If you haven’t already started talking to your children about all different kinds of families, LGBT books for children are a terrific way to start the conversation. We talk about the fact that some families have two mom while other families have two dads. These LGBT picture books are a terrific place to start.
I have to admit, I felt pure joy when the Supreme Court announced its decision requiring all states to allow gay couples to marry no matter where they live. You can find these best LGBT books for children at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.
Best LGBT Books for Kids
We have a family member who is marrying her girlfriend next summer, so we’ve already begun the discussion in our house. But it can be tough to know where to start the conversation. These books will be a terrific way to start the conversation and keep teaching tolerance and understanding in your home.
Mommy, Mama, and Me: Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there’s no limit to what a loving family can do together. Shares the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children.
And Tango Makes Three: And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. Selected as an ALA Notable Children’s Book Nominee and a Lambda Literary Award Finalist.
Stella Brings the Family: Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? It’s not that she doesn’t have someone who helps her with her homework, or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.
ABC A Family Alphabet Book: Have fun with the kids, moms, dads and pets in this delightful book that celebrates LGBTQ families as it teaches young children the alphabet.
This Day in June: Winner, 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society Awards! In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBT community, This Day In Junewelcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united. Also included is a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBT history and culture, as well as a Note to Parents and Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways. This Day In June is an excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
The Different Dragon: This bedtime story about bedtime stories shows how the wonderful curiosity and care of a little boy, with some help from one of his moms, can lead to magical and unexpected places. Join Noah and his cat, Diva, on this nighttime adventure and you too will leave with an unforgettable new dragon friend!
Heather Has Two Mommies: Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, and two pets. And she also has two mommies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because “the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.” This delightful edition for a new generation of young readers features fresh illustrations by Laura Cornell and an updated story by Lesléa Newman.
The Family Book: The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
Molly’s Family: What makes a family? The members of Ms. Marston’s kindergarten class are cleaning and decorating their room for the upcoming Open School Night. Molly and Tommy work on drawing pictures to put on the walls. Molly draws her family: Mommy, Mama Lu, and her puppy, Sam. But when Tommy looks at her picture, he tells her it’s not of a family. “You can’t have a mommy and a mama,” he says. Molly doesn’t know what to think; no one else in her class has two mothers. She isn’t sure she wants her picture to be on the wall for Open School Night.
A Tale of Two Daddies: A Tale of Two Daddies is a playground conversation between two children. The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right. She has Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow. “Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?” To which she answers: “Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.”
Like these LGBT books for children? Find even more engaging book lists for kids with more than 100 book-themed reading lists!
What great books, Josh is only 4 but he already knows tat some people have one parent, two daddies or two mummies and he seems so relaxed about it because I have always explained that some people have different families.
I was talking to my dad about this… and he was saying when we were growing up the key message was fairness. Today’s generation — the key message is tolerance. I think he’s right… and a wonderful trend I hope continues 😀
I work as a school counseling coordinator for a large school division. I purchased some of these books for our elementary school counselors already. Glad to see that there are more I need to check out. Thanks for posting!
I’m thrilled to see a school counselor being proactive who already has some of these! 😀
I love these books; but it’s odd that most of them have a female child as the protagonist! Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing (most children’s books have male protagonists, so maybe this is a deliberate attempt by the LGTBQI community to rectify that, in which case, good for them!) but it just struck me as odd.