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.
Fifteen-year-old Hunter Chinn-Raicht, who is non-binary, knows that the term “non-binary” isn’t always understood. “This is a new word and it’s super confusing for a lot of people, especially people that weren’t brought up with it,” they told me in an interview. They hope to dispel some of that confusion through a new book they’ve written, one of a set of three titles by “champions” of the GenderCool Project, a youth-led movement of teens who are speaking out to show that transgender and non-binary youth can thrive.
It’s Nonbinary Parents Day—so whether you go by maddy, baba, mapa, moppa, nibi, zeze, or any other parental name, may you bask in celebration! Here are a few picture books with nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit parents and other adults (or ones that could be read as such) that may help add to the fun!
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.)
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.
A new, peer-reviewed study looks at the experiences of trans/masculine and nonbinary people who were gestating but experienced pregnancy loss.
A new multi-artist, multi-genre music album coming out this month will offer transgender and nonbinary children and youth songs that reflect and support who they are. It’s the brainchild of Julie Lipson, one half of children’s music duo Ants on a Log, who spoke with me recently about the project and shared this sneak peek of the cover art.
Award-winning children’s music duo Ants on a Log is producing a new music album for and about transgender and nonbinary youth—and plans to make it available free! Here are the details—and how you can show that this type of project is valued!
This is perhaps the first of many quarantine editions of my roundup—because we could all use some interesting and informative reading while we’re hunkered down in our homes. Here are some of the stories about LGBTQ parents and our children that I haven’t covered elsewhere—including some additional kids’ virtual story times.
Hairstylist, comedian, and television personality Jonathan Van Ness (of Netflix’s Queer Eye) has just added another title to his resumé—children’s book author. And the nonbinary star of his delightful new book shows young readers the power and joy of being themselves.
