“It’s time we had the talk.”

No six words strike more terror into the heart of a teen, not to mention the parent who has been practicing them in front of a mirror.

Luckily, Lawrence Public Library has a great program coming up for parents, as well as resources available to get these important conversations going in the right direction.

At 7 p.m. Sept. 30 in the library auditorium, Lawrence Journal-World Double Take columnist Dr. Wes Crenshaw will talk to parents of teens about consent, building healthy relationships, and sex education in the Internet age. A Kansas licensed psychologist, Dr. Wes has extensive experience working with adults, teens and couples. His program is part of Teen Health Month in the library’s Health Spot, which is a partnership between Lawrence Public Library and Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

I asked the library’s stellar Readers Services librarian, Polli Kenn, to recommend a few books to supplement Dr. Wes’ program. She sent me a list of favorites along with her reviews, both as a parent and librarian. All are available at the library. Some are written for parents, while others are for kids.

Without further ado — drumroll please — here are Polli’s Picks:

The best sex-ed book I’ve read, hands down.

“For Goodness Sex: Changing the Way We Talk to Teens about Sexuality, Values, and Health” is written by Al Vernacchio, an educator for over 20 years. This book made me want to do a huge fundraiser to get teachers from every school trained by Mr. V (as his students call him), giving every kid the opportunity to talk openly and honestly with a trusted adult about sex. You’ll also find Mr. V’s great TED talks online.

I liked this one. Comprehensive, from birth through teen, but if you’ve put off the talk, the whole book could be helpful!

“Everything you Never Wanted Your Kids to Know about Sex (But Were Afraid They’d Ask)” by Justin Richardson and Mark Schuster. Written by two Harvard-trained physicians, this book reveals the secrets to surviving your child’s sexual development from birth through the teens. Both practical and funny, it’s a great resource for parents.

If your kid is questioning, you might be, too!

“Queer: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens” by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke. This book was a very good intro for anyone who might be questioning at all, but honestly, it was a nice guide for any teen. Obviously it’s written for a very specific audience, but you could almost replace “queer” for “a teenager,” as the topics were that universal. The authors do a nice job of keeping things light, but they do cover some serious topics, such as how making a backup plan in case coming out doesn’t go smoothly, or how to handle harassment or even violence. The Resource Guide at the end was tremendously helpful.

Not a “teen” book, but a really fabulous book. Mostly for 7- to 10-year-olds, but a great conversation starter for any age, truly.

“Sex is a Funny Word” by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth is a brand new book that is inclusive, positive, colorful and written for kids age 7 to 10. Written like a graphic novel, the book follows four very different kids as they talk about bodies, sex, gender, touching, consent and relationships. Silverberg and Smyth do a wonderful job of helping kids, their parents, and caregivers think critically by presenting information through the lenses of respect, trust, joy and justice.

Haven’t gotten to read this one, but it’s on our shelves and I want to review it.

“Does This Happen to Everyone? A Budding Adult’s Guide to Puberty” by Antje Helms. From the catalog: Insightful and considerate answers to 70 questions boys and girls have about puberty and young love. Even before they experience puberty and young love themselves, girls and boys have many questions about sex and sexuality, and parents often don’t know the best way to answer them. Especially today, when most young people have access to the Internet and its explicit or dubious content, it is extremely important to address the topic of sex education with children proactively and give it the attention it deserves.

We’ll help you step away from that mirror and have a healthy conversation with your teen about these difficult topics. Come hear Dr. Wes on Sept. 30th at 7 p.m., and always remember that the LPL has many resources to provide support for you!

— Kathleen Morgan is Lawrence Public Library’s Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. Her title earns her the highest Scrabble score among library staff.