While many sex ed sources cover the start of one's fertile years, uterus owners are rarely told what to expect when their reproductive years end. This comic anthology sets out to demystify and break down taboos around talking about menopause. 25 artists come together in this collection to share their experience with menopause in the first comic anthology of its kind.

Folks approaching perimenopause or those currently experiencing perimenopause/menopause will appreciate the candid discussion of this topic in this collection.

In this funny and unflinching graphic memoir, the author explores her journey of discovering and embracing her body, sexuality, and self. The title explores the deep shame about sex that arises from a religious upbringing and being raised in Western culture. While the author's experience is unique to themselves, readers will relate to the fact that some of our earliest impressions of sex can be some of the most impactful, for better or for worse.

Women readers will primarily relate to the messages the author received about her body and her sexuality throughout her life. Still, all readers will probably find some truth to feelings of shame around sex.

Sexual content, Infertility, Sexual Assault

Oh Joy Sex Toy started as a sex toy review webcomic drawn and written by artist Erika Moen. She later recruited her husband, Matthew Nolan, to review toys designed for people with penises. Then, she started inviting guest artists to create comics about their experiences with sex, kink, bodies, birth control, and so much more. Now Oh Joy Sex Toy has been offering visitors reviews, sex-ed comics, and erotica for 11 years. With their expansive work with diverse guest artists, they have created a catalog of sex-ed comics for adults that revivals many other sources of sexual health information regarding the breadth of topics covered.

While you can't put this resource on your shelf, it is a great digital resource for adult looking to expand their sexual knowledge, especially if they are queer or looking for information about kink.

Explicit Content, must verify age to view site.

This unique graphic novel depicts a series of interviews the author did to explore the wide variety of differences when it comes to gender expression. While many works of graphic nonfiction about gender take the form of graphic memoirs and explore one individual's experience, this work seeks to share and celebrate the wide breadth of experiences when it comes to gender in a documentary-like style. This work takes the concept of "gender is a spectrum" and adds nuance by putting faces to the many people who fall on all places on that spectrum.

For anyone who already has "Gender 101" covered and is looking for a more nuanced conversation about gender.

Discussions of homophobia, transphobia, feelings of dysphoria, and suicidal ideation.

A Quick and Easy Guide to Consent highlights a topic frequently boiled down to "no means no" in sex education if it is even mentioned at all. The narrator, Sargeant Yes Means Yes, discusses the importance of affirmative consent (everyone gives a big yes, instead of just everyone involved not saying no) with a handful of couples of various configurations (queer, straight, etc.) Sarge answers their questions and provides examples of what consent (and situations that are not consensual) might look like in the real world. This title also includes additional resources and checklists at the back of the book to help folks explore the topic more.

This is a great jump-off point for starting discussions with teens about consent.

Discussions of coercion and sexual assault

A. Andrews is a queer artist with spina bifida and incomplete paralysis, addressing an aspect of sex education that is rarely discussed, even by many reliable sources of information on the topic of sex and disability. The CDC says that 1 in 4 adults is dealing with some form of disability, meaning that many folks are not getting the information they need when it comes to sex and relationships. This title is an excellent start to that conversation. While not comprehensive (they did say quick and easy in the title), this book covers essential topics like communication and commonly available tools to help folks with physical disabilities get the support they need in the bedroom. Folks of all abilities will walk away from this title having a better understanding of how disability can affect people's experience of sex.

If you or someone you love has a disability (especially a physical disability) and is struggling to figure out how to experience all aspects of a romantic relationship, this is a must-read.

Written by well-known webcomic sex education married duo Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, they are getting a chance to bring their knowledge and passion for sex education to the folks who need it the most, teens, in this graphic novel. This inclusive guide helps teens answer the most commonly asked question by human beings - am I normal? This guide covers many essential topics like relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, jealousy, and rejection. What makes this title noteworthy is its discussion of sexting, which is often overlooked in sex education guides for younger people. Still, it can have legal consequences for minors, which many young people do not realize.

A must-have for any sex-ed collection.

Sexual content, discussions of unhealthy relationships, including abuse.

This title is written by the founder and director of Scarleteen.com, a popular website for teens to get reliable information about sex and relationships, in collaboration with cartoonist and sex educator Isabella Rotman. This title follows a group of friends (who have a range of gender expressions and sexual orientations) as they navigate puberty, crushes, and emerging sexual feelings and figure out their gender and sexuality. Essential issues like consent and body image are discussed in a digestible way for teens. Unlike many other books, this book includes activities like crosswords and word searches to make the title more interactive.

Teens looking for answers to the questions they have about puberty and sexuality that feels like asking a friend, but with much more accurate information.

A rare fiction title in the realm of puberty and sex education, this story follows four girls as they try to get free period products in their school's bathrooms. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves and what it means to be a good friend. Though each girl has personal experience with their period, topics like having your first period later than most of your peers and having period pain that affects you going to school (and how that is not normal) are explored. Though this title is set in a high school, many middle-grade readers will also get a lot out of it.

Budding feminists will love the activism at the center of this story.

Published by the Mayo Clinic, this gender-inclusive guide to menstruation will help any young uterus owner feel more prepared for getting their period. This guide covers basic biology, period management, and some common issues and concerns in an approachable and character-driven way. This title also includes tips for adults and a glossary of terms in the back to help caregivers start conversations with the young people in their lives about menstruation.

Caregivers of folks approaching puberty will appreciate this informative and inclusive guide. Still, with its fun and colorful art style, young people with questions about periods will likely pick it up independently.

Known for their sex ed titles in picture book format, "What Makes a Baby" and "Sex Is a Funny Word," Silverberg and Smyth set out to create an inclusive sex ed title that goes beyond biology lessons and vocab words to discuss essential topics the modern young person needs to know about like body autonomy, pornography, trauma, masturbation, and consent and boundaries. With illustrations that depict a diverse group of people, both regarding race and ability, and gender-inclusive language, this title is an update to the conversation we have with young people about sex, puberty, and bodies that is sorely needed.

The tagline for the book describes it as "essential for kids, everyone who knows a kid, and anyone who has ever been a kid."