3 New Kids’ Graphic Novels With Nonbinary Protagonists
Three new graphic novels with nonbinary protagonists give chapter book and middle grade readers three very different stories of friendship, community, and compassion.
middle-grade books
2 New Middle Grade Novels of Coming Out and Coming of Age
Not every LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ book needs to be “about” being LGBTQ—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t also room for engaging, insightful coming out stories, like this week’s two excellent new middle grade titles.
21 LGBTQ-Inclusive Kids’ Books Featuring Space and Astronomy
Artemis II is making its moon flyby today—so I’m rounding up some LGBTQ-inclusive picture, chapter, and middle grade books involving astronomy and/or space. (I was an astronomy major, so this was particularly fun for me.) Share them with the young people in your life who dream of the stars!
6 New Trans-Inclusive Kids’ Books of Adventure and Affirmation
To mark this year’s Trans Rights Readathon, here are six recent trans-inclusive chapter book and middle grade titles, including the second volume in a magic-school series with a transgender boy protagonist, and another about a trans girl who discovers she’s a witch—perfect if you’re seeking alternatives to She Who Must Not Be Named.
New Middle Grade Bio Shows One Queer Woman’s Outsized Impact on American Children’s Literature
Ursula Nordstrom had an outsized impact on American children’s literature as editor of Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, and many other classics. A new middle grade biography also shows her as a queer woman, a champion of books centering marginalized identities, and an opponent of censorship.
Invisible Queer Tweens Find Visibility in 2 New Middle Grade Books
Two terrific new middle grade novels out today offer different looks at queer tweens who feel invisible—figuratively or literally. One protagonist is a genderqueer youth on a dark, fantastical adventure (just don’t call him the hero); the other is a girl beginning to realize her asexual identity.
6 New LGBTQ-Inclusive Middle Grade Books of Monsters, Beasts, and Curses
It’s not Halloween season, but it’s always a good time of year for gripping stories of LGBTQ youth, youth with LGBTQ parents, and their friends tackling—and overcoming—monsters, beasts, and curses. Two standalone titles join four sequels to ongoing series for a wealth of spooky, exciting, and empowering reading for tweens.
4 Queer-Inclusive Middle Grade Books for the Winter Olympics
Let’s keep the Olympic theme going this week with four queer-inclusive middle grade books about Winter Olympic sports (even if not all of the protagonists are quite at Olympic level yet).
160+ Books Selected for 2026 Rainbow Book List
The American Library Association’s Rainbow Round Table has just announced its 2026 Rainbow Book List of over 160 librarian-approved titles that celebrate LGBTQIA+ youth and families. It’s the third-highest number since the list began in 2008. Let’s take a closer look, with some exclusive charts showing trends over the years.
LGBTQ Kids’ Books Lauded With Youth Media Awards in Multiple Categories
LGBTQ-inclusive children’s and young adult books were among the titles honored at the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards today, winning not only Stonewall Awards for LGBTQ titles, but also awards in several other categories—proving again that those who wish to ban them are keeping kids from some of the best books around.