Books About Puberty

The physical and emotional changes that come with puberty can be challenging for tweens, but these books can help. From expert guides filled with biological facts to the funny Wimpy Kid installment in which Greg freaks out about zits, body hair growth, and B.O., these titles address the anxiety and confusion that boys and girls feel at this sensitive time. And the experts know how to talk about these issues in kid-friendly, age-appropriate ways. For more great stories about growing up, check out our Coming-of-Age Books and Books That Promote a Healthy Body Image.

The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls Poster Image
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The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls

age 8+

Helpful American Girl guide for girls starting puberty.

Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls Poster Image
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Celebrate Your Body (and Its Changes, Too!): The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls

age 8+

Pitch-perfect, body-positive puberty guide for young tweens.

By: Sonya Renee Taylor (2018)
Growing Up Great!: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys Poster Image
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Growing Up Great!: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys

age 8+

Encouraging puberty guide covers emotional growth, too.

By: Scott Todnem (2019)
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys Poster Image
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Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys

age 8+

Frank, funny boys' guide to growing up is packed with tips.

By: Dr. Cara Natterson (2017)
The Period Book: A Girl's Guide to Growing Up Poster Image
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The Period Book: A Girl's Guide to Growing Up

age 8+

Very informative -- but limited -- sex ed book for girls.

By: Karen Gravelle (2017)
Wow in the World: The How and Wow of the Human Body Poster Image
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Wow in the World: The How and Wow of the Human Body

age 8+

Podcast hosts' hilarious, superb body book for kids, tweens.

By: Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz (2021)
The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless Poster Image
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The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless

age 9+

Friendly, factual book helps girls appreciate their bodies.

By: Charlotte Markey (2020)
A Girl's Guide to Puberty & Periods Poster Image
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A Girl's Guide to Puberty & Periods

age 9+

Experts explore girls' puberty in fun, relatable guide.

Book title in blue and red text on black background
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Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys

age 9+

Science-based, inclusive advice is an amazing resource.

What's Going on Down There? A Boy's Guide to Growing Up Poster Image
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What's Going on Down There? A Boy's Guide to Growing Up

age 9+

Modern update improves empowering sex ed classic.

By: Karen Gravelle (2017)
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Poster Image
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Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

age 10+

Classic coming-of-age story rings true decades later.

By: Judy Blume (1970)
The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls Poster Image
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The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls

age 10+

Deeply informative, reassuring puberty handbook for girls.

By: Dr. Cara Natterson (2013)
Celebrate Your Body 2: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Preteen and Teen Girls Poster Image
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Celebrate Your Body 2: The Ultimate Puberty Book for Preteen and Teen Girls

age 10+

Encouraging, body-positive guide for older girls.

The Girl Guide: 50 Ways to Learn to Love Your Changing Body Poster Image
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The Girl Guide: 50 Ways to Learn to Love Your Changing Body

age 10+

Wonderfully candid, body-positive tips to inspire girls.

By: Marawa Ibrahim (2018)
Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up Poster Image
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Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up

age 10+

Modern, nuanced sex-ed guide fantastic for tweens, teens.

Welcome to Your Period Poster Image
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Welcome to Your Period

age 10+

Empowering, educational, gender-inclusive primer on periods.

Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular Poster Image
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Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular

age 12+

Lots of knowledge and positivity in girl-power advice book.

By: Mayim Bialik (2017)
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health Poster Image
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It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

age 12+

Informative, updated, explicit sex ed book.

By: Robie H. Harris (2014)
S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties Poster Image
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S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties

age 14+

Fantastic inclusive, progressive sex guide for teens and up.

By: Heather Corinna (2016)