Happy Anniversary to Us
Today, my spouse Helen and I are celebrating our second anniversary in a pandemic and our 28th overall. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather quarantine with than you, dear—and that’s no April Fool’s joke.
25 Recent Picture Books with Transgender and Nonbinary Characters
Today is the Transgender Day of Visibility, so I’m celebrating by rounding up 25 (!) picture books with transgender and/or nonbinary characters that have been published in 2020 and 2021 alone. (I’ll also show you how to find older trans-inclusive kids’ books and ones for and about trans parents.)
LGBTQ Parenting Roundup: “Imagination Station” Edition
Rounding it up again with various tidbits I haven’t covered elsewhere—including one about a Nebraska judge concerned that letting two women adopt would turn the court into an “imagination station”!
An All-Gender-Inclusive Book for Tweens Looks at the “Gross” and “Awesome” Parts of Puberty
A new book for tweens takes a lighthearted but informational approach to bodies, gender, feelings, health, relationships, consent, and other aspects of puberty in all their sometimes sticky, smelly, and hairy variety. It is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities (and includes information on binders, tucking, and more for transgender and nonbinary youth).
Rachel Levine Becomes First Transgender Person Confirmed by Senate (and She’s a Parent, Too!)
Dr. Rachel Levine yesterday became the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate and the country’s highest-ranking transgender official. Levine, who has two grown children, will be the assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Sam Is My Sister” Shares a Boy’s Perspective of Having a Trans Sibling
In a new picture book by the real-life mother of a transgender daughter, a young boy isn’t quite sure what’s happening when his younger sibling, whom he thought was a boy, begins to want long hair and to wear dresses. The whole family learns together in this story that adds to the small number of picture books about transgender children and their siblings.
“The Little Library” and Its Nonbinary Librarian Are a Big Delight
I’ve long said we need more LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books where the characters’ LGBTQ identities are incidental to the plot. A new picture book in a popular series takes just that approach with a delightful tale of a boy who “is a slow and careful reader” and a librarian (who happens to be nonbinary) helping him find just the right book for his interests.
Queer-Inclusive Kids’ Books for Passover (and an Idea for One About Easter)
Passover, the Jewish holiday celebrating freedom from slavery, starts this weekend—and yes, there are a few (very few) queer-inclusive picture books about the holiday. There are none that I know of about Easter, alas (but I’ll share an idea for one)!
Watch: Trans Girl and Her Two Moms Star in Ad About a #BeautifuLGBTQ Family
A new ad from Pantene, part of a series about LGBTQ families, stars a transgender girl and her two moms talking about the power of visibility. It’s a wonderful ad, not only for depicting a trans girl, but also for giving us representation of a queer kid with queer parents.
A Gay, Black Boy Finds a Liberated Childhood
Life can be scary for a young, gay, Black boy growing up in a society full of fear and intolerance. The star of a new graphic novel, however, has the love of family, friends, and educators to help him navigate the challenges as he finds his empowered voice.