14 LGBTQ-Inclusive Kids’ Books Featuring Animals to Read After Marlon Bundo

Comedian John Oliver made headlines this week with a new children’s book, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, released in response to A Day in the Life of the Vice President by Charlotte Pence, daughter of Vice President Mike Pence, and illustrated by his wife Karen. In Oliver’s version, Marlon falls in love with another boy bunny. But it’s hardly the only LGBTQ-inclusive children’s book starring animal characters.

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo is a sweet love story about Marlon, the Bunny of the United States, and his beloved Wesley, another boy bunny. As Oliver explained on his show, Last Week Tonight, it’s definitely a real children’s book, written by Jill Twiss and illustrated by Ed Keller, and not an adult satire, and the relationship between the two bunnies is adorable—but when Marlon and Wesley want to get married, they face opposition from a stinkbug who thunders at them, “Boy bunnies don’t marry boy bunnies. Boy bunnies have to marry girl bunnies.” The story resolves happily, but depending on the age and temperament of your child and whether they’ve been exposed to homophobia before, the stinkbug’s ranting could cause fear and anxiety. Read it to them only after you’ve weighed this. (Which is not to say you shouldn’t buy it, if you are financially able, since all of Last Week Tonight’s proceeds are going to the Trevor Project to help LGBTQ youth.)

If you’re in the mood for more LGBTQ-inclusive children’s tales starring or prominently featuring animals, though, try these:

• The brand-new The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig, by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, and Caprice Crane, with illustrations by Cori Doerrfeld. A delightful book based on the true story of a two-man couple who adopt what they think is a mini-pig—but who eventually grows to 600 pounds.
• When the protagonist of Jessie Sima’s Harriet Gets Carried Away dresses up like a penguin and goes to find party hats for her birthday, she falls into an adventure with a group of actual penguins. Can she find the way back to her two dads in time for the party? A joyful book celebrating the power of imagination.
• The Adventures of Honey and Leon, by Alan Cumming (yes, the actor), illustrated by Grant Shaffer. Two dogs who are tired of being left at home follow their two (human) dads on an overseas trip.
• Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, written and illustrated by Sarah Brannen. A charming tale of a young guinea pig who fears her uncle will have no more time for her after he gets married. The fact that he is marrying a same-sex spouse is incidental to the story (though clearly important in promoting acceptance).
• And Tango Makes Three, by real-life gay dads Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole. Based on the now-classic true tale of two male penguins who adopt an egg.
• Rumplepimple and Rumplepimple Goes to Jail, by Suzanne DeWitt Hall, illustrated by Kevin Scott Gierman. The adventures of a terrier who lives with his two (human) moms and a cat sibling.
• Two Moms and a Menagerie, by Carolyn Robertson, illustrated by Patricia de Villiers. Two adoptive moms discover they have a problem when their house is no longer big enough for their family and its many pets.
• The Different Dragon, by Jennifer Bryan, illustrated by Danamarie Hosler. A boy weaves a bedtime tale of adventure with his two moms, in which he sets sail with his cat and meets a magical dragon.
• Emma and Meesha My Boy, by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine. One of the earliest LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books, about a little girl with two moms who is learning to be nice to her cat.
• Worm Loves Worm, by J. J. Austrian, Mike Curato. Two worms face a problem when their friends want to know who will be the bride and who the groom? The lesson? Gender labels don’t matter here.
• Introducing Teddy: A gentle story about gender and friendship, by Jessica Walton, illustrated by Dougal McPherson. A boy unconditionally helps his teddy bear transition into the girl bear she always knew she was.
• BunnyBear, by Andrea Loney, illustrated by Carmen Saldaña. A sweet analogy about BunnyBear, who looks like a bear on the outside, but feels more like a bunny on the inside.
• A Peacock Among Pigeons, by Tyler Curry, illustrated by Clarione Gutierrez. A boy peacock learns to love his flamboyant feathers as he finds community and friendship with other colorful birds, leaving the teasing of the gray and narrow-minded pigeons behind.
• Pugdog, by Andrea U’Ren. A charming tale about a dog and her owner discovering her true gender and what that means. Out of print, but may be available used or in a library.

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