Amidst everything else going on right now, June is Pride Month, when we celebrate the impact LGBTQ people have made on our country and the world. Recently, I have been on the hunt for children’s books that address social issues while also being a genuinely good, fun read for kids. I’ve been looking forward to sharing a handful of books about LGBTQ topics that I’ve found over the past year that I think fit the bill. Whether you have a family member who is part of the LGBTQ community or you’re simply wanting to expand your child’s worldview, the books below can help open up a conversation and give kids positive examples of all kinds of families.
Benefits of LGBTQ Books for Kids
Reading a book together can be a great way to introduce complicated subjects to kids in a nonthreatening way that allows children to learn at their own pace. All kids benefit from having toys and stories around them that reflect their own identity, as well as give them a peek into someone else’s worldview. Books about the LGBT community can be extremely affirming for kids growing up in families with 2 moms or 2 dads, but they can also help all children to better understand their classmates, neighbors, and friends.
When a child reads a story, they’re putting themselves in someone else’s shoes. It’s an exercise in building empathy that can have long-lasting benefits. By reading stories about different types of families, kids learn to celebrate diversity and look past superficial differences to see that all families are really the same, and connected by love.
Why I Picked These Books
I love reading books with children that talk about social issues or help them to understand mental health concepts like anxiety, depression, and trauma. Reading a book together can let children know that their feelings are normal and they’re not alone. What I don’t love so much is that, a lot of the time, these books provide great information to kids but are not particularly engaging reads. It’s easy for these types of books to start to feel overly teach-y or preach-y, which I think can lead kids to check out of the story.
I love these books because, aside from representing diverse families and explaining LGBTQ issues to kids, they’re just genuinely good books. The illustrations are beautiful, the characters are likable and believable, and the plots help pull kids into the story and give them a different perspective on the world. I also looked for books that touch on multiple aspects of the LGBTQ experience (same sex parents, gender nonconformity, feeling accepted and celebrated) and books that go into more or less depth on the subjects depending on a child’s age. Finally, I tried to find books that had other kinds of diversity, too, including families from different races and cultures.
6 Picture Books to Check Out During Pride Month
Click on the titles to read a full review of each book!
Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
I found this in a local bookstore earlier this year, and was drawn to it because of its beautiful watercolor illustrations. Julián is an Afro-Latinx kid living with his grandmother in a New York City neighborhood, where he becomes fascinated with the annual mermaid parade. Julián imagines himself as a mermaid, and dresses up in secret in the family’s home… until his grandmother catches him in costume. The story has a happy ending, and gently explores what life might be like for gender-nonconforming kids without directly talking about it. I think any child would enjoy this book, and would find a message to take away from it about being seen and accepted for who you really are. Recommended for ages 3-8.
It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn
Unlike the other books on my list, this one is very direct in discussing sex and gender, and definitely a little bit “teach-y”. However, if you need to talk about gender identity with a child, this book is for you. It Feels Good to Be Yourself gives parents and kids simple, straightforward, and child-friendly language to talk about sex and gender, gender nonconformity, and people who are cis, trans, and non-binary. I appreciate that this book is positive and hopeful, and uses vocabulary that any child can understand. The illustrations, drawn by a nonbinary artist, are beautiful and feature diverse kids and families. Recommended for ages 3-9.
Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer
This is a board book with a sweet, simple story geared for younger children who may not be ready for the other books on this list. Love Makes A Family emphasizes and celebrates how families of all shapes and sizes show their love for each other. Although not mentioned in the text, the bright, modern illustrations show families with 2 moms and 2 dads, multiracial families, children raised by grandparents, and single-parent families. Recommended for toddlers and preschoolers.
Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer, Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
For older kids who have outgrown board books, Stella Brings the Family offers a more direct, thoughtful look at one child’s experience of being in a family with two dads. Stella has to decide who to bring with her to school for her class’s Mother’s Day celebration, since there is no mom in her family. When other children ask her who performs all the motherly tasks in her life, like reading bedtime stories and packing her lunch, Stella is able to name all the important family members who fill the “mom role” for her. This is an inclusive book that gets great reviews, and is recommended for ages 4-8.
Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
Okay, so this one isn’t exactly an LGBTQ-specific book, but I had to include it anyway because it is such a helpful story to have around. Kelp, the story’s hero, grows up believing he’s a narwhal and living with a family of narwhals, even though he sometimes feels out of place and struggles to do typical narwhal things. When a strong current sweeps him onto land, Kelp learns that his identity isn’t quite what he thought, and he’s been a unicorn all along. Kelp learns that he doesn’t have to belong to any particular group, because all his friends accept him for who he is. The art style makes this book really popular with little kids in my office, and the story is open-ended enough that pretty much all children can find meaning in it. Recommended for ages 4-7, but even preteens sometimes enjoy this one.
Mommy, Mama, and Me by Leslea Newman, Illustrated by Carol Thompson
Another board book for younger kids, this is a sweet and simple story in rhyming verse that describes the loving, daily activities of a family and their toddler, who just happens to have two moms. The illustrations are sweet and look like real people, and the toddler’s gender isn’t made clear, so all children can see themselves in this book. Reviews I’ve read from parents say that their children want this read over and over. A second book in the series, Daddy, Papa, and Me, covers a toddler with two dads. Recommended for ages 1-3.
More Resources for LGBTQ Books
If you’re looking for more LGBTQ books for kids, check out this big list of books featuring LGBT characters or this list of LGBT books for young readers.
If you’re looking for LGBTQ-affirming counseling, databases like Psychology Today and TherapyDen allow you to search for therapists who are allies or who have specialized experience helping LGBTQ families.
