Today is World Read Aloud Day, and while reading any children’s book aloud with your kids on any day is a great idea, here are 10 LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books whose rhythms and wordplay make them particularly fun to read aloud!
Click titles or images for full reviews and details!
Mr. Watson’s Chickens, by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi (Chronicle Books). Chickens are inherently funny. Four hundred and fifty-six of them are hilarious. Add in their owner and his partner/husband who are trying to wrangle the pesky birds, a nonsense song that your children will love to repeat (you’ve been warned), drawings with fun details to discover, and a perfectly paced narrative, and you have all the makings of a children’s book hit.
My Fade Is Fresh, by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Kitt Thomas (Penguin Workshop). In this joyous, rhyming ode to Black hair and self-expression, a young girl walks into her neighborhood barbershop, wanting a cut for her “bushy, brownish, biggish hair.” She knows what she wants: “The freshest fade up on the block!” Despite others’ suggesting different cuts, she finally gets the look she wants and later walks past the barbershop showing off her new short, cropped fade as her self-confidence and happiness shine.
The You Kind of Kind, by Nina West, illustrated by Hayden Evans (Princeton Architectural Press). Drag queen Nina West’s first picture book is a bold, bright celebration of kindness as we journey with a young girl (later revealed to be Nina herself) “to find Kind… or all the kinds of Kind we can.” While there is little clearly queer representation here (aside from a two-woman couple in the background), combine that with West’s authorship and a use of rainbow iconography, plus a message that will resonate with many queer folks, and it’s enough to warrant inclusion here.
Bathe the Cat, by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts (Chronicle Books). A hilarious book starring a Black two-dad family (still an unfortunate rarity in picture books), Bathe the Cat has a rhythm and silliness that will make kids want to read and reread. Papa is trying to organize everyone to tidy and clean before Grandma’s arrival, so he makes a list with magnetic letters on the fridge, assigning tasks like “mop the floor” and “scrub the dishes.” Papa himself will “bathe the cat.” The cat doesn’t want to be bathed, however. It sneakily scrambles the list with a paw so that the people get tasks like “feed the floor” and “sweep the dishes.” The family tries to comply, with chaotic results.
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish and If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It, by Lil Miss Hot Mess and illustrated by Olga de Dios Ruiz (Running Press Kids). A diverse bevy of fabulous queens offer their takes on classic children’s songs, perfect for encouraging your own family performances. The illustrations are appropriately bold and dynamic, and the queens are a variety of racial/ethnic identities and gender expressions.
They’re So Flamboyant, by Michael Genhart, illustrated by Tony Neal (Magination Press). When a “flamboyance” of flamingos moves in to the neighborhood, the other groups of birds—a gaggle of geese, a dole of doves, a charm of finches, and more—worry about the impact of the colorful new neighbors. They would disrupt the peace! They’re pink! They’re too flamboyant! Luckily, the chime of wrens urges calm. The flamingoes invite all of the birds in to their welcome party, and the other birds then offer thoughts like “They are lovely,” “Differences don’t have to be scary,” and “Didn’t we jump to conclusions?” While a little pedantic here, the witty wordplay, fun bird-group names, and adorable avian illustrations balance the serious message.
My Parents Won’t Stop Talking, by Emma Hunsinger and Tillie Walden (Roaring Brook Press). A girl with two moms and a younger sibling is excited about going to the park—but oh no! The neighbors are outside, and the girl’s moms always stop to talk with them. Finally, she thinks through all the things she could be doing at the park, and hatches an imaginative plan to deal with the situation. Will it succeed? This is a lighthearted look at a universal problem of childhood, seen through the eyes of a child who just happens to have two moms.
Whole Whale, by Karen Yin, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff (Barefoot Books). As 100 animals gather, is there room for a whale to join the fun? A pair of male lions and their cubs are among the variety of animals shown in this frolicsome tale—but the book’s message of inclusion goes beyond just their appearance. As the animals congregate, the question about the whale repeats, building suspense as the pages grow more crowded. Yet the animals believe that “When everybody makes some space,/One more can always find a place,” and they work to make it so. The final reveal, in a double fold-out spread, is joyous and satisfying, and challenges readers to find all 100 animals depicted. (Don’t worry, there’s a guide on the next page.)
Katerina Cruickshanks, by Daniel Gray-Barnett (Scribble US). “Katerina Cruickshanks can put on a show—anytime, anywhere, they’re ready to go.” Katerina is full of energy and imagination, always ready to cartwheel, bark at the postman, or “frimble and hoot to a runcible moon.” One day their antics go too far, though, and their friends ask Katerina to go away. Soon the friends realize, however, that their lives are much duller without them. Everyone works towards an agreement that satisfies all, leading to a celebratory final spread. Katerina’s nonbinary identity is incidental to the plot, which offers a light lesson about appreciating those who can be a little too much—but also how to confront friends about bothersome habits without losing their friendships or requiring anyone to change who they are deep down.
Bonus Books
I left out Sugar Pie Lullaby: The Soul of Motown in a Song of Love, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud (Sourcebooks) above only because World Read Aloud Day is today, and this sweet book isn’t out until next Tuesday. If you love Motown, though, you’ll want to preorder this title, where lines from classic Motown hits are woven together to illuminate gentle scenes of family life. Two-mom and two-dad families are among the varied family types shown.
Also, if you’re looking for more soothing tales to read aloud at bedtime, check out my post on “12 Bedtime Books (and 2 Music Albums) for LGBTQ Families.”
