pronouns. "A great, simple look at the importance of using correct pronouns; extremely accessible to those for whom gender-neutral language is a new concept." -- School Library Journal...
A quick & easy guide to sex & disability [graphic novel] /
Andrews, A.
Paper Book
A quick, easy, and educational comic book guide that will help change the way we talk about sex and sexuality for all bodies.  "This guide can help disabled people (and their partners) on their journey toward self-love, better communication, and confidence." -- Alice Wong,...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.