LGBTQ+ Books for Children

Published on 20 June 2024 at 13:34

Happy Pride Month! Many people question how to best discuss LGBTQ+ identities with the children in their lives. Certainly, there are age appropriate ways of addressing their questions. In this article, I've done my best to collect lists of children's books organized by age to help you select books that will help you have meaningful conversations at home.

 

*Please note that I have not read all of these books. I encourage you to do your own research to find the book/s right for you and your family and to use this resource merely as a guide.

Image Description: Rainbow stripes painted across a canvas. The slightly bumpy texture of the canvas is visible through the paint. The paint globs in some spots providing additional texture.

Credit: Steve Johnson / Unsplash

LGBTQ+ Books for Children

Ages 0 and Up

  • My Two Dads and Me by Michael Joosten/Izak Zenou
  • My Two Moms and Me by Michael Joosten/Izak Zenou
  • Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart, illustrated by Ann Passchier
  • Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
  • Families Belong by Dan Saks, illustrated by Brooke Smart

    Ages 2 and Up

    • Julián Is A Mermaid by Jessica Love
    • Patience, Patches! by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Sheryl Murray
    • I Think We Can! by G.M. King, illustrated by Jill Howarth

    Ages 3 and Up

    • Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley
    • Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster by Manka Kasha (Amz)
    • I’m Not a Girl by Maddox Lyons and Jessica Verdi/Dana Simpson (Amz)
    • From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom, Kai Yung Ching, and Wai-Yant Li (gender-variant)
    • Mommy, Mama, and Me by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson
    • Daddy, Papa, and Me by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson

    • Pride Puppy by Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin

    • The Family Book by Todd Parr
    • Families by Sheila M. Kelly, Shelley Rotner
    • A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan
    • Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
    • A Church for All by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Laure Fournier
    • Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang
    • Téo's Tutu by Maryann Jacob Macias, illustrated by Alea Marley
    • ABC Pride by Louie Stowell and Elly Barnes, illustrated by Amy Phelps
    • Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

    Ages 4 and Up

    • Big Wig by Jonathan Hillman/Levi Hastings
    • Cinderella and a Mouse Called Fred by Deborah Hopkinson/Paul O. Zelinsky
    • When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff/Kaylani Juanita
    • Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio/Leo Espinosa (Amz)
    • Door by Door: How Sarah McBride Became America’s First Openly Transgender Senator by Meeg Pincus/Meredith McKean Gimbel

    Ages 6 and Up

    • Love is Love by Michael Genhart, Illustrated by Ken Min
    • Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar
    • It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn, illustrated by Noah Grigni
    • I am Jazz by Jazz Jennings, Jessica Herthel, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
    • Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
    • This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
    • Maiden & Princess by Daniel Haack, Isabel Galupo, illustrated by Becca Human
    • My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal, Trinity Neal, illustrated by Art Wink
    • Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, illustrated by Daniel Sousa
    • Hocus and Pocus and the Spell for Home by A.R. Capetta/Charlene Chua

    7 Years and Up

    • Riley Reynolds Crushes Costume Day by Jay Albee
    • Call Me Max and Max and the Talent Show by Kyle Lukoff/Luciano Lozano (Amz)

    8 Years and Up

    • Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes from Past & Present! by Arabelle Sicardi, illustrated by Sarah Tanat-Jones

    • The Deep and Dark Blue by Niki Smith

    • Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker

    • Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino

    • Where the Lost Ones Go by Akemi Dawn Bowman

    Sources

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