It’s GLSEN’s annual No Name-Calling Week, a time dedicated to ending name-calling and bullying in schools. We parents, of course, can also have an impact on stopping such behaviors and supporting those who have been the subject of them. Here some LGBTQ-inclusive picture books that involve name calling and that may be useful for parents of young children to read and discuss with our kids.
I should note that I’ve always been very careful about books for young children that depict bullying and name calling. I think that in some cases (particularly if a child has not yet started school and has no idea what to expect) they may cause fear and anxiety. Having said that, they may also be hugely helpful for a child who has experienced these things or has seen a friend or classmate be bullied. Only you know what your child’s response to such books is likely to be; I think it’s often wise to leave time to discuss them after reading, in any case.
In My Footprints
, by Bao Phi and illustrated by Basia Tran (Capstone), a Vietnamese American girl named Thuy gets teased by classmates about her two moms and told to “go back where I come from.” She finds solace in imitating wild creatures and her moms draw on their own cultural identities (Vietnamese American and Hindu) to help her pretend, “because we’re stronger together.” Thuy then makes up her own creature—one that is “both a boy and a girl” and whose skin changes “from black to light brown to lighter and back to black—not to hide, but because it always wants to be different shades of pretty.”
In Our Mothers’ House, by Patricia Polacco (Philomel), is a gentle tale about the treasures of everyday life and growing up, told through the eyes of an adopted Black girl with two White moms, Asian American brother, and White sister. The story includes one prejudiced neighbor who says to the mothers, “I don’t appreciate what you two are.” Meema explains, “She is full of fear…. She’s afraid of what she cannot understand. She doesn’t understand us.” The story ends with the mothers growing old and being buried next to each other. It is a fitting closure, but parents should consider whether younger children will be frightened by the thought of parents dying.
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
, by Jill Twiss and illustrated by Ed Keller (Chronicle), was 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, 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, however.
10,000 Dresses
, by Marcus Ewert and illustrated by Rex Ray (Triangle Square), was the first children’s book to feature a transgender child protagonist. Young Bailey dreams of 10,000 beautiful dresses made of crystals, rainbows, flowers, and magical windows. “Boys don’t wear dresses,” her mother, father, and brother each tell her. Bailey replies, “But . . . I don’t feel like a boy,” to which her family responds, “Well, you are one, Bailey, and that’s that.” At one point, Bailey’s brother calls her dress-wearing “gross” and threatens to kick her. It is only after meeting Laurel, an older girl who befriends Bailey over their shared love of dresses, that Bailey is able to see her creations come to life.
Sparkle Boy
, by Lesléa Newman (author of the classic Heather Has Two Mommies
) and illustrated by Maria Mola (Lee & Low), is the story of a boy named Casey who likes to wear sparkly skirts, glittery nail polish, and jewelry. Some older boys at the library laugh at him and say “You look weird,” and tell him that boys don’t wear those things. His parents and abuelita (grandmother) are supportive, though, and his sister, though initially confused by his gender creativity, comes to support him as well.
In Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress
, by Christine Baldacchino and illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant (Groundwood), Morris loves wearing a dress during school dress-up time, but the other kids tease him for it and say he can’t come into their pretend spaceship because astronauts don’t wear dresses. His mom therefore lets him stay home one day, when he lets his imagination soar into space. He paints the interstellar scene he saw and gains the confidence to return and share his adventure with his classmates.
Jacob’s New Dress
, by Sarah and Ian Hoffman and illustrated by Chris Case (Albert Whitman), is the story of a young White boy who wants to wear a dress and be a princess during dress-up time in school. One classmate keeps insisting that Jacob must wear “boy’s clothes,” and takes away the towel Jacob had made into a makeshift dress. This prompts Jacob to ask his mother to make him a real dress to wear to school. Although the classmate continues to question his choice, his parents, teacher, and another friend are supportive, and Jacob finds his own confidence to wear what he wants. As his mom tells him, “There are all sorts of ways to be a boy.”
Jacob’s Room to Choose
, also by the Hoffmans and Case (Magination Press), continues Jacob’s story and tells of when Jacob, in a dress, and his friend Sophie, in a button-down and khakis, get chased out of the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, respectively. Their teacher then leads a class discussion on gender expression, and all the children decide to create new signs indicating anyone can use any bathroom. The unfortunate reality is that not all schools will be as quick to make change—but this cheerful book offers a model to follow.
In Dazzling Travis: A Story About being Confident & Original
, by Hannah Carmona Dias and illustrated by Brenda Figueroa (Cardinal Rule), a young Black boy likes to dress up as “a knight, a king or a queen.” Some of his classmates, however, nastily tell him that boys and girls must each play with different things. Travis summons his courage and explains why they are wrong. At the end are short bios of several real people who “struggled against the opinions of others”; more contemporary figures might resonate better with young readers (and Coco Chanel’s connections with Nazis make her a dubious choice). Still, many may appreciate Travis’ self-confidence and dazzling style.
Made by Raffi
, by Craig Pomranz and illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain (Frances Lincoln), tells of a White boy who gets teased by classmates for liking to knit and not liking traditional “boy” activities. He eventually wins their support by helping make a costume for the school play.
I’ll also add that while the above books all show some form of name-calling, bullying, or bias, there’s also much value in books that are simply 100 percent positive about a particular identity or family structure. Those can help build the understanding and acceptance needed to keep from bullying, and the inner confidence to stand strong in the face of it if if does occur. See my 2019 Holiday Gift Guide to LGBTQ Children’s Books for some recent titles, or my longer booklists going back a number of years.
(And if you don’t know the story of how No Name-Calling Week was inspired by The Misfits
, a middle-grade book written by author and gay dad James Howe, read about it here.)
(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.)
Related
In 
In 
In 
