Happy Pride Month! These are some of our favorite books with representation of LGBTQ+ characters and families. Some of them simply counteract common gender stereotypes.
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LGBTQ+ representation in children’s books has been a contentious issue in our school district recently (and in others, as well). Regardless of parents’ views, all children deserve developmentally appropriate books with characters that provide positive representation of themselves and their families. Children and families who are not LGBTQ+benefit from seeing these diverse aspects of identity normalized and valued. These books are warm, imaginative, and engaging for young children. They have fostered important conversations in our home.
“All embracing
Spirit gracing
Each one at our church for all!”
A Church For All by Gayle Pitman, illustrated by Laure Fournier
What a special book! With very simple rhyming text, this is a beautiful celebration of a church community that celebrates people of different races, ethnicities, abilities, ages, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientations (implied by pictures of same-sex couples). You can feel the warm, joyful noise of this inclusive community, where people are caring for one another, laughing, connecting, and worshiping together. This book is such a joy! Ages 3-5
“Look up! The sun shines on everyone.
There are plenty of fish in the sea.
There’s a buzz for each bug,
and a breeze for each tree,
and plenty of hugs for you and me.”
Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Kate Alizadeh
This is a sweet, gentle rhyming book about two moms and their toddler as they spend a lovely day together. Reading it feels like being wrapped up in a hug as the family enjoys a bike ride, a trip to the zoo, a family dinner, and a familiar bedtime routine. The words are brimming with parental affection and read like a lullaby for the youngest readers. Such a sweet one, and just perfect for Valentine’s Day or a soothing bedtime story! Ages 2-5
Stella Brings the Family By Miriam B. Schiffer; Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
When the teacher announces that the class will have a Mother’s Day party, Stella is worried because she doesn’t have a mother to bring. When her classmates find out she doesn’t have a mother, they ask her who packs her lunch and reads her bedtime stories? She tells them that Daddy and Papa do.
When they ask who kisses her when she gets hurt, she says, “Well, that’s a long answer. I get lots of kisses when I’m hurt. Either from Papa or Daddy or Nonna or Aunt Gloria or Uncle Bruno or Cousin Lucy.” One of her friends has the perfect solution— she should bring them all! This is a helpful exploration from children’s perspectives about what defines a family. We all have different people who take care of us. Such a sweet story! Ages 5-8
Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
I got carried away right along with Harriet in this playful, imaginative book! Harriet loves costumes and wears them every day, year round. She decides to be a penguin for her dress-up birthday party.
When she accompanies her dads to the store to pick up items for the party, she wanders off and finds a group of penguins. They lead her on an adventure and she has quite a lot of excitement on her way back to find her dads at the store—she is helped by an iceberg, a parachute, an orca, and some bird friends. This is a magical, whimsical celebration of imagination. Young children will be carried away right along with Harriet and find satisfaction in her return to the safety of her home base. We loved this book! Ages 4-8
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
I have seen this book all over bookstagram since it came out and finally got my hands on it! Julián is captivated by some mermaids he sees on the subway coming home from going swimming with his abuela. While abuela leaves the room to take a bath, he finds the perfect items to transform himself into a mermaid. As I watched him let his imagination take over, I smiled to myself. This is a playful, whimsical book with gorgeous illustrations, to match. This is a perfect summer read! Ages 4-8
A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary; Illustrated by Qin Leng
With dreamy, wispy illustrations and relatable dialogue from children’s perspectives, this book explores many different types of families in response to a teacher’s question about what makes each student’s family special. The lines of the artwork make the characters look as though they are all in motion, moving sweetly from one representation of a family to the next.
We see families with a mom and dad, single parents, grandparents, same-sex/gender parents, divorced parents, and some families that are blended. Some families all have the same skin color and others are multiracial. Some families include a person with a disability. We see families with lots of kids, one kid, adopted children, and foster children. “A family is a family is a family!”
This is a wonderful “windows and mirrors” book—it serves as both a mirror for children in many different types of families to see themselves represented, as well as a window that allows them to see families that are different than their own. Such an important message as we help our children become aware and respectful of all different types of families! Ages 4-7
Papa, Daddy, and Riley by Seamus Kirst; Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth This beauty is a feast for the eyes! Check out @devonholzwarth’s Instagram profile for a peek at some of the incredible illustrations. The illustrator’s “work is inspired by childhood memories growing up in Panama and her collection of vintage children’s books.” I love finding contemporary books with artwork that has a vintage feel!
When Olive’s classmate asks her which of her 2 dads is her real dad, she is distressed at the prospect of having to choose between Daddy and Papa. She loves them both so much and sees parts of each of them, as well as her “belly mom,” in herself. When her dads pick her up and ask why she is distraught, they have a conversation about all the many different types of families and concludes with, “Love makes a family.” Ages 4-8
“What is lovely? Lovely is different. Black. White. Tall. Short. …Lovely is different, weird, and wonderful.”
Lovely by Jess Hong
I’ve been thinking a lot about body image lately—both my own and my daughters’. I struggle through my own issues and work to love myself, body included. I dream of a world in which my daughters and all little people and grown-ups, alike, love and appreciate their bodies, despite the deluge of messages we receive that try to convince us that we are not quite what we should be.
This is a gorgeously illustrated celebration of all types of people and the myriad ways they are lovely. The text is simple enough for toddlers and preschoolers, but meaningful enough for people of all ages. I’m grateful for authors like Jess Hong who put this message in front of us in order to combat the ugliness we hear about ourselves and others. This is just, well, lovely! Ages 4-8
“Families are loving—so strong and kind, and caring.
We’re there for one another; problems are for sharing.
We handle things together, we feel each other’s pain.
Family is the sober lining, the sunshine after the rain.”
We Are Family by Patricia Hegarty; Illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft
This book will warm your heart from cover to cover! I love the bold illustrations that have a vintage feel to them in this book about some of the wonderful things about families. Each spread of pages has 10 squares illustrating different families. The simple, rhyming text is perfect for the littlest readers. I love the representation of families that are diverse in race, ethnicity, ability, age, and sexual orientation. This would be a great conversation starter for preschoolers and early elementary kiddos. Children may be inspired to talk about and draw pictures of their own families as well as other families they know. Ages 3-7
Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman; Illustrated by Maria Mola
Casey loves everything shimmery, glittery, and sparkly, just like his sister Jessie. Jessie thinks Casey can’t wear a shimmery skirt, glittery nails, or a sparkly bracelet because he is a boy, but the adults in the family, upon brief consideration, don’t see that there’s anything wrong with it. When they visit the library while Casey is decked out in sparkles, some children tell him he can’t be a boy because of the way he is dressed. Jessie defends him, asking, “Why can’t boys wear skirts and bracelets and nail polish?”
I love this story of a big sister slowly coming to accept her brother’s different way of being in the world. This was my four year old’s favorite book for a while. I was so glad to read it to her because she went through a phase where she would frequently ask me why I was wearing “boy clothes” any time I wore a button-down shirt. She had somehow decided that girls should only be wearing skirts and dresses.
Over and over, my response was, “I’m a girl, and this is what I am wearing, so these are girl clothes.” Big surprise, she could take in this message much more openly from Sparkle Boy than she could from me 😉 We love this one! Ages 5-8
“In ancient Hawaiian culture, every person had a role in society. Māhū, people who embraced both feminine and masculine traits, were valued as healers and as caretakers and teacher of ancient traditions.”
Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale, illustrated by Mika Song
Ho’onani doesn’t see herself as a wahine (girl) or kāne (boy). She’s just Ho’onani. When she finds out the school is going to perform a traditional hula chant, she begins daydreaming about it at once. She takes a bold step in joining in the auditions, despite the boys’ confusion at having a wahine trying out for a traditionally male role, especially when she is later chosen as the leader.
I love the part that said, “Her teacher spoke with respect and honesty. She said some might not appreciate a wahine leading their sons up on stage. They might cause a fuss. Ho’onani knew she could not quit now. She had earned this position.”
In this story, we see a young person working out her gender identity with a mostly supportive community of people who want her to be herself, though some of her peers and one of her siblings takes a little time to understand. Some adults feel uncomfortable discussing gender identities with children, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. This is a straight-forward story of a person who doesn’t identify with being a boy or a girl, and it’s told simply, in a way that will be easy for children to understand.
Understanding leads to compassion, and perhaps more importantly, this book normalizes and affirms children who don’t fit into traditional gender roles. More broadly, this is a book about being yourself. Ages 4-8
My Footprints by Bao Phi; lllustrated by Basia Tran
Thuy comes home from school upset after being bullied for having two moms, being Vietnamese American, and being a girl. She wants to “be the biggest and strongest and scariest monster,” so she can make the bullying stop. Her moms join her in imagining what kind of creature they could pretend to be together, “because we’re stronger together.”
Momma Ngoc’s favorite animal is the phoenix, and Momma Arti’s favorite is the Sarabha—a powerful, part-lion, part-bird creature from Hindu mythology. Thuy decides to make up her own creature, which is a combination of herself and her two moms, called “Arti-Thuy-Ngoc-osaurus.” The author draws on his experience as a refugee. This is an empowering book about family and identity and the strong bonds that support us when we are struggling to find a sense of belonging the world. Ages 6-8
“Pink is for boys.
And girls.
And bows on fancy clothes.
Blue is for girls.
And boys.
And uniforms on a team.
…
And all the colors are for everyone.
Girls and boys.
And flowers.
And butterflies.
And rainbows in the sky.”
Pink is for Boys By Robb Pearlman; Illustrated by Eda Kaban
My preschooler is at the age where she likes things to fall in neat categories. I loved reading this with her to remind her that colors don’t belong to a particular gender. The illustrations are fun and bright! This is a great one for littles! Ages 4-8
“Most of all, Morris likes the dress-up center. And the tangerine dress. Morris likes the color of the dress. It reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair.”
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Bladacchino; Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
Morris is an imaginative kid who loves school, until one day when he begins to have stomach aches and doesn’t want to go anymore. The kids in his class don’t understand why he likes to wear his favorite tangerine dress from the dress up center. He paints a picture inspired by a dream. When his classmates see it on the front of his spaceship, they are intrigued and compelled to join in on his imaginative journey, dress and all. We loved reading this tender story of accept yourself when you’re not what people expect, and learning to embrace others as their full selves. Ages 4-7 years
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Branen; Illustrated by Lucia Soto
Bobby is Chloe’s favorite uncle. She loves spending time with him and is a bit caught off guard when he announces his engagement to Jamie. She worries that Uncle Bobby won’t have time to play with her anymore once he gets married. When she expresses her concern to him, he and Jamie take her on some special outings. By the time the wedding rolls around, Chloe is excited that Jamie will soon be her uncle, too, and the family has a fabulous time celebrating. This book feels just like a warm hug and is a celebration of family and togetherness. The illustrations are just beautiful!
Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
The illustrations in this sweet board book are just delightful! Each 2-page spread has a sentence about what love is, accompanied by depictions of diverse types of families. The bright colors are sure to captivate the youngest readers, and the message is simple but important: “Love makes a family.” Age: Baby-3 years
“Well, my bindi is like a third eye
Watching over me all the time
Making sure I don’t hide
Everything I am inside
And everything that I can be.
Thank you Ammi, for my bindi!”
The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya; Illustrated by Rajni Perera
Rhyming, lyrical text tells of a little boy who watches with fascination as his mother puts on her bindi, which is traditionally worn by Hindu women. He wants to know what’s special about it, and after she explains, he asks if he can have one to wear and she agrees. The bindi helps him feel grounded and more like himself. This is a lovely poetic story that affirms cultural and gender diversity. Ages 4-8
Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
A modern book that reads like a classic, this is an absolute delight! With catchy rhythm and repeated refrains, it makes for a perfect read aloud. Mr. Watson has too many–456!!–chickens! His partner, Mr. Nelson, persuades him to get rid of them, so Mr. Watson takes them into town, where they promptly escape. Ages 3-5 (but I think any early elementary-aged kids would love it)
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
We enjoyed reading and rereading this book for weeks and kept renewing it from the library! The story walks us through a week of a little girl missing her mommy, who is away on a business trip. Mama and the little girl miss Mommy so much as they go about their daily routines! But they stay connected through phone calls and special preparations for Mommy’s return.
I loved the relatable mixed emotions captured at the end when Mommy is finally back home: “But then I remember… Two cups instead of three, gray sky and tears, and a carton of blueberries placed back on the shelf. One whole week of missing. I cover my cheek with my hand. ‘It isn’t a day for kisses,’ I tell her. ‘I understand,’ Mommy says. ‘But I want you to know… I missed you as deep as a scuba diver down in the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the sky.”
This reminded me of when my firstborn was a toddler. Any time I was away for longer than usual, she seemed to want nothing to do with me when I first got back home. I love that this scenario is normalized and the mixed feelings are validated and met with warmth and compassion in the story. I haven’t seen this portrayed in a picture book before and think it could help young children name some complicated feelings.
I also loved the representation of a multiracial family with two moms. Though both types of books are needed, I appreciate when books have this kind of representation without that being the focus of the story. My kindergartener wanted to read this again and again, and I was glad to have it thread to her in preparation before I went out of town for a couple of days. We both highly recommend it!
Tèo’s Tutu by Maryann Jacob Macias, illustrated by Alea Marley
My 6-year-old and I absolutely adored this book and have read it over and over! Téo loves to dance at home with his parents and feels wonderful wearing a leotard and tutu, but he is nervous in front of his new ballet classmates. The story portrays warm, encouraging adults, including Téo’s parents and ballet teacher, who affirm his courage in embracing who he is.
I’ve been reading books about male ballet dancers with my daughter, and the first few times she said, “Boys don’t do ballet!” I showed her the pictures, read the stories, and gently corrected, reminding her that her big sister has a good friend who is a boy that has taken balled classes for years. I appreciate being able to share these positive representations with her to help challenge some of her expectations of gender roles. This book is so sweet!
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