It’s Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris and Michael Emberley

About this series: Although no longer on staff, Jules (they/he) is still excited to tell us about the LGBTQ+ kids books they read. There is a reason this book is a classic for helping kids learn about puberty, sex ed, staying safe, and more! Look for the Fifth Edition (published in 2021) for the most up-to-date information and for language that was rewritten to include trans, nonbinary, and intersex kids.

Age range: 10 and up. The topics are really targeted at older elementary and middle school students more than high schoolers, but teens who haven’t had much or any sex ed would benefit from the book as well.

Synopsis: This book covers the basics of a good sex ed book, such as puberty, sex and gender, pregnancy, contraception, and more! It also covers topics that are increasingly important today, such as online safety. Illustrated with cartoon-style drawings, the book is informative without being unnecessarily explicit.

What I love about this book: This book is great: informative and research-based, so kids can have a solid foundation on how to stay safe and healthy as they grow older. The book rarely tells kids what to think or what they should do (other than reinforcing the importance of being respectful of others), instead encouraging kids to talk to their parents, clergy, and other trusted adults.

What kids will love about this book: I’m not sure any kid really loves a sex ed book, but kids who want (or need) this info but don’t want to talk about it will definitely appreciate avoiding (or at least delaying) that conversation. Trans kids, in particular, will appreciate that this book differentiates between sex and gender, instead of collapsing them like so many other puberty explainers do.

Where to get the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Minuteman Libraries