Books for children about sex organs

[Ketrick]

My 9-year-old has expressed a desire to know what a vagina looks like. He has awareness about eggs being fertilised by sperm, and that sperm is made in the testicles (they have a special book on that in the children's section in the Barbican library). We have talked in an frank and unembarassed, but gentle, way about loving relationships and "special cuddling", and that babies come out of vaginas. So I would like to know if there is a book out there anywhere, suitable for a 9 year old, not with photographs, but with illustrations showing the human sex organs in clear detail. He is very sensible and scientifically-minded and I do not want to make the subject of vaginas taboo for him. Thanks for any book ideas.

My favourite will either be too advanced or perfect, depending on your son. We?ve used it from his age (supervised) through to IGCSE?s and are still using it.

It?s cross sections and drawings not photo?s. (like a Gray?s anatomy for smart kids/students) Frontal drawings are of whole bodies with just a delicate V, but cross sections are wonderfully scientific drawings, and everything and a whole lot more needed for explaining the human body, implantation, foetal development, labour, menstruation etc, which may be more than you want. Be aware it also covers diseases and disorders, including prostate, herpes and gonorrhoea, and I didn?t leave son with free access until he was a bit older, as I wanted to get like/love/lust sorted out first, but we used it as an excellent scientific resource that raised and helped me answer a thousand and one questions.

There are versions aimed at younger ones which you might prefer.

Dorling Kindersly Human Body ISBN 0-7513-3514-2
www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Human_Body-An_Illustrated_Guide_to_Every_Part_of_the_Human_Body_and_HHow_It/0751335142/

Thank you so much for this info JustGettingOnWithIt, I will see if they have them at the library and have a look beforehand. I thought nobody was going to reply to me, so I really appreciate it. I have also bought him a copy of Let's Talk About Sex by Robie H Harris, because I think he'll keep that around for the years ahead. I feel comfortable with being open with him about these things while he's at this age, in case he gets too self-conscious and embarrassed to ask about these things when he is a teenager.