2018 Gift Guide to LGBTQ-Inclusive Children’s and Middle-Grade Books

It’s time for my annual roundup of some of this year’s best LGBTQ-inclusive children’s and middle-grade books and magazines! It was a banner year for such books in many ways, with a high overall volume and a surge in the often neglected middle-grade range.

The books below are just ones that came out in 2018. For a bigger selection of LGBTQ-inclusive children’s and middle-grade books, see my Books and More page.

A few observations: We are happily starting to see an increasing number of picture books about LGBTQ children themselves, not just children with LGBTQ parents. In picture books with LGBTQ parents, the trend over the past few years has been for the parents to be two-man couples—with rare two-woman couples and even fewer transgender or genderqueer parents. Let’s hope we have more overall balance in the future.

I’ve been delighted, though, to see more picture books lately about LGBTQ history and culture. That’s a trend I’d like to see continue—even as I hope more fictional picture books featuring LGBTQ characters aren’t “about” them being LGBTQ.

For the middle grade age, there was a slew of books this year about lesbian or bisexual girls, but not so many about boys, with the happy exception of the final book in Tim Federle’s Nate trilogy. (I know other such books exist; I’m just observing this year’s trend.) And while Jen Wang’s graphic novel The Prince and the Dressmaker gave us a fun and lovely book about a genderqueer prince, we could also use more middle grade books about trans and gender creative tweens. (Again, there are a few.)

Still, this year produced as solid a crop of books as I’ve seen since I started covering LGBTQ kids’ books more than a decade ago, especially in the middle grades. That’s something to celebrate, even as we push for more.

Picture Books

LGB Children/Young People

When We Love Someone We Sing to Them/Cuando Amamos Cantamos, by Ernesto Javier Martínez, is a lyrical bilingual book celebrating both the love between two boys and the supportive relationship between the boy and his father. Pura Belpré Honor Award winner Maya Christina Gonzalez deserves equal credit for her vibrant illustrations. (Full review.)

Prince & Knight, by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Stevie Lewis, isn’t the first queer prince fairy tale for this age, but it might be the best, and stems from a partnership between LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD and Little Bee-Bonnier Publishing USA. (Full review.)

Maiden Voyage, by Jaimee Poipoi, Adam Reynolds, and Chaz Harris, with illustrations by Christine Luiten and Bo Moore, is a swashbuckling tale of adventure and romance featuring a fisherman’s daughter and a courageous female captain. Although the narrative jumps around a bit and some sentences could use reworking, the tale has action aplenty and two likable female protagonists with both strength and heart. (Full review.)

Comedian John Oliver introduced us to A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, written by Jill Twiss and illustrated by Ed Keller, 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. Twiss’ book is a sweet love story about two boy bunnies. It’s a real children’s book, and not an adult satire, and the relationship between the bunnies is adorable—but when they want to marry, a stinkbug thunders, “Boy bunnies don’t marry boy bunnies.” The story resolves happily, but depending on the age and temperament of your child, the stinkbug’s ranting could cause fear and anxiety. Read it to them only after you’ve weighed this. (Full review.)

Jerome By Heart, by Thomas Scotto and illustrated by Olivier Tallec, shows one boy expressing his (maybe romantic, maybe close friendship) love for another. His parents are bothered by this, and he struggles with their disapproval, but ultimately decides his love for Jerome supersedes it.

Brian McNaught, called “the godfather of gay diversity and sensitivity training” by the New York Times, has written “What’s ‘Gay’?” asked Mae, with illustrations by Dave Woodford, answering the question in a simple, engaging rhyme. He’s made it available free to Mombian readers, but you can also buy one nicely bound, so you can see the facing-page spreads better. (Full review and download.)

Transgender or Gender Creative Children; Expansive Views of Gender

In the second book from the GLAAD-Little Bee partnership, Jack (Not Jackie), by Erica Silverman and illustrated by Holly Hatam, a young girl comes to understand and accept that her sibling, whom she thought was a girl, is really a transgender boy. Their parents are supportive of Jack’s identity throughout. (Full review.)

The gorgeously illustrated Julián Is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love, tells of a gender creative, Latinx boy imagining life as a mermaid. One day, his supportive abuela takes them to a festival of grown people dressed as mermaids (modeled after the actual Coney Island Mermaid Parade). (Full review.)

What Does a Princess Really Look Like, by Mark Loewen and illustrated by Ed Pokoj, is the story of Chloe, a young girl who loves princesses and ballerinas. Her two dads help her realize that what she thought was a flaw in her drawing of a princess was in fact a positive attribute. This is an LGBTQ-inclusive children’s book with a message, but the message is refreshingly not about LGBTQ identity. (Full review.)

Pink Is for Boys, written by Robb Pearlman and illustrated by Eda Kaban, takes us through pink, blue, and other colors to show us in cheery, racially diverse spreads how both boys and girls can take part in a range of activities, from dancing to go-cart racing. There are no clearly queer characters, but between the unicorns and a rainbow at the end, plus the overall theme, the book easily fits into the category of LGBTQ-inclusive picture books, while also appealing to a wider range of people. Nonbinary folks may wish the boy/girl dichotomy wasn’t so strong, but the overall message of being yourself regardless of gender still comes through clearly. (Full review.)

Teddy’s Favorite Toy, written by Christian Trimmer and illustrated by Madeline Valentine, tells the story of a boy whose favorite toy is his warrior queen doll. When she breaks, his mother mistakenly throws her away, but then comes to the rescue with her own super skills to get her back. I particularly appreciate that this story tells us not only of a gender expansive boy, but of a doll in a pink dress who is more Xena than Cinderella, reminding us that there are many ways to view the complexities of gender. (Full review.)

Jamie Is Jamie: A Book About Being Yourself and Playing Your Way, by Afsaneh Moradian and illustrated by Maria Bogade, is both a warm-hearted book about a gender expansive child and a reminder to all children that there are no hard and fast rules about what children of different genders can do or with whom they can play. Jamie—gender unidentified—explores a new school and plays with both boys and girls doing traditional “boy” and “girl” activities like racing cars and dancing ballet. The other children are somewhat puzzled (but not negative) about whether Jamie is a boy or a girl. In the end, they not only accept Jamie, but learn to expand their own ideas of how they play.

Vincent the Vixen, by Alice Reeves and illustrated by Phoebe Kirk, is the story of a young fox who loves dressing up and pretending to be a queen, a witch, or a performer. When Vincent’s siblings ask why all of the pretend characters are female, Vincent has no answer. A badger named Betty notices Vincent is sad, and tells the story of her own transition into being a girl badger. Vincent realizes her true self, and while her parents are puzzled at first, they come to understand. While a little pedantic, the book is notable for promoting the idea of a young transgender person finding an older trans mentor.

LGBTQ Parents/Adults

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 True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig, by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, and Caprice Crane, illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld, is based on the true story of a two-man couple who adopt what they think is a mini-pig—but who grows to 600 pounds and whom they love despite some mishaps.

History, Families, and Social Justice

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno, is an inspiring biography of Milk that stresses his friendship with Gilbert Baker, who designed the rainbow flag as a symbol of inspiration. (Full review.)

Sewing the Rainbow: A Story About Gilbert Baker, by Gayle Pitman and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown, flips Sanders’ perspective, and takes us along with Baker from his childhood, through adversity, to the request by his friend Milk to create a new symbol for their community. A few rough transitions may take adult explanation, but all will be inspired by this story of how Baker regained his lost sparkle. (Full review.)

A Church for All is another joyous book from Gayle Pitman, showing us a diverse community of same- and different-sex couples, people of various races, ethnicities, ages, gender expressions, and physical abilities, gathering to worship. Colorful illustrations by Laure Fourner capture the happy spirit of the people and the welcoming environment. (Full review.)

All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman, shows a group of children, diverse in race/ethnicity, religion, gender, and physical ability, interacting and playing during their day at school, after their many different kinds of parents, including same-sex ones, walk them there. A joyous celebration of community despite differences.

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, by Rob Sanders, takes readers on an alphabetically-themed journey through actions and concepts for making a difference. The collage illustrations by Jared Andrew Schorr are as powerful as the text, giving us images of a multi-racial, multicultural, multi-gender, queer-inclusive, varied-ability, all-ages world. This is not a book “about” being LGBTQ, but it distinctly sees queer people among those on the forefront of social justice movements. (Full review.)

Middle Grade

Queer Parents

The Lotterys More or Less, by Emma Donoghue, continues her series about two same-sex couples (one male, one female) jointly raising their seven children. Their nine-year-old middle child, Sumac, feels responsible for organizing their winter celebrations, but an ice storm brings complications for the diverse family and community in this fun holiday-themed romp. (Full review.)

The Magic Misfits: The Second Story, continues actor Neil Patrick Harris’ series starring a diverse group of “misfit” friends with skills in the magical arts, including Leila, who has two dads. When a famous psychic and a couple claiming to be Leila’s birth parents arrive in town, the friends must uncover the truth while learning to rely on each other. Puzzles and how-to magic tricks are sprinkled throughout.

In You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P., by Stonewall Award-winning author Alex Gino, Jilly, a White and hearing 12-year-old, struggles to support both her new baby sister who is Deaf, and her online friend, a Deaf, Black boy her own age. An aunt who is Black and raising two children with her wife is among those offering guidance. Gino digs into the impact of systemic racism, including the shooting of a Black teen by police, and how White people must work towards dismantling it.

Dana Alison Levy is back with her fourth book set in the universe of The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher, her 2014 novel about a two-dad family. Her latest book, It Wasn’t Me, centers around one of the Fletchers’ classmates, whose photography project was vandalized with threats and gay slurs. A well-meaning teacher gathers the victim and five suspects (including the Fletcher’s son Jax) together over school vacation in the hopes of using restorative justice to reach a resolution. The book raises thoughtful questions about friendship, difference, and how well we really know people, all within a hysterically funny narrative. (Full review.)

In Erica Perl’s All Three Stooges, seventh-graders Noah and his friend Dash share a love of comedy and a somewhat reluctant commitment to their bar mitzvah preparations. Noah has two moms, who are introduced without fanfare. When Dash’s father Gil dies unexpectedly, however, Dash withdraws from Noah and finds comfort with others, leaving Noah wondering why he was abandoned, how to help his friend, and how to deal with his own grief at losing a significant adult in his life. Note that Noah’s love of comedy has led him to be a fan of Woody Allen films, among others; readers concerned by the accusations of sexual assault against Allen (although they are not mentioned in the book) may be put off by this—but on another level, the references will, at least for adult readers who know this backstory, underline the often thin line between comedy and tragedy that is at the heart of this novel. (Full review.)

Queer Young People

Hurricane Child, by Kheryn Callender, is the lyrical story of 12-year-old Caroline Murphy, born during a hurricane in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Her mother has left her and her father, her classmates bully her, and she has visions of a mysterious spirit. Then she feels a growing attraction to a new girl at school. Caroline must figure out what these parts of her life mean as another storm bears down. (Full review.)

The tornado that destroys 12-year-old Ivy’s home in Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, by Ashley Herring Blake, serves as a metaphor for the disconnection she feels from family and friends and the “giddy and trembly” feelings she has around classmate June. A warm story about finding oneself while searching for connection with others. (Full review.)

Set in 1977, Shannon Hitchcock’s One True Way tells of Allie Drake, trying to find her place at her new middle school in North Carolina after her parents’ separation. When she and another girl fall in love, they must deal with the prejudice of Sam’s conservative Christian parents, Allie’s overprotective mother, the bigotry promulgated nationwide by actor Anita Bryant, and the ramifications for two of their teachers, another a same-sex couple. (Full review.)

In Drum Roll, Please, by Lisa Jenn Bigelow, 13-year-old Mellie spends two weeks at band camp while dealing with her parents’ divorce, her best friend deserting her for a boy, and having a crush on another girl, while wondering if she can really be a drummer. It’s mentioned that she’s had crushes on boys, too; she’s not labeled “bisexual,” but could very well be. An insightful first-person narrative of self-discovery.

The 10-year-old protagonist of Joanne Rocklin’s Love, Penelope, has just learned one of her moms is pregnant, and starts writing letters to her in utero sibling, explaining their family, her friendships, her favorite basketball team (the Golden State Warriors), and more about her life, including the impact of both the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality and the Warriors’ NBA Championship win 10 days before. It’s a fun romp through the world of a fifth-grader, although Penny’s somewhat digressive style, while entertaining, at times makes it hard for the plot to emerge.

With Nate Expectations, Tim Federle concludes his award-winning trilogy about theater kid Nate. This time, Nate is starting high school, back in his hometown after his Broadway chance has faded. Despite distant parents, and having to FaceTime with his New York boyfriend instead of seeing him in person, he shows growing self-confidence and finds support in his friend Libby as they develop Great Expectations into a musical for their school.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, a graphic novel by Jen Wang, begins in Paris at the dawn of the modern age. Sixteen-year-old Prince Sebastian’s parents are hoping to find him a bride, but he knows his love of wearing dresses will make him unsuitable. He finds support in one loyal servant and in a dressmaker with dreams of her own. A tale as fresh and textured as the dresses in it. (Full review.)

Magazines and More

OurShelves, a new book box subscription service launched by queer mom and activist Alli Harper, offers a quarterly, curated selection of picture books that include characters who are LGBTQ+, feminist, of various races and ethnicities, and of other under-represented identities. In doing so, it also hopes to show publishers there’s an ongoing market for such stories.

Magazine industry veteran and lesbian mom Erin Bried created Kazoo to offer girls strong role models, though those of any gender may appreciate its content. The intersectional, queer-inclusive, quarterly publication offers a mix of puzzles, comics, interviews, science experiments, art projects, recipes, short stories, and more, all developed with and showcasing leading women in their fields. (Full review—and more here.)

And venerable children’s magazine publisher Cricket Media has continued adding to the queer-inclusive content in its publications for all ages, including Cricket, Spider, and its online-only Cicada magazine for teens, which also hosts a queer-friendly online community. (Full review.)

(I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)