Pride Month Recommendations from the Children's Diversity and Justice Library

Celebrate pride and open conversations about LGBTQ+ by sharing a book with your child. Here are our top picks for board books, picture books, middle-grade, and teen books that include LGBTQ+ topics.
Thank you so much to the Children’s Diversity & Justice Library at TVUUC for compiling these titles for us. Nearly all these books can be borrowed from the CDJL. For more information, visit https://cdjlibrary.org/borrowcdjl.

Board Books:
Being You: A First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli
This primer on gender lays the groundwork for affirming conversations and creates opportunities for self-identification. 
Love Makes A Family by Sophie Beer
Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. In this exuberant board book, many different families are shown in happy activity, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. 
Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson
Through gentle rhymes and colorful photographs of adorable children, this book is a celebration of the deep unconditional love of a parent or caregiver for a young child.
Together: a First Conversation About Love by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illustrated by Anne/Andy Passchier
A beginner’s exploration of love, relationships, and families which offers adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way. 

Picture Books:
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Kaylan Juanita
A transgender boy anticipates his new job as a big brother by helping his parents prepare for his baby sibling’s arrival.
Calvin by JR Ford & Vanessa Ford, illustrated by Kayla Harren
After coming out to his family as transgender, a biracial (half Black, half White) boy thrives. A valuable model of intentional, compassionate response to gender expansive kids and their needs. 
Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
Gramps and Grandad were adventurers. But after Gramps died, granddad hasn't felt like traveling anymore. So, their amazing granddaughter comes up with a clever plan to fix up the old camper and get Grandad excited to explore again.

Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel Sousa
An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii.
Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild
Violet longs to spend her days dreaming and adventuring with Mira. But every time Violet tries to tell Mira how she feels, Violet goes shy. As Valentine's Day approaches, Violet is determined to tell Mira just how special she is.
Love Without Bounds by Chelsea Johnson, Latoya Council & Carolyn Choi, illustrated by Ashely Seil Smith
At the heart of this picture book are nontraditional families described by the children who are part of them: LGBTQ+ families, adoptive families, transnational families, families impacted by incarceration, families with divorced parents, and chosen families, among others.

Marley’s Pride by Joelle Retener
A Black nonbinary child finds ways to navigate their sensory sensitivities during Pride.
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader by Sam Donovan
This heartwarming and relatable family story celebrates drag queens, reading, and self-acceptance, teaching every kid to let their sparkle shine! 
Neither by Airlie Anderson
A sweet story of acceptance for all those who are this, that, neither, either, and everything in between.
Pride Puppy! By Robin Stevenson, illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
This queer-centric alphabet book follows a young light-brown–skinned protagonist, their moms, baby sibling, and rambunctious dog as they get ready to head off to a Pride parade. 

Middle Grades:
Ivy Abderseen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
In the wake of a destructive tornado, Ivy Aberdeen develops feelings for another girl in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity.
Other Boys by Damian Alexander
A moving middle grade graphic memoir about his struggles with bullying, the death of his mother, and coming out.
The Pants Project by Cat Clarke
A touching, humorous story of strong-willed eleven-year-old Liv, who is determined to challenge his school's terrible dress code and change his life. 

Pride: An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Stella Caldwell
This inspiring history of the LGBTQ+ community enlightens young readers on the true timeline of LGBTQ+ history around the world, the lives of important figures like Harvey Milk, and iconic events like Stonewall.
Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ People Who Made History by Sarah Prager, illustrated by Sarah Papworth
This colorful compendium covers 50 boundary-breaking LGBTQ+ figures from across history and around the globe.
This is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us edited by Katherind Locke & Nicole Melleby
16 short stories by celebrated authors of literature for young people center the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in pivotal moments of childhood and adolescence.

Teen:
As You Walk on By by Julian Winters
Theo and his friends have been daring each other to do ridiculous things once a month since freshman year, but it takes everything going wrong for him to dare to be the person he really wants to be.
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.
The Gender Binary is a Big Lie by Lee Wind
In this historical and cross-cultural exploration of gender, Wind invites readers to expand their understanding beyond the oppressive limits of the gender binary. 
Just Another Epic Love Poem by Parisa Akhbari
Poetry, first love, and family trauma all play roles in a queer Iranian American teen’s coming of age.
A Queer History of the United States for Young People by Michael Bronski
Queer history didn’t start with Stonewall. This book explores how LGBTQ people have always been a part of our national identity, contributing to the country and culture for over 400 years.