Just in time for Banned Books Week, the Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books now has 1,900+ entries! Come see what’s new for kids 0 to 12 and for grown-ups, search and filter by topic and identity, and read my in-depth reviews. Even as these books are under attack, we must continue to uplift them.
What’s Here
About half of the items in the database are picture books (including more than 100 board books), followed by middle-grade books, books for grown-ups about LGBTQ families, and early readers/chapter books. While about 96% of the database is books, there are also some LGBTQ-inclusive children’s music albums, toys and games, and documentaries about LGBTQ families.
Not all of the items in the database are recommended; both accuracy and literary/artistic quality vary. I offer reviews to guide you, based on two decades of studying the genre, and I include books that I am critical of so that you will know to assess them carefully. Nevertheless, many of the titles are excellent and some are superb; others may be less stellar in some ways but still offer important representation.
When I first began this blog in 2005, I could count the annual number of LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books on one hand. When I launched the database in January 2021, it had just over 500 items. Growth of the database has been mostly in works published since then, although I’ve also filled in some older titles. I add all of the LGBTQ-inclusive books I know of for ages 0 to 12, barring ones of exceptionally poor quality (and ones that are not affirming of LGBTQ identities). If you are an author or publisher of any type and would like your book(s) to be considered, please contact me. (Note that I don’t cover young adult books since I’m only one person and need to sleep. Also, my blog is focused on parents and resources for them; older teens are usually choosing their own books.)
The Bigger Picture
All of the children’s books in my Database of LGBTQ Family Books have been effectively banned in some states’ schools by sweeping censorship laws. Many titles have also been banned by name. I hope you’ll go read my post from earlier in the week about the current surge of book bans in the United States, and how we can all stand up against censorship.
Young people should see themselves and their world reflected in the books they read. I hope the children’s books in the database help you connect the young readers with age-appropriate titles that resonate for them, and I hope the grown-up books there help you to start and nurture your families or to support the people in your life who are starting and raising theirs.