Want six children’s books that include gender diverse characters from a variety of racial and ethnic identities? Want them to revolve around family celebrations in many types of families? Micro-press Flamingo Rampant’s second collection of books has what you need!
The books, available as a set from Flamingo Rampant, include:
- Bell’s Knock Knock Birthday, written by George Parker, illustrated by Sam Orchard. A nonbinary child is welcoming their gender diverse friends and family to their birthday party in this fun book that will have you doing the sound effects.
- The Last Place You Look, written by j wallace skelton, illustrated by Justin Alves. Two lesbian bubbies (grandmothers) host a Passover seder for their grandchildren and other family members and all must think creatively when the afikomen (a special piece of matzo) cannot be found.
- Moondragon in the Mosque Garden, written by El-Farouk Khaki and Troy Jackson, illustrated by Katie Commodore. Three Muslim children encounter a magical creature on Eid al-Fitr and learn a lesson about caring for the Earth.
- Super Power Baby Shower, written by Tobi Hill-Meyer and Fay Onyx, illustrated by Janine Carrington. A child with three parents is told a fantastical tale of adventure about the night of their three parents’ baby shower.
- Rachel’s Christmas Boat, written and illustrated by Sophie Labelle. A child whose parent has just come out as transgender cleverly solves the problem of changing the name on the parent’s Christmas gift.
- 47,000 Beads, written by Koja Adeyoha and Angel Adeyoha, illustrated by Holly McGillis. A Lakota child gets a little help in expressing a two-spirit self and dancing at a pow wow.
All of the books have been written “by people who are representing their own cultural/religious holidays and festivals,” Flamingo Rampant tells us, and “EVERY book [had] at least one trans or non-binary person working on it.”
Not only that, but the books are chock-full of characters across the spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and family structures, and have one thing that some LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books have lacked—exciting story arcs. These are books that are fun to read. “Our goal is to make charming stories of adventure and mystery and hijinks that include and demystify LGBT2Q lives,” they say.
They seem to be succeeding. Add them to your holiday gift list (and check out their earlier collections, too, which are still available).
