A collection of recommended books that provide reliable, inclusive and age appropriate information to support children, youth and families in learning about sexual health, relationships and personal identity.
Books by topic
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Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)
Diverse families and structures
- "All families are special" by Norma Simon, illustrated by Teresa Flavin
- "A family is a family is a family" by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng
- "One family" by George Shannon, illustrated by Blanca Gomez
- "Stella brings the family" by Miriam B. Schiffer, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
- "Donavan's big day" by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Mike Dutton
- "And Tango makes three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole
- "Home at last" by Vera B. Williams, illustrated by Chris Raschka
- "Monday is one day" by Arthur A. Levine, illustrated by Julian Hector
Gender identity and gender expression
- "I am Jazz" by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
- "I’m a girl" by Yasmeen Ismail
- "Introducing Teddy: A gentle story about gender and friendship" by Jessica Walton, illustrated by Dougal MacPherson
- "Morris Micklewhite and the tangerine dress" by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
- "Red: A crayon’s story" by Michael Hall
- "10,000 dresses" by Marcus Ewert, illustrated by Rex Ray
- "George" by Alex Gino
- "Gracefully Grayson" by Ami Polonsky
- "The other boy" by M.G. Hennessey
Challenging gender roles and stereotypes
- "Not your typical dragon" by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Tim Bowers
- "Henry Holton takes the ice" by Sandra Bradley, illustrated by Sara Palacios
- "Would you rather be a princess or a dragon" by Barney Saltzberg
- "Not all princesses dress in pink" by Jane Yolen and Heidi Y. Stemple, illustrated by Anne-Sophie Languetin
- "The misfits" by James Howe
2SLGBTQIA + visibility and celebration
- "Worm loves worm" by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato
- "This day in June" by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
- "Drama" by Raina Telgemeier
- "Hurricane child" by Kheryn Callender
- "Felix Yz" by Lisa Bunker
- "Star-crossed" by Barbara Dee
- "Better Nate than ever" by Tim Federle
- "Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book Two: The hammer of Thor" by Rick Riordan
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Our bodies
Birth
- "Where did I come from?" by Peter Mayle
- "It's so amazing" by Robbie Harris
Bodies explained
- "What's happening to me? An illustrated guide to puberty" by Peter Mayle
- "Boys, girls & body science: A first book about facts of life" by Meg Hickling
- "Bellybuttons are navels" by Mark Schoen
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Birth control
- "The new essential guide to lesbian conception, pregnancy, and birth" by Stephanie Brill
- "Taking charge of your fertility" by Toni Weschler
Books by age
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Children
- "Amazing you! Getting smart about your private parts" by Gail Saltz
- "I said no! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private" by Kimberly King
- "Who has what? All about girls’ bodies and boys’ bodies" by Robie H. Harris
- "Where did I come from?" by Peter Mayle
- "The boy’s body book" by Kelli Dunham
- "The period book: Everything you don’t want to ask (but need to know)" by Karen Gravelle
- "Growing up: It’s a girl thing" by Mavis Jukes
- "What’s happening to my body? For girls – for boys" by Lynda Madaras
- “Sex is a funny word” by Cory Silverberg
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Teenagers and young adults
- "S.E.X.: The all-you-need-to-know progressive sexuality guide to get you through high school and college" by Heather Corinna
- "100 questions you'd never ask your parents: Straight answers to teens' questions about sex, sexuality, and health" by Elisabeth Henderson and Nancy Armstrong, M.D.
- "Changing bodies, changing lives: A book for teens on sex and relationships" by Ruth Bell
- "The new teenage body book" by Kathy McCoy and Dr. Charles Wibbelsman
SOGI non-fiction books for middle grades
- "Gay and lesbian history for kids: The century-long struggle for LGBT rights" by Jerome Pohlen
- "Pride: Celebrating diversity and community" by Robin Stevenson
- "Sex is a funny word: A book about bodies, feelings, and YOU" by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
SOGI fiction books for secondary students
- "We are the ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
- "If I was your girl" by Meredith Russo
- "When the moon was ours" by Anna-Marie McLemore
- "I’ll give you the sun" by Jandy Nelson
- "Ramona Blue" by Julie Murphy
- "More happy than not" by Adam Silvera
- "Dress codes for small towns" by Courtney C. Stevens
- "Two boys kissing" by David Levithan
- "Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe" by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
- "Little & Lion" by Brandy Colbert
SOGI non-fiction books for young adults
- "This book is gay" by Juno Dawson
- "The ABCs of LGBT+" by Ashley Mardell
- "Rethinking normal: A memoir in transition" by Katie Rain Hill with Ariel Schrag
- "Some assembly required: The not-so-secret life of a transgender teen" by Arin Andrews with Joshua Lyon
- "Being Jazz" by Jazz Jennings