Mother’s Day (or Mothers’ Day, if that suits you better) is almost here, so why not celebrate with some new picture books featuring queer moms?
The books I’ve selected below are just about families with moms; there are also several other recent ones that include moms among families of various types, but for this roundup, I’m focusing on the purely mom-ly. I’ve limited this list to books from 2022, so the suggestions will be fresh, but I’ve made an exception for 2021’s He’s My Mom, since there have been no picture books starring trans moms since then, alas, and I want to make sure they are included. (Not all trans men parents go by mom, of course, and some trans women parents do; this book is only one family’s experience, but I hope we see more soon.)
If you want to find books with queer moms from previous years, however (including ones for older readers), visit my full database and filter by the identity you seek.
Click through for more details and purchase links.
All Moms, by Kristen Ellis-Henderson and Sarah Kate Ellis, illustrated by Max Rambaldi (Little Bee Books): When the lesbian mom who’s also the head of the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization writes a children’s book with her spouse, you can bet your rainbows it’s going to be LGBTQ inclusive. All Moms, by GLAAD President and CEO Sara Kate Ellis and musician Kristen Ellis-Henderson, is an ode to the many different types of moms and the many different things they do. Notably, one spread shows a Pride parade with a variety of LGBTQ flags as we read, “Some moms make signs and march in parades.” Some moms on this page and several others seem masculine of center—a nice bit of often overlooked representation. On one page, a person with a beard and a slightly protruding belly could be read as a pregnant (or just heavyset) trans man, some of whom may choose to be called “Mom” (or not; always check what title a person uses).
My Moms Love Me, by Anna Membrino, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz (Orchard Books): “A hug from Mommy, warm and tight./A squeeze from Mama feels just right. This is how my mommies say,/’We love you, baby, night and day!”‘ begins this lovely rhyming poem from baby to Mommy and Mama. Each page or spread shows us a scene from their daily life until finally, it is storytime and bedtime, as the child reflects, “I love my moms and they love me. Together we are family!”
Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle, by Nina LaCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita (Candlewick): When one parent leaves on a trip, even for a short time, it can seem like forever to a young child. In this sweet and lovely picture book, a young girl shares her feelings when Mommy is away on a work trip and she and Mama wait for her return. Thoughtful and beautiful in both words and pictures, this is a book that many families should come to treasure.
Firsts and Lasts: The Changing Seasons, by Leda Schubert, illustrated by Clover Robin (Candlewick): In this lovely book about the intertwining harmonies of nature and family life, a child talks about the different activities that start—and end—in each season for her, her sister, and her moms. Lush collage illustrations bringing the words to vivid life. This is not just a book about the seasons, but about cycles, rhythms, transitions, and finding the new even as we bid farewell to the old.
Patience, Patches, by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Sheryl Murray (Dial Books): Patches is a puppy who is very good at waiting for his humans, a two-woman couple. When they arrive home one day with a new baby however, Patches’ patience is tested, since the moms are busy cleaning, feeding, and soothing their new bundle. Patches eventually delights in showing the baby new things and they become fast friends. Children with two moms may particularly appreciate this delightful tale, but it may also resonate with other animal-loving families bringing home new babies.
The Best Bed for Me, by Gaia Cornwall, (Candlewick Press): Mommy and Mama want their young child, Sweet Pea (who is never gendered), to go to bed. Sweet Pea has other ideas—they want to sleep in a tree like a koala, then upside down like a bat, then standing up like a penguin…. With each animal proposal, Mama patiently tries to steer Sweet Pea back to their own real bed; one senses this is not the first time she’s seen this menagerie. Eventually, Sweet Pea decides that their own bed is “the best bed for me” and settles down to sleep. Utterly charming. (This book comes out May 17, so it will be a slightly late present for Mother’s Day, but you can preorder it now.)
’Twas the Night Before Pride, by Joanna McClintick and illustrated by Juana Medina (Candlewick): This fun take on the classic poem gives us a vision of Pride through the eyes of a child with two moms, as we see them getting ready for the Pride parade and happily retelling the history of Pride to their younger sibling. It captures the meaning and history of the event with just the right amount of detail for younger ages, while blending it with a relatable family story. One of the moms is also “that kind of mom who’s more boyish than girly”—a nice bit of representation. Also available in Spanish as La víspera de Orgullo.
The Rainbow Parade, by Emily Neilson (Dial): A young girl with two moms is excited about going to the Pride Parade in this winsome story based on the author-illustrator’s own experience as a child. When a drag queen suggests to the watching Emily that she and her moms should be in the parade, Emily isn’t sure … until a group marches by with an “LGBTQ+ Families” banner. Emily and her moms then join in the fun. At the end, she tells her moms she’s going to practice pride “all year long.” A fun and thoughtful child’s-eye perspective on Pride.
My Family Tree Has Roots, by Tina Mowbrey, illustrated by Vineet Siddhartha (Brandylane): Jasmyn, an adopted girl with two moms, finds her own solution to a classroom family tree project, after being concerned that she doesn’t know how to include her birth parents. Jasmyn’s identity as an adopted child forms the core of the plot; the fact that she has two moms is purely incidental. Adoptive families with both same- and different-sex parents should appreciate this book that reassures children it’s fine to find their own way of expressing their family connections.
He’s My Mom! A Story for Children Who Have a Transgender Parent or Relative, by Sarah Savage, illustrated by Joules Garcia (Jessica Kingsley). The child protagonist, Bambi, introduces readers to their mom, a transgender man, and their fun and loving life together. We also learn a little about the mom’s transition, but Bambi stresses that even though their mom’s outsides changed, “inside he’s still my mom.” Bambi’s explanation of their mom’s gender identity comes from a place of pride, confidence, and love.
