Have you noticed that most books for kids about bodies and sex are heavily gendered? Most contain phrases like "The Boys' Guide to..." or "_____ for Girls."
So what does a gender inclusive book about bodies and sex look like? It means referring to bodies as "If you have a ____, you may experience ____." It also means acknowledging intersex kids and recognizing other genders besides cisgender boys and girls.
Here's a 2021 list of our favorite gender inclusive books for kids about bodies, sex, puberty, and consent.
For 5-12 year olds
What Makes a Baby? by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth
Tell Me About Sex, Grandma by Anastasia Higginbotham
C is for Consent by Eleanor Morrison, illustrated by Faye Orlove
Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect: A book to teach children about body ownership, respect, feelings, choices and recognizing bullying behaviors by Jayneen Sanders, illustrated by Sarah Jennings
For 9-12 year olds
Wait, What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up by Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman, colored by Luke B. Howard
The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families by Rachel E. Simon, illustrated by Noah Grigni
