Shafia Zaloom's Picks: Sex Ed Books for Kids

Last updated: July 17, 2025

Health educator, author, and mother of three Shafia Zaloom is a leading expert in talking to kids and teens about sex, consent, and healthy relationships. She teaches at the Urban School in San Francisco and consults with schools and districts on health education. Her work has also been featured in The New York Times and USA Today as well as on NPR and PBS. Her acclaimed book, Sex, Teens, and Everything in Between, has helped many parents start conversations with their teens about the societal messages (and literal messages) they're getting about sex and relationships.

But for many families, discussing sex education and puberty ranges from tricky to taboo. And news about sexual harassment and assault brought up the topic earlier than expected for some. "This reading list is for parents ready to engage in brave conversations with their children about healthy sexuality and relationships across the developmental stages," says Zaloom of the books included here. "There is decades of research that tells us when we engage in consistent, straightforward, honest, and positive dialogue with our children about the joys and responsibilities of healthy bodies and sexuality, they are more likely to grow up to embrace bodily and sexual autonomy, make decisions in the interest of their sexual health, and have enriching relationships that are grounded in mutual respect, safety, care, and dignity." To learn more about Shafia Zaloom's work or to find her book, visit her website.