Four new picture books highlight the many ways to approach LGBTQ inclusion, from books specifically about LGBTQ identities to ones where the queerness is incidental to the tale, and places in between.
I have long written of the need for children’s books where the LGBTQ inclusion was incidental as opposed to the focus, and happily, there has been a shift in this direction in the past few years, as evidenced by the growing number of books I tag in my database as having “Incidental queerness.” While I think we need even more such books, I also believe there is still a need for some books that are more directly pedagogical, as well as for others where the LGBTQ identities are not the focus, but where LGBTQ cultures and perspectives are nevertheless acknowledged. The books below show this range, from purely pedagogical to purely incidental.
Take the journey with me, and click titles or images for full reviews:
Pride Families, by Amie Taylor, illustrated by Kaspa Clarke (Jessica Kingsley), shows young readers what it means to be part of a Pride Family, offering definitions of L, G, B, T, Q, I, and A, depicting the various identities of parents and carers who can combine to form Pride Families, and indicating possible paths to family creation. It goes beyond many other books in its inclusion of clearly bisexual parents, single LGBTQIA parents, families of more than two parents, nonbinary parents, and transgender men who birthed their children. It also includes a rare and welcome mention of reciprocal IVF (the method my own spouse and I used). While there’s a definite pedagogical purpose here, the clear and inclusive text fills that purpose well.
We Love Our Families (Peppa Pig), by Annie Auerbach, illustrated by EOne (Scholastic), is slightly less about LGBTQ identities per se, although it includes a two-mom family in a deliberate lesson on family diversity. Based on the episode “Families” from the hit Peppa Pig children’s television show, the story takes us to preschool with Peppa as Madame Gazelle asks Peppa and her friends to draw pictures of their families. Each of the children has a different family structure, including one with two moms. While there are already a number of books for this age group that similarly explore family types, fans of the show will love seeing some of their favorite characters in this one. The book may be helpful in offering representation both to children with two moms and to those without, who may find Peppa’s endorsement a helpful aid to being inclusive.
Rainbowsaurus, by Steve Anthony (Crocodile Books), moves us further from books “about” LGBTQ identities to give us the tale of two dads and their three kids following a rainbow to find the Rainbowsaurus! Along the way, a red cow, an orange snake, and other animal friends of different colors join the fun and add their own unique sounds (“Moo!” “Hiss!”) to the expedition. At the end, the Rainbowsaurus has a surprise for them, and the story ends with a gentle celebration of friendship and love. The fact that this is a two-dad family is incidental to the tale, although it includes a nod to queer culture in its use not only of the colors of a “real” rainbow, but also of the pink, blue, white, brown, and black of the Progress Pride flag. (Parents should be warned it’s the type of story that children may want to hear on repeat. Have your moos and quacks ready.)
The Girl Who Loves Bugs, by Lily Murray, illustrated by Jenny Løvlie (Peachtree), gives us purely incidental inclusion in the tale of Evie, a girl who LOVES bugs, though those around her don’t share her enthusiasm. And when her extended family is coming for a reunion, her two moms say she has to stay inside and help get the house ready. Evie then hatches a plan to bring her bugs inside so she can keep studying them. When her relatives arrive the next day, however, the bugs have escaped, and soon they’re causing chaos at the family meal. Luckily, Evie finds an ally in her Great-Gran, who helps Evie make a bug hotel—outside. Her moms affirm that they’re actually proud of her passion, and Great-Gran agrees that her curious mind may lead her to wonders. The rhyming text by Lily Murray is a delight, often using repetition to emphasize the action. A lively, fun story that encourages STEM exploration.