Age-appropriate info on human reproduction for 5yo?

[NYCVeg]

We have a highly verbal, intelligent 5-year-old. She's been asking some "where do babies come from" type questions lately and I feel like...we're just not answering effectively. I believe strongly in giving her correct and honest information , but I'm having trouble gauging the amount of info that's appropriate for this particular query. FWIW, we're not at all squeamish about sex or body parts here--we call things by their proper names, dd knows about menstruation and other bodily functions, etc. A good book recommendation would also be helpful, as everything we've found seems pitched for much older kids. Many thank for any help!

[Tjej]

We've enjoyed the Flip Flap Body Book by usborne.  It has one section on gestation.  It talks about sperm and baby growth, but it doesn't actually say how the sperm gets into mom.  It would be easy to just talk about that too if you wanted to, or not if you didn't.

The other two sections are nice too - really a fun book, IMO.  And what kid doesn't like flaps?

I should say - it isn't perfect.  I have had to repeatedly tell my kids that boy and girl making sperm aren't really different colors, they just do that in the book so you can know they are different.  I hadn't really planned to talk about the COLOR of sperm at this stage. :)  But it's still a great book.

Tjej

[TiredX2]

I would highly recommend, "It's Not The Stork":
 

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319562050&sr=8-1

I really like this series of books because it is done in cartoons (which is a pain to read outloud) with one topic on each page.  That way you can go right to what you want to cover and easily skip things if you don't want to talk about them right then.

The next book in the series is "It's So Amazing:

http://www.amazon.com/Its-So-Amazing-Families-Library/dp/0763613215/ref=pd_sim_b_1

And then "It's Perfectly Normal":

http://www.amazon.com/Its-Perfectly-Normal-Changing-Growing/dp/0763644846/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319562200&sr=1-1

A "warning"--- these are body positive book, so while I don't remember it in in the first definately the third and probably the second have positive messages about masturbation.  I know that bothers some people, but the person I know who was anti-masturbation was able to skip that part and still use these books.

[Daffodil]

We have It's So Amazing! which is intended for kids 7 and up, but I think it's fine for a 5 year old.  I think it's good, and my kids (5 and 8) seem to find it interesting.  It's Not the Stork! is intended for kids 4 and up, and would probably also be a good choice. 

[NYCVeg]

Thanks so much! These look perfect. (And TiredX2, we're definitely "body positive"!)

[jeslynn]

Thank you for posting this question!