Talking Tools: Educators and Experts Help Us Find Books Explaining the Birds and Bees to All Ages

As a parent myself, I find that explaining meaningful and complicated things in life becomes a bit less awkward when explained in a book. Reading them is quite easy, informative, and fun. We made this roundup of child-friendly resources and where to buy them. Pediatrician Tracy Xu also recommended excellent reads and advice.

Dr. Xu tells us that contents of sexual education differ depending on school level and children’s ages. “For preschool children, lessons should be more about the development of secondary sex characteristics. On the other hand, lessons on avoiding consequences of unprotected sexual contact are more aptly taught to junior high school and high school students.” Dr. Xu believes that telling children about sex directly and gently without metaphors will not cause too much curiosity about sex.

Your Body belongs to you 

By Cornelia Maude Spelman

Age 4 to 8

Taobao.com

RMB 32

I Said No! A Kid-to-kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private

By Kimberly King

Age 4 and up

Tmall.com

RMB 80

My Body Belongs to Me: A book about body safety 

By Jill Starishevsky

Age 3 to8

Taobao.com

RMB 10

Beyond the Birds and the Bees Fostering Your Child’s Healthy Development in Today’s World

By Beverly Engel, JD.com

RMB 247

Recommended by Dr. Xu,

Sanfine International Hospital.

My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My Toes

By Dagmar Geisler

Age 3 to 6

Taobao.com

RMB 160

S.E.X., second edition: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties 

By Heather Corinna, Age 12 and up

Amazon.cn, RMB 108

Recommended by Brandy S. He, Education Consultant

It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

By Robie H Harris, Age 10 and up

Amazon.cn, RMB 68