Reframing our STORIES
Changing our Narrative Around Sexual Health, Relationships and Conversations
Books & Resources
Changing our Narrative Around Sexual Health, Relationships and Conversations
Click or scroll to see books and other resources reviewed by Reframing our Stories
Adults
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A must read - this book really is helpful to reframe the way we create scripts for ourselves on how we need to function sexually.
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This top sexual health book is such a needed resource for everyone to understand arousal and desire based on research and brain science.
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Brene’s books are essential in learning about human emotion and the way we interact with one another and where we act from. This is another great one, especially if you are struggling with learning how to live into who you are while also being empathetic to others.
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This book doesn't have much to do with sex, but it has everything to do with relating. Kara is all about books that normalize our emotions, life happenings, and relationships. This book does that with Glennon talking so openly about her life and many will find it relatable and inspiring.
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When we hurt, we sometimes look to fill a void in unhealthy ways with food and money. Many of us unconsciously operate in the world in this manner. Being numb to our feelings also tends to hurt our relationships. Having awareness about our pain and resulting behaviors can consciously work on them and our relationships.
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As an educator it is important for me to always check my biases. Especially, as a white person I need to make sure that my lessons include all people and typically sex ed has been very white. This book was eye opening and Austin is a beautiful writer.
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A website that is all things woman. Find more at https://www.bloodandmilk.com/
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A website devoted to pleasure and sexual health education reclaiming black bodies from suppression
See more at http://www.afrosexology.com/
Couples
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This book is really good if you are struggling in your partnership. Gottman provides insight into behaviors and attitudes that can be harmful to a relationship and helps navigate rebuilding your relationship with exercises and checklists. www.gottman.com
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Great for couples and for individuals to see truths of deep rooted feelings many of us have, but feel shame for. Through stories, Esther helps normalize our sometimes stressful or embarrassing sexual feelings. It gives us a good look into how communication is key in relationships, but also how a bit of mystery keeps our sexual lives healthy and fun. www.estherperel.com
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Exams four different personality types based on brain chemistry and how those personalities work as partners. An older book, but the insights offered can help us understand how we function individually and in relationships. The heteronormative language may be triggering.
Parents
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Do you wonder how to answer questions around sex and sexuality and maybe even have some of your own? Then I suggest this book by Planned Parenthood: In Case You’re Curious. This book answers questions from real youth. It’s always good to know what youth are wondering about.
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For parents who want to use a faith lens while talking to their children about sex, but is also great for non-religious parents. Kate gives great examples of possible situations and offers suggestions on how to respond to scenarios without judgment or shame. This is a very approachable, sex positive book. It makes conversing about sex with your children as natural and healthy vs a scary topic. www.kateott.org
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You need to buy this book whether you have daughters or sons. Filled with depth and insight, it shows us that we need to do better in understanding the landscape girls are navigating in high school in college and opens the door to dialogue.
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Highlights the importance of talking with our kids about sex and why as adults we are afraid of doing so. His words are easy, helpful, informative, and calming. This book encourages creating a philosophy around sex for parents and families and what to teach, something Kara teaches in her workshops. It also reframes sexuality for youth to not simply think of it as sex, but as being a whole person and how we live our lives together.
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As parents and caregivers, we are a child's first sex educators and as our children navigate the world each day more on screens, equipping ourselves to have conversations with them about sex and porn is important. The author provides guidance and help on how we can process our own views and feelings about porn to aid in these conversations.
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Sex education and statistics for youth, resources on rights and justice.
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Sexual health for teens and young adults from the American Sexual Health Association
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Unbiased information on social media, apps, and navigating the web with responsibility.
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Dedicated to teaching about consent and helping to prevent abuse.
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This bookis a look at puberty with the newest data (2024) around how our kids are experiencing it today. It is changing from when were kids. I strongly recommend.
Children
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Kindness is contagious and this book shows just that. This book has no words and takes you through how modeling behavior is impactful.
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This is a great book that shows the way our emotions get the best of us and how they change.
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This was a beautiful book to understand transgender, cisgender, nonbinary, and gender fluid. It was beautifully illustrated and had simple language to help our young ones and old ones learn the spectrum of gender.
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This does a nice job helping your child understand feelings and how we all go through them and need understanding. It gives different times of how we may feel and what we can do to be there for the other. It provides questions to ask and action steps while reading and more to think about as a parent, educator, or teacher.
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This is a children’s book about puberty and is good to read together, open questions and start conversations with. It includes illustrations of how bodies look and how they change over time.
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The largest sex organ in the body is the brain, so why not learn about how it is needed for our whole body?! We are all about holistic education around sexuality and this is a part of it.
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fell in love with this adorable book on love - love between anyone.
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This book highlights how we all can be different in the things we may like and how we may look, but we can all experience the same emotions. The books illustrates empathy and acceptance. There are also guided questions in the back for each page to enhance conversation.
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A great book illustrating what consent is and the boundaries we have for ourselves. It shows body language and how we can celebrate the yes and respect the no. I also appreciate the representation of many individuals.
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This is the best! Super cute with great information presented in an easy way to understand. You and your child will love reading this book.
Youth &
Teens
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What a wonderful resource to teach preteens - adults about mental health. This explains so well about the brain and its many parts on how they interact with one another. This book teaches the big emotions we have and how we can care for them through comics that provide that visual we need sometimes to make sense of big concepts. Really great!
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This book covers physical and emotional changes that come with puberty, covers how bodies of girls change too, sexual harassment, orientation and identity (briefly), how to make a baby, sexual intercourse, masturbation, STDs, and then common worries and questions. Read the book ahead of time, then talk with your sons as they read the book.
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This looks at healing holistically and would be great to use with a therapist. This would be a good resource to have if you are aware your child has suffered trauma.
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If you were to have one book for your child to help them through adolescence.....THIS IS IT! Filled with information boxes and an extremely visual format, it provides information in a clear and concise way covering everything related to the body, puberty, social media, port, relationships, bullying, and managing money.
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This book is good to read with your child going through puberty. The author takes time to focus on the emotions involved with puberty, beyond physical changes. While the writing is advanced in the emotional context, it has good talking points and to have on hand.
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This is a great book to give your daughters to teach them about their menstrual cycle. The book covers anatomy, changes that happen with puberty, body image - including talking about how genitals also look different for everyone, hygiene, and doctor examinations. It's an easy read and there is a parent's guide in the back of the book. It is an older book, so there are some options for hygiene where extra teaching and discussion is encouraged.
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A must buy covering the word sex, in terms of what it means and in its many uses, this book also includes relationships, gender identity, bodies, appropriate and appropriate touch, privacy, and word used to describe sexual feelings, and words that can help or hurt. The book reflects diversity and puts complex issues into simple language with playful illustrations, simple questions for discussion, activities and a glossary. This is a perfect book to read with alongside your kids (8 years old +). Older children can read this on their own.
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A graphic novel about just what it says; puberty, sex, friendships, gender identity, orientation, having crushes and more. This book also has fun activities to do to really engage the reader. Perfect for today’s youth!
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427 pages of pure knowledge, this book is a great reference for questions and to look up information in a simple to use, but comprehensive format — a great gift for your teen or young adult child.
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This book was co-written by a colleague of Kara’s who is an excellent sexual health educator. An excellent book that has wonderful illustrations that are not scary that Kara uses frequently and is a fantastic teaching tool.
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A comprehensive book on how our bodies change, sex, birth, and sexual health with great information and friendly illustrations. Read it with your child so you can answer any questions.
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This graphic novel features lovely illustrations representing all bodies and different genitals with characters that have honest conversations on many topics including consent, relationship, safety, masturbation, and rejection. Recommended for older teens and young adults.
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Sex, Etc. is on a mission to improve teen sexual health across the country by teens for teens. Each year, 5 million people visit this site to get honest and accurate sexual health information on sex, STDs, birth control, sexual identity and more without judgment or an agenda. Sex, Etc. is published by Answer - Sex Ed, Honestly
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Sex education by both youth and professionals based out of New Jersey
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Sexuality education and statistics for youth, resources on rights and justice
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Comprehensive education for teens and adults through American Sexual Health Association
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This website has information on everything related to sex, relationships, health, identity - there are also forums to ask questions
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An online forum and organization designed for girls of color ages to help during the time of puberty to find their voice and to love themselves
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Canadian site dedicated to educating youth about their bodies through fun, engaging and entertaining videos filmed in real classrooms filled with kids
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Engaging, educating and empowering young people to prevent and end abusive relationships
LGBTQIA+
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In her groundbreaking National Geographic documentary, Katie Couric explores what the words “gender” and “transgender” meanings in a way everyone can understand.
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Working to change law, policy and attitudes so all people can live safely, authentically and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.
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Empowering families and children by partnering with educators, service providers and communities to develop supportive environments in which gender may be expressed and respected.
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The words we use to refer to the LGBT community and issues can have a powerful impact on our conversations. The right words can open people’s hearts and minds, while the wrong ones can cause distance and confusion. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) created this PDF to assist in making the terminology less intimidating.
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A full glossary of terms and definitions on gender identity and orientation from social justice author, author and comedian Sam Killermann.
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An online encyclopedia for LGBTQ+ and Christian life coordinated and edited by Lutheran pastor, Emmy R. Kegler
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A national organization with resources, events, and gatherings for a world in which all LGBTQ Jews and families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity.
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This organization was started by school teachers to make sure that all students who identify as LGBTQIA+ feel safe and are provided with resources.
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Designed to connect, inform, and empower LGBTQIAP2+ and ally students, parents, and educators.
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The Northwest Network of Bi, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse works to end violence and abuse by building loving and equitable relationships in our community and across the country.
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A survivor-led, social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, SM, polyamorous, and queer communities
Religion
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If you grew up with purity culture then you need to spend time with this book. It highlights so well the troubles many have endured with the shame that some religious cultures bestow upon us. Some of these messages inhibit our ability to have the thriving connections and sex lives we hope for.
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Nadia does a beautiful job of unpacking ideas many have held for years around purity and sexuality. She uses her personal interactions with her parishioners and their stories around sexual shame to help explain how shame is essentially what God did not have in mind. This relatable book discusses the biblical stories brilliantly.
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With a network of 12,000 religious leaders and people of faith, the Religious Institute is a multi-faith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual, gender, and reproductive health, education, and justice in faith communities and society.
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Body
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For those who have experienced trauma or know anyone else who has, this book helps us understand the way our mind and body are intimately connected. Trauma leaves lasting impacts on our hearts and souls and this book helps us understand why. When we don't work through our trauma it can stay with us, which then affects how we enter into relationships and how we are in sexual partnerships - this provides insight into how to work through trauma.
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One of the best books Kara has read on body image and justice that everyone should read.
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Established to educate, support and raise public awareness on pelvic pain.
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This birth control support network includes information on birth control methods to provide guidance and encourage women to take an active role in their reproductive health.
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This downloadable app provides information about puberty, relationships, and sex directed to teens and young adults.