Kids have a natural curiosity and they invariably come up with a whole slew of questions relating to health and life. Often parents are caught off guard and are unsure about how much to tell their kids, and in some cases they may not fully know the answers themselves. Retailers can come to the rescue by carrying some books that answer these inevitable questions in age-appropriate ways so parents can feel more at ease and won't have to default to misleading and confusing their kids. The following are a few of our choices.

By Robie H. Harris

This book, targeted at kids ages 4 and up, answers the inevitable questions that preschoolers have about gender, bodies, and, of course, where babies come from, in an age-appropriate manner through the use of illustration and two cartoon characters. ($16.99) Walker Books, New York

by Joy Masoff

This hands-on approach to bumps, bruises and broken bones features opportunities to stitch up a cut, sign a cast and run one's fingers over a sandpaper scab. At the same time, kids can learn about what really happens in each of these scenarios with the help of rhyming text. ($9.95) Sterling Publishing, New York