This is a list of books about growing up for children, that will help parents to prepare their child for all the social or friendship things that happen with growing up.
This booklist is a little different to most of the other lists of books about growing up for children. It is different because it isn’t a list of books about puberty. You can find the puberty book list over here.
Instead, it is a list of books that is about the social side of growing up. So you will find some novels that talk about the experience of growing up. As well as some puberty books that talk about this stuff in more detail too!
If you are unsure about how to talk to your child about puberty and growing up, then I do have a few resources that can help. There are a lot of puberty resources in my sex education resource list. Plus I have a lot of blog posts on how to talk to children about puberty.
If you are looking for more specific help, then I have written 2 books that will help with starting to talk to your tween boy or girl about puberty and sex – Boy Puberty and Girl Puberty.
You will only find books about growing up for children in this list that are readily available at bookshops today.
You can find more books about different topics in the main list of Sex Education Books for Children.
And if you find this list a little overwhelming, you might want to look at the age-appropriate list of sex education books.
You’ll find more information about sex education in my Sex Education 101 page.
NOTE: Before passing any book to your child or reading the book with your child, you should read it yourself first. I might think it is a great book for a certain age child or that the information is valuable, but you may disagree. You need to choose books that reflect your values and the messages you want your child to receive.
Children’s books about growing up
You’ll find an age-specific list of books about growing up. Just click on the age of your child, and you’ll be taken straight to that booklist.
Books for 3 year olds
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Books for 4 year olds
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Books for 5 year olds
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Books for 6 year olds
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Books for 7 year olds
Books for 8 year olds
Your Body and You. Growing and Changing by Anita Ganeri
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Beautiful Girl Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body by Christiane Northrup
Someday by Alison McGhee
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
Books for 9 year olds
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Beautiful Girl Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body by Christiane Northrup
Someday by Alison McGhee
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
Books for 10 year olds
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Beautiful Girl Celebrating the Wonders of Your Body by Christiane Northrup
Someday by Alison McGhee
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
Books for 11 year olds
Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Does This Happen to Everyone by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
Books for 12 year olds
Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
Heartstopper 2 by Alice Oseman
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Does This Happen to Everyone by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by DK
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
Books for 13 year olds
Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
Heartstopper 2 by Alice Oseman
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Does This Happen to Everyone by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms
The Girl Guide book by Marawa Ibrahim
Girling Up by Mayim Bialik
Boying Up by Mayim Bialik
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by DK
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
Books for 14+ year olds
Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
The Girl Guide book by Marawa Ibrahim
Girling Up by Mayim Bialik
Boying Up by Mayim Bialik
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by DK
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
These are some of the many children’s books about growing up that have been written. As I find more, I will add them to this list. They are all really good books that kids can read to find reliable and accurate information about love, sex and relationships.
Happy reading!
Resources to help with talking about puberty
My mission is to create resources that will help you to naturally talk to your kids about sex, all while respecting your personal values.
Which means that inside this website, you’ll find lots of resources to help you with talking to your child about puberty.
My Sex Ed 101 page includes all of the information on sex education. You’ll find lots of different blog posts to help you gain a better understandign of what sex education is all about.
You’ll find videos about sex education in my Sex Education Videos resource page that you can watch with your child or to learn more about sex education yourself.
You’ll also find an extensive range of children’s sex education books, for kids of all ages.
If you’re unsure about how to answer your child’s questions about sex, then I have the perfect book for you! The Sex Education Answer Book will give you age-specific answers to the most common questions kid’s ask parents about sex. Which means you don’t need to worry about finding a child-friendly explanation that your child understands.
If you need some help with explaining sexual intercourse to your child, then you may like my Masterclass on explaining sex for the very first time or my parent guide will also help you explain sex to your child in a way they will understand. It breaks sex down into simple steps that take the stress out of explaining!
Plus you will find plenty more sex education resources at the Sex Ed Shop.
And if you get stuck, feel free to get in touch! You can contact me here.