As we approach Pride, the new LGBTQ kids’ books are coming out (!) faster than ever! Here are some of my picture book and middle-grade favorites this week—including one from Newbery honoree and two-time Stonewall Award winner Kyle Lukoff, one on allyship, several with nonbinary characters, and heaps of queer joy!
Click titles or images for full reviews and more in my Database of LGBTQ Family Books!
Picture Books
Awake, Asleep, by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Nadia Alam (Orchard Books). Lukoff’s prose has always been lyrical; here, in his first volume for the very youngest children, he leans into his poetic skills with spare, gently rhyming text as we follow three families through mealtimes and diaper changes, neighborhood walks, and more. There are helpful hands and fun playtimes, but also the occasional stumble, bump, or broken toy, quickly followed by a comforting touch—a subtle lesson on resilience. There is bathtime and storytime, and of course, finally, bedtime.
One family has two dads, a young girl, a baby, and a grandmother, all with brown skin and black hair (except the grandmother’s, which is gray). The second consists of a mom, dad, and young girl, with light brown skin and dark hair—and in one scene, the burly, tattooed dad happily pulls on pink hi-top sneakers to match his daughter’s. The third has a single, White mom and young boy. Highly recommended.
Pride and Joy: A Story about Becoming an LGBTQIA+ Ally, by Frank J. Sileo, illustrated by Emmi Smid (Jessica Kingsley). This helpful picture book offers an important model for being an ally in the face of anti-LGBTQ harassment. Sileo, a licensed psychologist, gives us the story of a girl learning to be an ally to her gay brother—and even involving the whole community in the process. Discussion questions at the end provide further guidance for adults reading the book with young people—and there’s plenty to discuss. This book can be a useful tool in having those conversations, which are increasingly necessary in today’s world.
Cinda Meets Ella: A Fairly Queer Tale, by Wallace West (Little, Brown). In this second updated, western-themed fairy tale from Wallace West, adventurous Cinda’s parents are eaten by alligators, and her awful aunt Hildy barges in to take charge of Cinda’s life. West diverges from the classic tale, however, by introducing a mysterious, nonbinary rider who comes bearing tidings of a rodeo held by the area’s richest family—and it is the rider who catches Cinda’s eye. Silly and fun—something we can always use a little more of.
Middle Grade
The Dog Knight, by Jeremy Whitley, illustrated by Bre Indigo, colors by Melissa Capriglione (Feiwel & Friends). Middle schooler Frankie knows they are nonbinary but still feels like they “don’t make sense.” Their single mom is trying to be supportive, but their former best friend has turned against them. One day after school, however, Frankie rescues a golden retriever from bullies, and is whisked away to the Omniversal Doghouse, where the six dogs of the Pawtheon explain that they are secret legion of dog heroes sworn to protect the world. The Dog Knight, a human imbued with the six dog virtues, can help protect them both from the growing forces of chaos—and Frankie might be the new Knight. Frankie must attempt to prove themselves via six trials, while also navigating middle school and their dog-allergic mom. In doing so, they just might find out a little more about themself.
This is such a fun graphic novel. Frankie is an immensely personable hero and readers will root for them on their journey of self-discovery. The six dogs of the Pawtheon are talking dogs, yes, but they are also dogs, and still love a good scritchin’. It’s a hilarious combination that dog lovers should particularly appreciate. Plentiful humor is masterfully balanced with deeper messages about self and friendship. The first in a series, this should have wide appeal.
The Beautiful Something Else, Ash Van Otterloo (Scholastic). Twelve-year-old Sparrow Malone’s mother struggles with addiction and changes jobs a lot, requiring Sparrow to start over and over again at new schools. Sparrow tries to be perfect and not stand out, however, so as not to unsettle Mom and to convey that all is right with their family. Increasingly, though, Sparrow is realizing that the identity that Mom tries to impose does not fit.
When Sparrow’s mom overdoses and causes a car accident, Sparrow is sent to live with Aunt Mags, whom Mom had always referred to as her brother. Mags is actually a trans woman, and has made her sprawling home a haven for queer folks and others. Sparrow finally has the space and support to figure out that they are nonbinary. Van Otterloo writes thoughtfully of Sparrow’s personal journey, the impact of intergenerational trauma, and the importance of queer mentors. The first-person narrative allows readers to see things closely from Sparrow’s perspective, while excerpts from Sparrow’s school essays about different animals and their environments offer reflective analogies with what Sparrow is experiencing. More than just a coming-out story, this novel should find many fans.
