There are so many fabulous books available; these are just a few we have read recently & recommend. Scroll down for books on parenting littlies/tweens/teens, body safety, puberty, body image, sexuality, fertility awareness, speciality books (anxiety, keeping safe online) & menopause.
If you would like to read more about the content or purchase, click the book picture or title. If you purchase through the links provided Nest earn a small commission for every book sold – we use this money to fund initiatives to address period poverty and solve period stigma.
(Most of these books are also available through the Library)
We wrote a book! The Kids Will Be All Right is written by Nest’s very own CEO and her daughter Molly, who together created an amazing resource for parents and caregivers of teens. Filled with up-to-date, evidence-based information, insights, conversation starters and resources to help you navigate and untangle hot topics such as friendships and frenemies; bullying; cyber safety; drinking, vaping and risk-taking behaviour; self-esteem and body image; sexuality; consent and safe relationships; and pornography. It also delves into how to talk about topics such as equity, diversity & intersectionality, modern feminism, climate change, politics and more. An essential read!
For the Parents
Parenting books
He'll be ok - growing gorgeous boys into good men
by Celia Lashlie
The Kids Will Be All Right - A guide to raising teens in a complex world
by Nest Consulting's very own CEO & her daughter
Parental as anything - from tots to tweens
by Maggie Dent
Raising Girls Who Like Themselves
by Kasey Edwards & Dr Christopher Scanlon
The Parents' Guide to Puberty
by Cath Hakanson
Body Safety Education
by Jayneen Sanders
Keeping Safe: Body Boundaries, Consent, Respect
Aimed at Yr 1 - Yr 4 to be read with caregivers
My Body! What I say goes! - a skills book to assist teaching children about safe touch
by Jayneen Sanders
Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
by Jayneen Sanders
Little Big Chats (12 in the series)
by Jayneen Sanders
Boss of your own body (Teeny Tiny Stevies)
by Byll Stephen Beth Stephen
My Body My Taonga: Body Safety with Rawiri and Ruby
by Rosalind Harrison
Puberty (Younger audience – Tweens)
These books cover puberty education and are aimed at the younger market.
Hair in funny places
by Babette Cole
The care and keeping of YOU
by Valerie Schaefer (Illustrator Josee Masse)
Celebrate Your Body & its changes too
by Sonya Renee Taylor
Ruby Luna's Curious Journey : A girls' anatomy book covering puberty and periods
by Tessa Venuti Sanderson
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys
by Dr Cara Natterson
The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys - Growing up great
by Scott Todnem
Puberty & more (Tweens to Young Teens)
These books cover puberty education and sometimes extend to the very basic biology of sex education & masturbation.
What's happening to me?
by Peter Mayle
Just for boys
by Matt Crossick and Rob Davis
Sex is a funny word
by Cory Silverberg
The Care and Keeping of YOU Book 2
by Cara Natterson (Illustrator Josee Masse)
Puberty boy
by Geoff Price
Puberty girl
by Shushann Movsessian
The Smart Girls Guide to Growing Up
by Anita Ganeri
Girlology's there's something new about you
by Melisa Holmes & Trish Hutchison
Girl Stuff for girls aged 8- 12
by Kaz Cooke
Puberty & more (Teens +)
These books may cover puberty education, healthy relationship & consent, sex education, an introduction to media awareness/body image, contraception, STI information & drug awareness
The Puberty Book
by Wendy Darvill & Kelsey Powell
It's ok to be you!
by Claire Patterson & Lindsay Quilter
What's happening to me?
by Alex Frith (aimed at younger teens)
What's happening to me?
by Susan Meredith (aimed at younger teens)
Girls Stuff 'A full on guide to the teen years'
by Kaz Cooke (aimed at mid to older teens)
What's Going on Down There? : A Boy's Guide to Growing Up
by Karen Gravelle
Puberty Is Gross, but Also Really Awesome
by Gina Loveless
Periods & Fertility Awareness
Books specifically about periods - the final 2 books cover menstrual cycle awareness and fertility tracking (the first for teens and the second for adults)
Cycling to Grandma's House
by Jac Torres-Gomez and Illustrations, Erin-Claire Barrow
Ruby Luna's Moontime : A girls' book about starting periods
by Tessa Venuti Sanderson
Welcome to your Period!
by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang
Celebrate your Period
by Amanda D'Almeida
The Period Book
by Karen Gravelle
Period: Everything you need to know about periods.
by Natalie Byrne
My little red book
by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff (Editor)
Waiwhero - The Red Waters - A Celebration of Womanhood
By Ngahuia Murphy
Cycle Savvy
by Toni Weschler
Fiction (puberty related)
Fictional books which feature puberty (the first two feature boys with the following featuring girls).
The Amazing Life of Birds: The Twenty Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leech
by Gary Paulsen
Then Again, Maybe I Won't
by Judy Blume
Are you there God, it's me Margaret
by Judy Blume
Girl V the World
by Chrissie Keighery
Go with the Flow
by Karen Schneemann & Lily Williams
Revenge of the Red Club
Kim Harrington
Self Esteem / Media Awareness / Body Image (Teens - Girls)
Books on how to express feelings, handling fear, anxiety, body image, jealousy, and grief.
You Are Incredible Just As You Are : How to Embrace Your Perfectly Imperfect Self
by Emily Coxhead
Piki te Ora: Your Wellbeing Journal
by Hira Nathan Jessie Eyre
Love Your Body
by Jessica Sanders Illustrated by Carol Rossetti
The Body Image Book for Girls : Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless
by Charlotte Markey
Be Your Own Man
by Jessica Sanders,
The Feelings Book
by Dr. Lynda Madison (Illustrator Josee Masse)
Find your tribe
by Rebecca Sparrow
Books to support in specific situations
Books to support in specific situations such as anxiety, if children see upsetting images on-line, keeping safe / safe touch etc
Aroha's Way (& others in the series)
by Craig Phillips - This beautiful picture book takes children on a journey through emotions associated with anxiety and shows simple yet effective ways to help manage them.
Good pictures, Bad pictures
by Kristen A Jensen, MA & Gail Poyner. Illustrate d by Debbie Fox
Hayden- Reece Learns What To Do if Children See Private Pictures or Private Movies
by Holly Ann Martin
Not for kids
by Liz Walker
Puberty / Sexuality for those with additional needs
Books which may provide assistance to those with additional needs / disability / intellectual disability & caregivers
The Growing Up Book for Boys
by Davida Hartman
The Growing Up Guide for Girls
by Davida Hartman
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods
by Robyn Steward
When young people with intellectual disabilities and autism hit puberty
by Freddy Jackson Brown & Sarah Brown
Sexuality and people with intellectual disability
by Lydia Fegan, Anne Rauch & Wendy McCarthy
The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability
by Miriam Kaufman, Cory Silverberg & Fran Odette
Boyfriends + Girlfriends - a guide to dating for people with disabilities
by Terri Couwenhoven, MS
Menopause
Managing menopause (peri-menopause)