The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell

Short Summary

The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell is a colourful, welcoming, and wonderfully clear guide to gender, sexuality, and romantic attraction. With charming illustrations, personal stories, and simple explanations, it helps teens, parents, and anyone new to LGBTQIA+ concepts build confidence and understanding without feeling overwhelmed.

Age Group

Suitable for children aged 12 to 16 years.

Topics Discussed

LGBTQIA+ Kids

Note: Sex Ed Rescue is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. See our disclosure for more information.

Buy a Copy

Buy a copy of The ABC’s of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell from Amazon.

blank

What this book is about

  • The ABC’s of LGBT+ is a friendly, visually engaging guide that explains the wide range of gender identities, sexual orientations, and romantic orientations that exist in the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The book opens with a brilliant “cheat sheet” designed to help readers who feel overwhelmed by new terms – a feature added after the author’s own mum mentioned how confusing it can all feel at first.
  • It offers short definitions up front and more detailed explanations at the back, making it easy for readers to learn at their own pace.
  • Charming cartoons and illustrations appear throughout, helping to break up the text and make the book feel warm, accessible, and fun to read.
  • The author includes real stories from people with different identities – such as demigirls – which brings the content to life and helps readers understand the lived experiences behind the terminology.
  • Clear, thoughtful chapters explain concepts like gender identity, gender expression, physical attraction, emotional attraction, and romantic orientation.
  • The book tackles misconceptions and myths with kindness, aiming to reduce fear and misunderstanding around LGBTQ+ identities.
  • It’s written in a way that feels supportive rather than academic, making complex ideas approachable for parents who want to better support their child, or for teens exploring their own identity.
  • While some terminology has evolved since the book was published in 2016, the explanations are still highly relevant and provide an excellent foundation for understanding the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.
  • Whether you’re brand new to these concepts or already familiar but wanting to deepen your understanding, The ABC’s of LGBT+ is an inclusive, engaging, and incredibly helpful resource.
blank

Find practical tools to educate kids about sex education in the Sex Ed Shop

I hope you find this book review helpful!

Happy talking!
❤️ Cath

Not sure what to teach about sex ed at this age?

This printable checklist shows you the priority topics for this age, simple scripts to try, reassurance for common worries, and the next step to take.

I’ll send you the checklist plus helpful emails about teaching sex ed. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy 
blank

Cath Hakanson is a qualified family sex educator, sexual health nurse and author with 30+ years of clinical and education experience. As an AuDHD parent of two neurodivergent children, she creates clear, practical sex ed resources that help parents talk about bodies, puberty, consent, porn, relationships and sex without shame or judgement.