The Best Books About Puberty for Girls

Growing up is hard to do. There’s never been an easy time in history to go through puberty, and generations of parents have struggled with the best way to talk about body changes with their children.
More: 20 Books For Teens to Read Before They Turn 18
Puberty is a very different experience for girls and boys, but in both cases, fluctuating hormones, crushes, body hair, body changes, pimples, and mood swings are par for the course.
If you are the parent of a tween or teen girl, you are probably wondering, what’s the best way to discuss all the ins and outs of puberty with my daughter? If your daughter is already experiencing changes and asking questions, it is best to answer them as honestly as possible at their level.
Like many parents, I often turn to books as a source of inspiration for parenting and other life challenges. So to help you out, we have put together a list of the ten best puberty books covering everything from sex education to body image to allow you and your preteen to navigate the murky waters of the teen years.
Here are our top ten books about puberty for girls.
Top 10 Picks
- Best Overall Book on Puberty: The Girls Body Book: Everything Girls Need to Know for Growing Up!
- Best Book on Menstruation: HelloFlo: The Guide, Period.
- Best Book for Body Positivity: Celebrate Your Body (and its changes too!)
- Best LGBT+ & Gender Identity Book: The ABCs of LGBT+
- Best Book for Young Readers: Girl to Girl: Honest Talk About Growing Up and Your Changing Body
- Best Tween Book: The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls
- Best Book for Neurodivergent Girls: What’s Happening to Ellie? A Book About Puberty for Girls and Young Women with Autism and Related Conditions
- Best Book for Sex-Ed: American Medical Association’s Girls Guide to Becoming a Teen
- Best Self-Esteem Book: Empowered Girls: Activities and Affirmations for Empowering Strong, Confident Girls
- Best Book for Parents: Parenting Through Puberty: Mood Swings, Acne, and Growing Pains
Honorable mentions
- The Period Book by Karen Gravelle
- The Care & Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls by Cara Natterson
- It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris
What to Consider When Purchasing a Puberty Book for Girls
Consider your personal beliefs and how much you are comfortable sharing with your daughter. For example, some families are open and frank about sexuality, menstruation, masturbation, etc., while others may wish to dish information in small segments.
Is your child already showing an interest or concern about what is happening to their body, or are these changes not even on their radar yet? There is nothing wrong with preparing a child for what will start happening, but too much information too soon may make them nervous or even scared.
Consider your daughter’s personality. Some books are presented funny yet informative, while others read a bit more like textbooks. Many books will have illustrations and pictures, so you might want to page through them to see if there are any you don’t think are age-appropriate yet.
Lastly, do you plan to read the book together, or is this something you will pass off to your daughter with the understanding that she can ask any questions she needs clarification on?