Happy fall! Celebrate the change of season with these beautiful picture books and a chapter book about seasons, cycles, and change. All have incidental queer representation, and one is a rare and welcome story about becoming a blended queer family!
Click titles or images for full reviews in my Database of LGBTQ Family Books.
Witchycakes #2: Changing Magic, by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Ariane Moreira (Random House): The second volume of this engaging chapter book series brings us more stories about Little Blue, a witch-in-training who helps out their Mama Moon at the magical Witchycakes bakery.
The overarching theme of this entry in the series is about navigating change, as Blue and Mama prepare for the autumnal equinox and Blue helps neighbors of various ages with challenging everyday situations in their seaside town.
The Pumpkin Seed, by Poppy O’Neill, illustrated by Brizida Magro (Nosy Crow): A young girl isn’t exactly happy when her mom’s new (woman) partner moves in; she doesn’t like the disruption to their family life (though she admits there are some good things about the new situation). But the adults give her time to process her feelings, and we see the love in the family grow just like their garden. A perfectly pitched, never preachy story with absolutely charming illustrations.
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. This is not just a book about the seasons, but about what we welcome and say goodbye to in each one. It is about cycles, rhythms, transitions, and finding the new even as we bid farewell to the old.
A Home Again, by Colleen Rowan Kosinski, illustrated by Valeria Docampo (Two Lions): Told from the first-person perspective of a red house, this lyrical story begins as the building welcomes its first family, a mom, dad, and two (soon three) children. When they leave, the house falls into disrepair, until a new family—two men and (soon) their child—moves in and makes the house once more a home.
Miguel’s Community Garden, by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Samara Hardy (Peachtree): A young boy wants sunflowers for his garden party, and sets off with his pet turtle to find them. This is a delightful book for early STEM learning, showing readers how to be careful observers of nature. The fact that Miguel has two dads is happily incidental to the tale.
Call Me Tree/Llamame arbol, written and illustrated by Maya Gonzalez (Reflection Press): A child whose gender is never specified moves through this lovely bilingual story that shows the parallels between personal growth and growth in the natural world. It’s thoughtful and moving, with Gonzalez’s always-inspiring images.