There have been so many queer-inclusive picture books out this year that I’ve gotten a little behind on the middle grade ones! Let’s remedy that with a look at five new ones worth a read!
Much previous research on queer parents and our children has focused on intact queer families (mostly with gay male or lesbian parents) formed through adoption or assisted reproduction, including surrogacy. Less attention has been paid to queer families formed when one or both parents had children from a previous relationship of any kind, or had started their family as a single parent before partnering. A new book on queer stepfamilies helps to remedy that.
Gonzo, the blue alien character in Disney Junior’s Muppet Babies reboot, is gender creative! An episode last week showed him donning a princess dress, with his friends offering unconditional acceptance.
In celebration of International Non-Binary People’s Day today, here are some of my favorite children’s books, songs, and shows with nonbinary characters—perfect for any day of the year! Some are specifically about being nonbinary; others include characters whose nonbinary identity is incidental to the story.
A new children’s song by Canadian musician Mandy Morris is about meeting a new friend and respectfully asking what their name and pronouns are.
Imagine: U.S. civics lessons reframed as a call to action, set to rap, R&B, and pop music sung by some of today’s top artists, and skillfully animated, in a show created by Emmy Award winner (and lesbian mom) Chris Nee, with a theme song by Grammy Award winner (and bisexual mom) Meshell Ndegeocello, and an episode featuring Grammy Award winner (and lesbian mom) Brandi Carlile. Happy July 4, everyone—this thing exists! Listen to Carlile’s song here and learn how to catch the rest of this great new show.
As 100 animals gather in this book, is there room for a whale to join the fun? A pair of male lions and their cubs are among the wide variety of animals in this frolicsome tale—but the book’s message of inclusion goes beyond just their appearance.
Part memoir and part parenting guide, the new book by diversity educator and speaker Trystan Reese manages to tell a story that is specific to his experience as a gay, transgender dad, while offering universal advice on parenting, relationships, and more.
A new picture book celebrates the many different types of human bodies, of various shades, sizes, shapes, ages, genders, and abilities. Queer couples, transgender people, nonbinary people, and other LGBTQ folks are plentiful.
Three terrific new queer-inclusive picture books haven’t yet been published in the U.S., but they’re worth seeking out. One offers a rare and lovely look at an extended queer family; another is a high seas adventure that incidentally stars a family with two moms; and the third is a love story about a merman and a fisherman.
