There are a lot of sex education books for 12 year olds in this booklist. Books that will help parents with talking to their child about the birds and bees or the facts of life.
Twelve year olds are on the cusp of adolescence. Puberty has started and they are quickly growing up. Which means that some 12 year olds may be a little curious about sex, as they try to work out what it all means.
Books can help to make starting a tricky conversation easier. In this list of sex education books for 12 year olds, you’ll find books on a wide range of topics. Books that are very general and talk about everything. As well as books that are more specific and that focus on just the one topic, like gender, sex, or consent.
If it is a particular topic that you’re interested in, then you’ll find books by the topic in the main list of Sex Education Books for Children. And if you’re looking for a book for a different aged child, then you’ll want to look at the age-appropriate list of sex education books.
Now, if you reach a point of overwhelm, then you’ll want to have a look at my list of favourite sex education books. These are the books that I always seem to be recommending to parents. CLICK HERE to look at the 10 best sex education books.
If you want to learn more about getting started with sex education for 12 year olds, then you should look at this age-specific sex education guide for twelve year olds.
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.
Sex education books for 12 year olds
Bodies
Knowledge Encyclopedia Human Body by DK
Anatomy: A Cutaway Look Inside the Human Body by Jeane-Claude Druvert
The Fantastic Body by Howard Bennett
My Pop-Up Body Book by Jennie Maizels and William Petty
Anatomicum by Katie Wiederman & Jennifer Z Paxton
Your Growing Body and Remarkable Reproductive System by Paul Mason
The Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks
Any Body by Katharina von der Gathen
Body image
Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story: A Girl’s Journey to Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Messages About Me: Wade’s Story: A Boy’s Quest for Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Body Pro by Erin Falligant
Media Muscle by Lisa Cox
Does my bum look big in this ad? by Lisa Cox
Any Body by Katharina von der Gathen
Consent
What is Consent? Why is it Important? And Other Big Questions by Louise Spilbury & Yas Necati
Nonnie Talks About Consent by Mary Jo Podgurski
Consent (for kids) by Rachel Brian
Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee
Kit and Arlo Find a Way: Teaching Consent to 8-12 year olds by Ingrid Laguna and Vanessa Hamilton
Everybody, every body by Emmalinda MacLean
Dating
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Boys: Surviving Crushes, Staying True to Yourself, and other (love) stuff by American Girl
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
A Kid’s First Book About Sex by Joani Blank
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Nonnie Talks About Relationships by Mary Jo Podgurski
Diversity & inclusion
Growing up
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Drama, Rumors & Secrets by American Girl
A Smart Girl’s Guide to Friendship Troubles by American Girl
Girl Stuff 8–12: Your real guide to the pre-teen years: Book Review
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by DK
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson
Positively Izzy By Terri Libenson
Real Friends book by Shannon Hale and Leuyen Pham
Does This Happen to Everyone by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms
Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Heartstopper 2 by Alice Oseman
Brave by Svetlana Chmakova
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Boys Will Be Human by Justin Baldoni
Inclusive Books
Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg
Nonnie Talks About Puberty by Mary Jo Podgurski
Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up
Positive Sexuality: A Kid’s Inclusive Guide to Being Body Aware by Sara Perry
Let’s Look at Different Body Parts Cards by Sex Ed Rescue
This Period in my Life by Saskia Boujo
The Every Body Book : The Lgbtq+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families by Rachel Simon
Welcome to Your Period! by Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang
How do You Make a Baby by Anna Fiske
Red Moon Gang: An Inclusive Guide to Periods by Tara Costello
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward
The Parent’s Guide to Explaining Sex by Cath Hakanson
Celebrate Your Body. The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls by Sonya Reece Taylor
Welcome to Your Boobs by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang
You-ology. A puberty guide for every body
Puberty is Gross but Also really Awesome by Gina Loveless
You Know, Sex? Bodies, Gender, Puberty and Other Things by Cory Silverberg
V is for Vulva. An introduction to the reproductive organs of the human body by Nova Halfwilde
We Need to Talk About Vaginas by Dr. Allison K. Rodgers
Growing Up. by Rachel Greener
TEMPUS Period Tracker App (perfect for tweens & teens)
Internet safety
Hayden-Reece Learns What to do if Children See Private Pictures or Private Movies by Holly-ann Martin
Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
The Tech Users Guide to the Digital World by Lori Getz
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Digital World by Carrie Anton (American Girl)
Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good by Educate & Empower Kids
Social Media Savvy: Facts and Figures About Selfies, Smartphones and Standing Out by Elizabeth Raum
Staying Safe Online by Louie Stowell
Hamish and the Secret Shadow by Liz Walker
Stand Up to Sexting: An Open Conversation to Parents and Tweens by Christy Monson & Heather Boynton
The Things We Can’t Unsee by Kerri Isham
There’s WHAT on my Phone? : How God’s Good Gift Beats Porn by Lisa Taylor
Your Mind Matters: Social Media and You by Honor Head
Lucy’s family launches into the cyber-world!: Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler
Dennis and his Online Gaming Adventure! Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler
Lizzy’s Triumph Over Cyber-bullying! Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler
Tom tames his online world: Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler
Elle gets a mobile phone: Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler
IVF (Assisted Reproduction) Books
Masturbation
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris
Everybody Masturbates (for boys) by Christian YoungMiller
Everybody Masturbates (for girls) by Christian YoungMiller
Things Ellie Likes by Kate E. Reynolds
Things Tom Likes by Kate E. Reynolds
A Kid’s First Book About Sex by Joani Blank
Media literacy
Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story: A Girl’s Journey to Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Messages About Me: Wade’s Story: A Boy’s Quest for Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Petra’s Power to See: A Media Literacy Adventure by Educate & Empower Kids
Media Muscle by Lisa Cox
Does my bum look big in this ad? by Lisa Cox
What is Right and Wrong? Who Decides? Where Do Values Come From? And Other Big Questions
Periods
Cycling to Grandma’s House by Jac Torres-Gomez
Have You Started Yet? by Ruth Thomson
I’m a Girl: Hormones by Shelley Metten
Menstrupedia Comic: The friendly guide to periods for girls
The guide, period. By Naama Bloom (HelloFlo)
Period: A Girl’s Guide by JoAnn Loulan and Bonnie Worthen
Period. by Natalie Byrne
Ruby Luna’s Moontime by Tessa Venuti Sanderson
This Period in my Life by Saskia Boujo
Go with the Flow by Karen Schneemann
Welcome to Your Period! by Yumi Stynes & Melissa Kang
Red Moon Gang: An Inclusive Guide to Periods by Tara Costello
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward
Monthly Period & Symptom Tracking Journal
TEMPUS Period Tracker App (perfect for tweens & teens)
Pornography
Hayden-Reece Learns What to do if Children See Private Pictures or Private Movies by Holly-ann Martin
Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson
Nonnie Talks About Sex…& More by Mary Jo Podgurski
Nonnie Talks About Trauma by Mary-Jo Podgurski
Staying Safe Online by Louie Stowell
Hamish and the Secret Shadow by Liz Walker
The Things We Can’t Unsee by Kerri Isham
There’s WHAT on my Phone? : How God’s Good Gift Beats Porn by Lisa Taylor
Pregnancy & Birthing
Being Born by Sheila Kitzinger and Lennart Nilsson
100+ Questions Kids Have About Having a Baby by Interrelate
The Pregnant Body Book: The Complete Illustrated Guide from Conception to Birth
The Facts of Life: a 3D book by Jonathan Miller and David Pelham
Nonnie Talks About Pregnancy and Birth by Mary-Jo Podgurski
Puberty
The Care and Keeping of You 2 (American Girl) by Cara Natterson
What’s Happening To Me (boy) by Alex Frith
Puberty Girl by Shushan Movsessian
100+ Answers About Puberty by Interrelate
Puberty and Growing Up by Anna Claybourne
Growing Up For Girls (Usborne Books) by Felicity Brooks
Puberty Boy by Geoff Price
Growing Up For Boys (Usborne Books) by Alex Frith
The Girl’s Body Book by Kelli Dunham
Will Puberty last my Whole Life? by Julie Metzger & Robert Lehman
Is this normal? (American Girl)
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls by Lynda Madaras
Puberty: Coming to a Body Near You by Kerri Isham
What’s happening to me? by Peter Mayle: Book Review
Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
What’s happening to Me? (for Girls) by Susan Meredith
My Body, My Self for Boys by Lynda Madaras
My Body, My Self for Girls by Lynda Madaras: Book Review
What’s happening to my body? Book for boys by Lynda Madaras
Secret Boys’ Business: Book Review
More Secret Girls’ Business: Book Review
My Changing Body Book (Boys’ Edition): Book Review
My Changing Body Book (Girls’ Edition): Book Review
I’m a Boy: Hormones by Shelley Metten
The Care and Keeping of Us (American Girl)
Have You Started Yet? by Ruth Thomson
I’m a Girl: Hormones by Shelley Metten
The Period Book by Karen Gravelle
What’s Going on Down There by Karen Gravelle
The Puberty Book by Kelsey Powell and Wendy Darvill
Levi Sprocket: What’s in my Pocket by Debi Slinger
Poppy Pretzel: Passage into Puberty by Debi Slinger
The guide, period. By Naama Bloom (HelloFlo)
Girl Talk by Lizzie Cox
Girlology: There’s Something New About You by Melissa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys (American Girl) by Cara Natterson
Guy Talk by Lizzie Cox
Does This Happen to Everyone by Jan Von Holleben and Antje Helms
Nonnie Talks About Puberty by Mary Jo Podgurski
Changing You: A Guide to Body Changes and Sexuality by Gail Saltz
Red Moon Gang: An Inclusive Guide to Periods by Tara Costello
When Boys and Girls Become Men and Women by Jorg Muller and Dagmar Geisler
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Puberty – And Shouldn’t Be Googling: For Curious Boys by Morris Katz
My Body’s Changing: A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up by Anita Ganeri
My Body’s Changing: A Girl’s Guide to Growing Up by Anita Ganeri
Puberty is Gross but Also really Awesome by Gina Loveless
Growing Up. by Rachel Greener
Sexual intercourse (or how babies are made)
Where Did I Really Come From by Narelle Wickham
500+ Questions Kids Have About Sex by Interrelate
Let’s Talk About S-E-X. A Guide For Kids 9 To 12 And Their Parents
Nonnie Talks About Sex…& More by Mary Jo Podgurski
A Kid’s First Book About Sex by Joani Blank
The Facts of Life: a 3D book by Jonathan Miller and David Pelham
So That’s How I Began by Gina Dawson
Asking About Sex & Growing Up : A Question-and-Answer Book for Kids by Joanna Cole
How do You Make a Baby by Anna Fiske
Healthy for Life: Sex and relationships by Anna Claybourne
The Parent’s Guide to Explaining Sex by Cath Hakanson
A Kid’s Guide to Bodies & Babies
The Amazing True Story of How Babies are Made TV
Do Animals Fall in Love by Katharina von der Gathen
Sex education (books that cover everything)
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris
Secret Business of Relationships, Love and Sex: Book Review
Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg
Help Your Kids With Growing Up by DK
Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up
Tell me: What children really want to know about bodies, sex and emotions by Katharina von der Gathen
The Every Body Book : The Lgbtq+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families by Rachel Simon
When Boys and Girls Become Men and Women by Jorg Muller and Dagmar Geisler
You Know, Sex? Bodies, Gender, Puberty and Other Things by Cory Silverberg
Sexting
The Tech Users Guide to the Digital World by Lori Getz
Nonnie Talks About Sex…& More by Mary Jo Podgurski
Staying Safe Online by Louie Stowell
Stand Up to Sexting: An Open Conversation to Parents and Tweens by Christy Monson & Heather Boynton
There’s WHAT on my Phone? : How God’s Good Gift Beats Porn by Lisa Taylor
Consent (for kids) by Rachel Brian
How To Text Boys by Kelli Dunham
How To Text Girls by Kelli Dunham
The Tech Users Guide to the Digital World by Lori Getz
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Digital World by Carrie Anton (American Girl)
Messages About Me: Sydney’s Story: A Girl’s Journey to Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Messages About Me: Wade’s Story: A Boy’s Quest for Healthy Body Image by Educate & Empower Kids
Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good by Educate & Empower Kids
Petra’s Power to See: A Media Literacy Adventure by Educate & Empower Kids
Social Media Savvy: Facts and Figures About Selfies, Smartphones and Standing Out by Elizabeth Raum
Your Mind Matters: Social Media and You by Honor Head
Transgender & non binary
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These are some of the many sex education books for 12 year olds 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. Plus they will help prepare you too!
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.Â
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.
Social media safety