Talking about sex with children has never been easy, and with online, television and other outside information bombarding them at an earlier age than ever before, it is becoming even more complex and essential to their health and well-being.

Our advice is to go to the book store, page through the parenting books that address sex education, and choose one that seems to be talking directly to your child and saying what you believe to be true. Read it yourself first, so you won't have any surprises when you share it. Perhaps the best advice I ever got was from my daughter's first-grade teacher, who said, "Remember, you are your child's best teacher. You are the smartest person she knows, and she trusts you to tell her the truth."

If you are dreading questions about the "birds and bees" or just want to be well prepared for when your child asks where babies come from, here are some child-friendly books to get you started:

"It's NOT the Stork" by Robie H. Harris; Candlewick Press, $17.99. Ages: 3-7

Third in a series of books for children of different ages, this new volume successfully tackles those endless questions preschoolers and early-elementary-aged students ask about body parts and babies. The book's characters include uses a curious bird that says things like, "Well, my privates are under my feathers," and a shy bee, who is much more interested in meeting insects and flowers than learning how the sperm meets the egg. A perfect starting point for sex education. Others in the series include "It's So Amazing" for ages 7 and up, and "It's Perfectly Normal" for 10 and up.

"What's the Big Secret?" by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown; Little, Brown and Co., $6.99. Ages: Preschoolers

Whimsical illustrations should make this brightly colored picture book very appealing to both pre-school children and their parents. Marc Brown, the creator of the popular Arthur books, with his wife has produced a series of guides featuring dinosaurs to help children understand death, divorce, health and other subjects. This children's guide to sex answers questions like, "How do you tell girls and boys apart" and "Is sex a dirty word?" in a warm, gentle way. We especially liked the nonsexist way it explains "starting a baby."

"Amazing You! Getting Smart About Your Private Parts" by Dr. Gail Saltz; Dutton Children's Books, $15.99. Ages: Preschoolers

This is another guide to body awareness with terrific illustrations for preschoolers. Saltz, a practicing psychiatrist in New York, carefully leads younger boys and girls through basic information in such a way as to promote pride in their own bodies, including their genitals. Her author's note for parents says most preschool children are not ready to hear about intercourse yet, but they want to know where in Mom's body the baby grows and how it gets out.

"Do not make up stories involving storks or other magical events. Be honest with your children — it ruins the trust if you make up a story you later have to correct," she says.

"What's Happening to My Body?" by Lynda Madaras; Newmarket Press, $12.95. Ages: 10 and up

Lynda Madaras has been answering questions about body hair, sexual feelings, voice changes and the menstrual cycle for kids 10 and up, for more than 20 years. This summer her growing-up guides, "What's Happening to My Body for Boys" and "What's Happening to My Body for Girls," and her "My Body, My Self" books of quizzes, checklists, games and journal pages, were updated with new covers and illustrations, plus crucial information on AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and eating disorders. These books are not "starters," but they are very informative and honest and should bare good follow-ups for simpler books.

"The Boy's Body Book" by Kelli Dunham; Applesauce Press, $9.95. Ages: Boys 10-12

You have questions? We have answers! This book promises — and delivers — straight talk on topics including from razor burns, to wet dreams, and peer pressure to crying.

"Think of crying as taking out the trash so your body feels better. Don't keep the trash around. Cry if you need to," Dunham advises.

A former nun turned stand-up comic (whose act isn't necessarily kid-appropriate), she offers solid advice with a quick wit and an attitude that tips on "Everything You Need to Know for Growing up You." This book should be especially appealing to boys with attitudes of their own.