Bodies
Bodies
Menstrupedia Comic: the friendly guide to periods for girls
Menstrupedia Comic is an online resource, but there are also book versions available. The website and the book contain answers to questions about periods and provides useful information on menstruation, changing bodies and growing up.
More secret girls' business
Topics: puberty, menstruation.
Non-fiction
Uses simple text and colour illustrations to explain how to manage periods. It includes notes for parents, teachers and carers.
Age: 8+
My body belongs to me
Fiction
A straightforward story of a young girl that was sexually abused by a friend's uncle. The young girl tells her mum and dad who help her. Explains that it is not her fault. A rhyming book.
My underpants rule!
Fiction
A story that explains to children that what is under your underpants is private. No one is allowed to touch private parts and how to say no.
No means no!
Fiction
A story about bodily autonomy, personal space, consent and protective behaviours.
One in five Australians forced to improvise on period products over costs
SBS News article on period poverty 3 August 2021.
Planet Puberty
A digital resource suite by Family Planning NSW for parents and carers of children with intellectual disability and/or autism.
Play and learn: Paperdolls anatomically correct
Non-fiction
Anatomically correct paper dolls for learning about the human body. A series including paperdoll friends, paperdoll families and paperdoll superheroes.
Purchase Play and learn: Paperdolls (external site)
Cath Hak's review of Play and learn: Paperdolls (6min 8sec) (external site)
Pregnancy illustrations 0-24 weeks
A set of GDHR illustrations showing implantation to 24 weeks of pregnancy - a side view of foetal growth within the body. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Pregnancy illustrations in trimesters
A set of GDHR illustrations showing the first and second trimester of pregnancy in colour or b&w. Can be downloaded and printed for use in classrooms.
Puberty and special girls
A simple yet sensitively written picture book that covers changes in bodies and appearance during puberty, good hygiene and other issues including protective behaviours and feelings for young women with special needs.
Puberty booklet
A WA Department of Health booklet addressing the changes that happen during puberty and how to look after yourself during this time. Recently updated in 2021 to combine the 'Girls and puberty' and 'Boys and puberty'. Aimed at ages 10-13 years.
Queensland Health animations about sexual health
Animated videos on sexual health topics produced by Queensland Health.
Relationships, sex and other stuff
A WA Department of Health booklet for teenagers addressing friends and relationships, sex and pregnancy.
Secret boys' business (2nd Ed.)
Topics: puberty
Non-fiction
A puberty resource for boys, families, schools and community groups to explain the physical and emotional changes of puberty.
Age: 9 to 13 years.
Secret girls' business
Topics: puberty, menstruation.
Non-fiction
Uses simple text and colour illustrations to explain how to manage periods. It includes notes for parents, teachers and carers.
Age: 8+
Sex Ed Rescue
Sex Ed Rescue is run by Cath Hakanson, a sex educator who helps parents to get the knowledge, skills and confidence to have conversations with their children about sex and relationships. This site offers videos, resources, books reviews, and a free 5 day sex ed bootcamp. Sex Ed Rescue also have a parent Facebook Group that offers opportunities for parents to seek feedback on specific topics and scenarios.
Sex is a funny word: a book about bodies, feelings, and you
A 160 page comic book for the early primary school years that opens up conversations between young people and their trusted adults on bodies, gender and sexuality for children in a safe way.
Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT
Provides reproductive and sexual health services throughout the ACT. Includes schools education programs, training and workshops.
So what is a vulva anyway?
This UK resource is aimed at educating young people about the vulva (the outside part of the female reproductive system that is often misnamed ‘vagina’). The booklet uses illustrations to normalise the wide range of ‘normal’ when it comes to the appearance of the vulva. It also details the changes which happen during puberty that are often not described.