children’s books

Call Me Max - Kyle Lukoff

School Districts in Two States Say Perfectly Appropriate Picture Book About a Transgender Boy Is Inappropriate

In the past month, school districts in two states have tried to ban Call Me Max, a delightful picture book about a transgender boy by a transgender author, calling it “not appropriate” for the children who heard it read to them. This would be awful at any time, but at a moment when trans youth are under threat from anti-trans bills in at least 24 states, it feels like the tip of a much bigger iceberg.

Alli Harper of OurShelves - Photo credit: Alaina Lavoie

OurShelves Connects LGBTQ Families with Diverse Books and Advocates for More

When lawyer, policy advocate, and community organizer Alli Harper and her wife had their first child, they did what many LGBTQ parents do: looked for children’s books that showed two-mom and other diverse families. The difficulty of finding more than a handful, however, led Harper to launch a nationwide service that is connecting readers with these books while also pushing the publishing industry to create more.

An ABC of Families

Alphabet Book Tries, But Doesn’t Quite Succeed, at Queer Inclusivity

More and more publishers, large and small, are offering kids’ books these days with LGBTQ characters and families. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions, the content doesn’t come out quite as inclusive as intended. Such is the case for a new alphabet book.

LGBTQ-Inclusive Kids’ Activity Books to Teach and Entertain

LGBTQ-inclusive story books are wonderful—but sometimes one wants something a little more interactive. Let’s therefore look today at two queer-inclusive books that aren’t just stories, but offer young readers discussion questions, games, coloring, and more fun activities.

New Queer-Inclusive Collective Biographies for Kids

One new middle grade book aims to help young people learn about the contributions and accomplishments of LGBTQ people across many fields of endeavor, while another includes queer people among innovators of all identities who have made their marks on the world.

Valentine's Day - LGBTQ Kids Books with a Theme of Love

20+ LGBTQ-Inclusive Kids’ Books About Love

On a certain level, I’d argue that most LGBTQ-inclusive picture books have a theme of love—but here are a few that particularly showcase that emotion in some of its many forms, from romantic love to family love to deep and abiding friendships. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Rainbow Book List Young Readers Top 10 - 2021

2021 Rainbow Book List Shows Record Increase in LGBTQ Kids’ Books

The American Library Association has just announced its 2021 Rainbow Book List—with a record-setting number of 129 librarian-approved LGBTQ-inclusive children’s and young adult books! There are so many, in fact, that for the first time, there are two Top 10 sub-lists of books with “exceptional merit,” one for younger children and one for older youth readers. Learn more and see some charts that illustrate just how the genre has grown.

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