Periods arriving, bodies changing…middle school can be awkward. Hopefully your kids will feel comfortable talking to you, or another adult, about what they are going through but books are still helpful to have on hand. With my twins entering middle school and approaching all of these changes, I started reading and collecting books to have on hand. Some of these I handed to them, some of these I just left lying around (generally a surefire way to ensure they’ll end up read in my house). Here are the books that seemed the most helpful and most well received.
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Books about Periods, Body Changes & More
![Period.: The Quick Guide to Every Uterus by [Ruth Redford, Aitana Giráldez]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tbLUObIJL.jpg)
Period. The Quick Guide to Every Uterus
by Ruth Redford and Aitana Giraldez
PERIOD is a great guide for girls about to get their period. It is short – which I think makes it feel less overwhelming. It is direct – answering a lot of the basic questions and discusses some more rare situations that could occur. It is incredibly practical. I especially liked the part that talked kids through some tricky situations, like getting your period when you’re at a friend’s house and you aren’t prepared. It is written in a comic book / graphic novel style – which I also think is especially appealing and nonthreatening to kids. This guide balances being thorough with being easy to read and approachable. It is everything you want in a period 101 book for girls.
Puberty is Gross But Also Really Awesome
by Gina Loveless & Lauri Johnston
Boys and girls will find lots of helpful information in this middle grade book. It answers all kind of questions about body changes, social media, and more. The first half is all about the many body changes brought on my puberty. The second half is more well rounded talk about confidence, screentime, crushes and more.
It’s Perfectly Normal
by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
I like this book’s candid, straightforward and well rounded approach to discussing these important topics with kids. When kids are curious and wondering about puberty and sex and everything that goes along with those changes, this is a wonderful resource to give them and discuss. It doesn’t shy away from any more “difficult” topics and offers a diverse look at what sex can look like in our world. The illustrations include lots of nudity, but also a huge range of body types which I think would be affirming to kids as they’re looking at themselves differently. When a kid is ready for this conversation, IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL is a great book for parents to have on hand.
