11 Best Puberty Books for Boys (Ages 8 to 14)
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The short answer: The best puberty books for boys match your son’s age and how much he’s ready to know. For ages 8 to 10, start with Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys or Growing Up Great! For ages 10 to 13, try the American Medical Association Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen. Older teens do well with What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Boys. Read it first, hand it over without a big speech, and keep the door open.
Let’s be honest. Talking about puberty with our sons can feel awkward and embarrassing, for him and for us.
Not only is it hard to know what to say, our boys aren’t always the biggest fans of hearing about “it” from Mom. That’s where a good book helps. He can read it in private, at his own pace, and come back to it when a new question pops up at 11 p.m.
Here are my favorite puberty books for tween and teen boys, grouped by age, plus two books just for you.
In this post:
- Books for ages 8 to 10
- Books for ages 10 to 13
- Books for ages 12 and up
- Books for Mom
- When should my son start reading about puberty?
- How do I give him the book without making it awkward?
- What the research says
- When to talk to his doctor
- Questions moms ask
Puberty Books for Boys Ages 8 to 10
These are gentle, friendly first books. Great for a tween who hasn’t started changing yet, or who’s just noticing the first signs.
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys
By: Dr. Cara Natterson (pediatrician) | Best for: ages 8 and up
Why I like it: It’s written by a pediatrician who talks to boys like they’re smart and capable. The tone is calm and matter-of-fact, which takes the embarrassment out of it.
What’s inside: Acne, hair care, voice changes, growth spurts, healthy eating, sleep and hygiene, with tips and how-tos.
Guy Stuff Feelings: Everything You Need to Know About Your Emotions
By: Dr. Cara Natterson | Best for: ages 8 to 12
Why I like it: Our boys feel just as much as our girls do. They just don’t always have the words. This book gives them the words.
What’s inside: Naming and handling anger, sadness, embarrassment and happiness, plus healthy ways to express big feelings.
Good to know: It’s the companion to Guy Stuff, so the two make a great pair.
Growing Up Great! The Ultimate Puberty Book for Boys
By: Scott Todnem (health teacher) | Best for: ages 8 to 14
Why I like it: Written by a middle school health teacher who clearly gets boys. It’s upbeat, reassuring and easy to read.
What’s inside: Body changes, hygiene, nutrition and exercise, privacy and consent, peer pressure, friendships and family.
Good to know: It briefly and matter-of-factly explains arousal, masturbation and sex. Skim it first so you know what he’ll read.
The Boy’s Body Book (Fifth Edition): Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up!
By: Kelli Dunham, RN | Best for: tweens about 9 to 12
Why I like it: A nurse wrote it with boys in mind, including the embarrassing stuff. The newest edition adds the online world our kids actually live in.
What’s inside: Body changes and hygiene, plus self-esteem, stress, friendships, boundaries and consent, and cyberbullying and internet safety.
Free download: 5 Essential Parenting Scripts
Not sure what to say when he rolls his eyes, shuts down or says “I don’t want to talk about it”? Get my free scripts for the conversations that matter most with your tween or teen.
Puberty Books for Boys Ages 10 to 13
For the middle school years, when the changes are real and the questions get bigger.
American Medical Association Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen
By: American Medical Association, with Kate Gruenwald Pfeifer | Best for: ages 9 to 12
Why I like it: Moms love that it comes from doctors. It’s accurate and straightforward, without being scary.
What’s inside: Physical and emotional changes, acne and skin care, and the reproductive system inside and out.
What’s Going On Down There? A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up
By: Karen Gravelle | Best for: ages 9 and up
Why I like it: It was written with input from preteen boys, so it answers the questions they actually have.
What’s inside: Physical changes, sexual feelings, consent and harassment, and using social media safely.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth
By: Jeff Kinney | Best for: ages 8 to 12
Why I like it: This isn’t a health book, and that’s the point. Greg Heffley’s awkward growing-up moments give your son a reason to laugh about it, and laughing helps.
What’s inside: Greg navigates friendship drama, school pressure and the weird changes that come with getting older.
Good to know: Great for a reluctant reader. Pair it with one of the health books above.
Puberty Books for Boys Ages 12 and Up
For older tweens and teens who want more detail and straight answers.
What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Boys (Revised Edition)
By: Lynda Madaras with Area Madaras | Best for: ages 10 and up, great for teens
Why I like it: A classic for a reason. It’s reassuring and down-to-earth, with real stories from boys.
What’s inside: Growth spurts, voice changes, reproductive organs, romantic and sexual feelings, plus a note to parents and a resource section.
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Sex, and Sexual Health
By: Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Michael Emberley | Best for: ages 10 and up
Why I like it: It answers nearly every question a teen might be too embarrassed to ask, and it’s trusted around the world.
What’s inside: Puberty, reproduction, sexual health, relationships and staying safe.
Good to know: It has very frank, detailed drawings. Please preview it first. Many families save it for older teens, and faith-based families may prefer to start with Guy Stuff or the AMA guide.
Books for Mom: Understanding Your Tween or Teen Boy
Sometimes the best book is the one we read first.
Decoding Boys: New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons
By: Dr. Cara Natterson | Best for: moms of tweens and teens
Why I like it: If your sweet, chatty boy suddenly went quiet, this book explains why. It’s one of my favorite books for moms of boys.
What’s inside: Why boys pull away in puberty, how to keep talking, privacy, gaming and screens, and teaching consent.
This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained
By: Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett | Best for: parents of tweens and teens
Why I like it: Puberty starts earlier than it did for us. This book catches us up on what our kids face now.
What’s inside: Body, emotional and social changes, how to talk about acne and mood swings, plus social media and mental health.
When Should My Son Start Reading About Puberty?
Earlier than you think. For most boys, puberty starts somewhere between 9 and 14. I’d put a first book in his hands around 8 or 9, before the changes start, so nothing catches him off guard.
If he’s 12 or 13 and you haven’t started yet, that’s okay. It’s never too late. Pick a book from the older list and begin today.
How Do I Give Him the Book Without Making It Awkward?
- Read it first. You’ll know what’s in it and be ready for his questions.
- Keep it low-key. No big sit-down speech. Hand it over in the car or leave it on his bed.
- Give him privacy. Let him read it alone, on his own time.
- Leave the door open. Let him know he can ask you anything, any time, and you won’t freak out.
With a tween, try saying: “Hey, I got you this book. Every kid’s body changes, and this explains it way better than I could. If you ever have questions, I’m here.”
With a teen, try saying: “I’m not going to make this weird. I left a book in your room that answers a lot of questions guys have. Read it or don’t, but I’m always here if you want to talk.”
Boys often open up side by side, not face to face. Car rides, late-night snacks and shooting hoops are golden. More ideas in My Son Is Pulling Away: 9 Ways to Stay Close to Your Teen Son.
What the Research Says
- Boys are starting puberty earlier. A study in Pediatrics of more than 4,000 U.S. boys found signs of puberty starting around age 10 for white and Hispanic boys and about 9 for Black boys, up to two years earlier than older research. (MPR News on the 2012 study)
- Boys hear less from their parents. In a study of 409 young adults, boys were less likely than girls to have been talked to about puberty and sexuality, and when they were, it happened later. Among those who said they got no information at all, far more were boys. (International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 2003)
Our sons need these conversations just as much as our daughters do. A good book gives you a place to start.
When to Talk to His Doctor
Every boy grows on his own schedule. Puberty usually starts between about 9 and 14. Check in with his doctor if you see signs of puberty before age 9, or no signs at all by age 14 (HSE, KidsHealth). Also reach out if he seems very worried about his body, stops eating well, or seems down for more than a couple of weeks.
Questions Moms Ask About Puberty Books for Boys
What age should a boy read a puberty book?
Around 8 or 9 is a great time for a first book, before the changes start. Older boys do well with more detailed books like What’s Happening to My Body?
What’s the best first puberty book for boys?
Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys and Growing Up Great! are both friendly, accurate starting points for tweens.
Should Dad give him the book instead?
If Dad or another trusted man is up for it, wonderful. But moms can absolutely do this. What matters most is that he knows he can come to you.
Are there puberty books for girls too?
Yes! Here are The 8 Best Puberty Books for Girls.
More for Moms of Tween and Teen Boys
- Breaking Down Puberty in Boys and Girls: 5 Expert Podcasts
- 6 Tips to Get Your Tween or Teen Boy to Shower Without Nagging
- 9 Things a Teen Boy Wants His Mom to Know
- My Son Is Pulling Away: 9 Ways to Stay Close to Your Teen Son
Mama, you don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to keep showing up. He’s growing into the young man God made him to be, and you get a front-row seat.
xo Sheryl
Mama, you don’t have to do this alone
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Want help with the hard conversations?
Grab my free 5 Essential Parenting Scripts, with simple words for disrespect, boundaries, motivation, screen time and talking with your tween or teen.
Sheryl Gould is the founder of Moms of Tweens and Teens, a Parent and Relationship Coach with 18 years of experience, a mom of three, the author of SOS! The Technology Guidebook for Parents of Tweens and Teens, and the host of the Moms of Tweens and Teens podcast.
