These 10 LGTBQ+ children’s books will help you and your family celebrate Pride and continue to honor the impact of the LGBTQ+ community wherever you go.
Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart
“Rainbow: A First Book of Pride” highlights the beauty of families with two moms, two dads, single parents, or other kinds of caregivers. The book also gives insight into the meaning behind the colorful rainbow stripes. Your child will learn that each color has a different meaning: red for life, orange for healing, violet for spirit, indigo for serenity, turquoise for art, green for nature, and pink for gender.
What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold
Riley, the colorful and lovable character at the center of “What Riley Wore,” loves clothes. He loves to dress up and wear clothes that reflect his mood. You might find him in a superhero cape at the dentist or in a bunny costume at school. It all depends on how he feels. His bold style encourages the reader to remain true to themselves despite society’s expectations.
They, She, He Easy as ABC by Maya Gonzalez
“They, She, He Easy as ABC” opens on a dance floor. In the next 35 pages, the readers meet 26 kids representing each letter of the alphabet. As each character shows off their dance moves, we learn their pronouns. Maya Gonzalez’s book breaks down inclusive gender pronouns like she, they, him, and so on, and why they are important in recognizing the LGBTQ+ community.
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
In “Heather Has Two Mommies,” the main character, Heather, is an adorable girl whose favorite number is two. She also happens to have two mommies. Heather is questioned about her dad in school, and she reveals that she has no dad. When her class is asked to draw pictures of their families, they realize that no drawings are the same and all families are different. No type of family is better than the other. This book, that’s over 30 years old, shows us that the most important thing about a family is not who is in it, but that it is filled with love.
Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman
Pink is most commonly associated with girls, but in Robb Pearlman’s book, pink is for everyone. This book helps us rethink gender stereotypes by reframing the connotations of pink and blue. It also teaches us to embrace every color of the rainbow. “Pink is For Boys” shows kids that’s it’s ok to love whatever they love, whether it’s a color, an activity, or a person.
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Torn
This picture book introduces the simplest concept of gender identity. The core message of “It Feels Good to Be Yourself” is straightforward: gender identity is unique for each person. Expect colorful art by Noah Grigni, who identifies as non-binary transgender, to help bring these concepts to life.
From Archie to Zack by Vincent Kirsch
In “From Archie to Zack,” the two main characters Archie and Zack have crushes on each other but neither has told the other. So Archie tries to write a letter to Zack telling him how he feels. However, it’s a little harder than he imagines. Instead of delivering his letters to Zack, Archie hides them. Fortunately, Archie’s best friends find the letters and deliver them to Zack. This book explores queer love at an early age and may give your child insight into a new kind of love.
Pride, The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
This picture book is based on a moving and true story about the history of the rainbow pride flag. “Pride, The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag” takes place in 1978 when a designer, Gilbert Baker, first designed the flag as requested by activist, Harvey Milk. This iconic part of LBGTQ+ history has been distilled into a narrative that is easy for young children to understand.
Pride 123 by Michael Joosten
Teach your kids to count from one to ten while walking them through the Pride parade on the pages of “Pride 123.” This book celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and encourages its readers to be as bright, colorful, and unique as they wish to be.
What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke
Sometimes Ari likes to be called “she,” other times Ari likes to be called “he.” “What Are Your Words?” follows Ari, the main character, as they embark on a journey to find the pronouns that suit them best. Ari meets their neighbors and learns what pronouns they choose to identify themselves with. This book helps your kids learn what gender pronouns mean, while also reassuring them that finding their pronouns may take time.
