Children’s Books to Celebrate PRIDE

Books are one of the absolute best ways to talk to your kids about almost anything. For some families, LGBTQ+ topics can be hard or confusing, while for others they have always been a part of their lives. Whatever way your family has learned about or celebrated LGBTQ+ humans and families, here are some really lovely books to help further your education or break the surface and learn more together. 

And while supporting LGBTQ+ authors and stories is so important, it’s also really important to support LGBTQ+ owned bookstores. So, if you see a book you’d like to buy, consider doing so through a local Queer owned bookstore. Here is a great place to start 

Happy Pride! 

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart

This is a simple book for young readers that breaks down the meaning behind the colors of the rainbow Pride flag. It’s a quick and fun read and is a great jumping off point to talk to your kids about Pride and rainbow families  

Take a deeper look into the meaning behind Rainbow: A First Book of Pride with the author Michael Genhart here

Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer

Love Makes a Family has a very simple but special lesson. That lesson is that the most important ingredient to making a family is love. Sophie Beer explores all different types of families and shares what love means to them.

Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History by Sarah Prager

Rainbow Revolutionaries gives children 50 short biographies of LGBTQ+ people that changed the world. The bios are engaging and jam packed with information, while quick enough to hold the attention of younger children. They are a great starting off point to find stories that interest your kids and help you to dive deeper into these amazing peoples lives. And the amazing artwork doesn’t hurt either! 

From Archie to Zack by Vincent X. Kirsch

Archie and Zack are two friends who both have deeper feelings for each other but are too shy to say them. Over the next few months Archie tries sharing his feelings by writing letters to Zack from A-Z. The letters never seem good enough and so he hides them away until one day they are found by another friend who knows just who to give them to. A sweet tale about first crushes and friendship, this book is a must have addition to you LGBTQ+ library.

What Are Your Words? By Katherine Locke

A child's first book about pronouns. This sweet little book is a great way to introduce pronouns to your kids. Ari’s Uncle has come to visit and when they go around town to meet all of Ari’s neighbors, they get to know people through their pronouns while exploring their own. 

For a little video clip by the author giving you a brief introduction to their book click here

My Rainbow, by Trinity and DeShanna Neal 

Based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal. My Rainbow tells the story of a transgender child who can’t seem to find the perfect hair to express herself. With the help of her mom and her unwavering love, she creates the perfect rainbow wig for her daughter.

Some other titles we think are worth checking out

Pride 123, by Michael Joosten

Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution, by Rob Sanders 

Harvey Milk: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Sanders

When Aiden Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff

Julian is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love

Grandad’s Camper, by Harry Woodgate