The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Children's Books List
As gay, bi and trans dads, we can’t simply walk into our local book store and find LGBTQ children’s books for our kids that are reflective of our families. Fortunately, many gays dads — frustrated by the lack of options — have taken matters into their own hands, writing beautiful, whimsical and inclusive children’s stories that showcase our diverse families and the range of ways we form them.
Over the years, we’ve been thrilled as our families have more options to choose from — and we’re excited to present you with our comprehensive, hand-picked selections below. Each of these will make an excellent addition to your nightly bedtime routine.
We promised to keep adding to our collection of LGBTQ children’s books as we come across them, so be sure to bookmark in this page, bookworms! Don’t see a title that we should include in our list below? Let us know at dads@gayswithkids.com!
Chloe dreams of being a ballerina princess. But today she is not practicing her twirls or leaping from room to room. She digs deep in her art drawer to find what she needs to craft her very own princess ballerina. The project quickly turns into more than a simple princess drawing. Chloe realizes that princesses are not just about beautiful hair and sparkly dresses. As her work of art comes to life, she discovers the qualities of character that make up her princess. When she feels insecure about an imperfection in her art, her dads point out that the personal quirks make her princess unique! And Chloe realizes that she is not too different from the princess she so admires. Princesses can look all kinds of way. What kind of princess are you?
This groundbreaking coloring book encourages kids to think beyond the stereotype of a princess and find strength and courage inside themselves. Kids color along as Chloe tells them that princesses are more than just beauty and glitter. Princesses can also be smart, kind, brave, strong, and brave. Princesses look all kinds of ways They come from any part of the world, and from all kinds of families. The True Colors of a Princess is filled with messages of empowerment, diversity, and equality.
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some families have a dad. Some have two! But all loving families enjoy having fun together. Children can add their own colors to these families as they enjoy a day at the zoo, or an afternoon flying kites. Color these pages where dads and their kids bake a cake, have fun dressing up, and play fun games. The dads in this book (just like dads in real life) sew dresses, wrap presents, and even change smelly diapers!
When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of step siblings, and another has a new baby. As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — families of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special. A warm and whimsical look at many types of families written by award-winning author Sara O’Leary, A Family is a Family springs to life with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng.
“A Tale of Two Daddies” is a playground conversation between two children. The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right — Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow: “Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?” To which she answers: “Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.”
This book follows a toddler spending the day with his daddies: playing hide-and-seek and dress-up, enjoying bath time, capped off with a kiss goodnight — there is no limit, the book shows us, to what a loving family can do together.
Lenny follows Jasmine for a school project and learns about her life with her two dads. When classmate Lenny visits her home, he discovers Jazz has two dads. Who makes her dinner? Papi! Who braids her hair? Dad! Who taught her how to dance? Papi and Dad! Lenny realizes love makes a family.
“The Family Book” celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small one, a clean house or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
Nate loves aliens and he really wants to wear an alien costume for Purim, but his friends are all dressing as superheroes and he wants to fit in. What will he do? With the help of his two dads, he makes a surprising decision.
Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? It’s not that she doesn’t have someone who helps her with her homework or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.
Have fun with the kids, moms, dads and pets in this delightful book that celebrates LGBTQ families as it teaches young children the alphabet.
A young boy discusses his divorced father’s new living situation, in which the father and his gay roommate share eating, doing chores, playing, loving, and living.
Every day, everywhere, babies are born. They’re kissed and dressed and rocked and fed — and completely adored by the families that love them. With a rhyming text and endearing illustrations, this board book is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and, of course, very noisy babies doing all the wonderful things babies do best.
This fun and fascinating treasury features all kinds of families and their lives together. Each spread showcases one aspect of home life — from houses and holidays, to schools and pets, to feelings and family trees. Ros Asquith’s humorous illustrations perfectly complement a charming text from the acclaimed Mary Hoffman; kids will love poring over these pages again and again. A celebration of the diverse fabric of kith and kin the world over, The Great Big Book of Families is a great big treat for every family to share.
Families with same-sex parents are celebrated in this board book that follows busy dads and their kids throughout their day—eating breakfast, getting dressed, heading out to the park, and settling back in at night with a bubble bath and a goodnight lullaby. LGBTQ+ parents and their friends and families will welcome this inclusive and cheerful book that reflects their own lives and family makeup.
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 activities, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family members share.
Our society is changing. An increasing number of gay couples are having children through adoption and surrogacy. At some point, you should explain to your child about same-gender parents. I have written this book as an educational tool to help people understand that families come in a variety of different combinations. If you can, please buy two books – one for your child and one to give away as a present or donation to a school or library – so that, together, we can educate parents, children and the community and make the world a better place.
Ben is 9 years old and lives with his two dads. There are good things (going on trips, for example) and not-so-good things (such as being made to eat tomatoes) about living with his dads. But they’re pretty amazing dads! In this beautifully illustrated and positive story, Pablo Fernández (author of Becoming Dads) brings a dose of humor to challenging perceptions about non-traditional families.
As a parent, discussing diversity with your child can be difficult, especially if you have your own questions. Some People Do boils this topic down to provide the simplest of answers. By the time your child finishes reading this book, they will have been introduced to all facets of people, without anyone being more revered than the other.
That mantra is now a Children’s Book, co-written by Karamo and his 22-year-old son, Jason, who used to “say things like, ‘I don’t want to be me, I wish I was someone else, I wish I had a different life.” As a parent, that “broke my heart,” Karamo told Yahoo! Lifestyle. “I would say to him, ‘You are blessed and you are perfect just the way you are,’ as a reminder that you have been given so much and you should be appreciative and know that you’re enough — I know that the world will try to tear you down, but if you can say to yourself, ‘I am perfectly designed,’ maybe it can quiet out some of those negative messages.”
“I’ve recently written a children’s picture book (aimed at 2-4-year-olds) called “Fridays with Fitz: Fitz Goes to the Pool.” Every Friday – when his two dads go to work – Fitz and his grandparents (my husband, Steve, and I) head off on an adventure. Through the eyes of a curious and energetic 3-year-old, even ordinary adventures, like riding the bus or foraging for fungus in the forest can be fun and magical.”
“A Mermaid’s Tale is a story of a little boy’s love for toys and wanting to have fun! After being told that boys don’t play with dolls, we decided to make this a teachable moment and open up the dialogue around gender norms and stereotypes. In the end, toys are toys. Let kids be kids.”
“Once in a faraway kingdom, a strong, brave maiden is invited to attend the prince’s royal ball, but she’s not as excited to go as everyone else. After her mother convinces her to make an appearance, she makes a huge impression on everyone present, from the villagers to the king and queen, but she ends up finding true love in a most surprising place. This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.”
Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day established in 2010 to rally people against bullying. Spirit Day reinforces the importance of kindness, while also providing young readers with strategies to be a supportive friend. Published and created in partnership with GLAAD, this book aims to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.
Fast-paced rhyming keeps the flow of text upbeat and rhythmic and naturally models how to use a wide range of pronouns. There’s no room for stereotypes on THIS dance floor with spirited imagery that keeps names, clothes, hair and behavior fresh and diverse. The combination creates a playful and effortless practice to expand ideas about gender while learning the alphabet and makes being inclusive as easy as A-B-C.
A must-have primer for young readers and a great gift for pride events and throughout the year, beautiful colors all together make a rainbow in Rainbow: A First Book of Pride. This is a sweet ode to rainbow families, and an affirming display of a parent’s love for their child and a child’s love for their parents. With bright colors and joyful families, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and reveals the colorful meaning behind each rainbow stripe. Readers will celebrate the life, healing, light, nature, harmony, and spirit that the rainbows in this book will bring.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.
Having Two Dads is double the fun! Many families are different, this family has Two Dads. A beautifully illustrated, affirming story of life with Two Dads, written from the perspective of their adopted child. Featured as a recommended book to buy in Gay Times Magazine, Huffington Post, Diva Magazine, New Family Social, Adoption UK Magazine.
This third book from the Some Families series is based on the true story of the Leffew family, daddy Brian, daddy Jay, Daniel and Selena. We follow them through the story of their adoption and learn how this family was formed.
“We Belong Together” is about sharing your home and sharing your heart to make a family that belongs together. With an understanding of how personal and unique, each adoption is, and that not everyone comes to it in the same way, Todd Parr’s colorful art explores the meaning of family.
This brightly illustrated book for children aged five to 10 years tells the story of Ben, who was adopted by his gay parents, Dad David and Baba Chris, when he was four years old. They live happily together in an ordinary house, on an ordinary street and do ordinary things. But when Ben joins primary school, his life is turned upside down. Some children begin to tease him because he lives with two dads. But Baba Chris and Ben’s school teacher, Miss Patel, help Ben understand that what matters most is that children are loved and cared for.
The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted with the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of “seeds” being planted in the perfect place – exactly where they belong. Children and adults will enjoy this simple yet meaningful story and homespun illustrations. The book’s loving approach helps children to understand adoption. Andrea Nepa has captured the essence of adoption and family, and has illustrated it beautifully with images and poetry that even a small child can comprehend and enjoy.
Join newlyweds King Lee and King Bertie on their journey into the noisy jungle. The kings are greeted by wild animal families, but the royal travelers suspect that something more significant awaits them in the trees. King & King soon discover that there’s no adventure more wonderful than starting a family of their own. Jubilant sequel to Lambda Literary Award nominee “King & King.” Subtle clues on each page lead readers to a surprise ending. In a starred review, Kirkus called “King & King and Family” “[a] joyful celebration that . . . firmly challenges the assumptions established and perpetuated by the entire canon of children’s picture books.” An adoption story for everyone.
Told from Milo’s perspective, Milo’s Adventures is a story of surrogacy, love and becoming a family. The hoping, waiting, excitement, and love are universal experiences of a loving family but Milo’s story is unique as he has two daddies, a surrogate and a whole world who celebrates his birth on World Pride Weekend. We hope that this story helps everyone understand that Family is About Love!
Noa and Gal have two fathers, Itai and Yoav. They call them by their nicknames, Daddy-Yo and Daddy-I. Noa and Gal were born to gay parents in a process called surrogacy, with the help of two special women that enabled the arrival of the twins into the world. In this unique book, the writer, Shosh Pinkas, shares the story of many same-sex families around the world. Gal and Noa’s Daddies describes in a simple, clear, and humorous way, without any apologies, a loving and caring same-sex family. This is a brave and important book for children, and it also provides an appropriate answer for the needs of adults, as well. Family members, teachers, and friends will learn how to cope with the questions of curious children who seek to know more about the different types of families they see around them.
A sweet children’s story of how two kangaroos: Jack and Sam, a gay couple, have their own baby by means of an egg donor and surrogacy. Using kangaroos in the story enables children to easily understand the methods related to their conception in a simple and loving way.
Why I’m So Special, A Book About Surrogacy With Two Daddies, tackles a very difficult, complicated subject in a sweet, whimsical way. It is a lighthearted picture book on surrogacy with two daddies. The book is a story that all parents who used a surrogate may share with their young children to let them know just how special they are. This story is ultimately about hope, perseverance, and lots of love.
Daddy and Pop is the heartwarming story of Jessie, a little girl with two fathers. Jessie doesn’t realize that her family isn’t ‘typical’ until a girl in her class asks about her mom. Jessie’s Daddy and Pop tell her about the amazing journey they took to have her, by using an egg donor and a surrogate, in this fun-filled musical book! Daddy and Pop is part of the Love Makes a Family book series by Guess Who? Multimedia (in association with Pacific Fertility Center, Los Angeles), celebrating families made possible by egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, and adoption. *The book has an accompanying musical CD, which is sold separately.
Sophia’s Broken Crayons is a book for young children, recommended for children ages 2 to 6 years old which tells a story of surrogacy from a young child’s perspective in a practical way that children can understand and grasp. A little girl by the name of Sophia is heartbroken after she discovers all of her crayons are broken. Sophia’s friends share their crayons with her as she experiences seeing her parents choose to give the gift of surrogacy to their friends. Sophia’s Broken Crayons is a very easy and understanding way to help explain surrogacy to a young child which includes questions such as why can’t everyone have a baby? Why would someone choose a surrogate to help grow their family? Why would someone choose to become a surrogate? Follow the story of Sophia as she learns about sharing and helping out friends in need as well as why moms and dads choose surrogates to help grow their families and why surrogates choose to help other families that way.
This children’s story is ideal for gay parenting. The story is about two kangaroos: Jack and Sam, a gay couple, who have their own twins by means of an egg donor and surrogacy. Using kangaroos in the story enables children to easily understand the complicated methods related to their conception in a simple and loving way.
Family is important, but who’s in a family? Why the people who love you the most! This equal opportunity, an open-minded picture book has no preconceptions about what makes a family a family. There’s even equal time given to some of children’s favorite animal families. With warm and inviting jewel-tone illustrations, this is a great book for that long talk with a little person on your lap.
This book catalogs multicultural, modern family units, including those with single parents, lesbian and gay parents, mixed-race couples, grandparents and divorced parents. This is a great story to explore the dynamics of different kinds of families.
This story carefully and humorously addresses the subject of same-sex parents for children ages 4-7. In this story, a new girl named Matilda comes to Pear Power’s school and has two dads. Pearl thinks she is so cool and different from everyone else because of this, but quickly learns that Matilda’s family is just the same as everyone else’s! This lighthearted book easily shows how same-sex parents are “no big deal” and nothing to make a fuss over.
This is a story about a little girl who lives with her two fathers. One day she becomes very sad that her Daddy is away from home and so her Papa consoles her and explains the important work her Daddy is doing. This book shows how same-sex parents take on different roles in the house just like other families do.
Nick is a normal 10-year-old boy, but when Daddy and Daddy’s roommate, Frank, decide to get married, Nick gets to do something extra special: play best man! Nick doesn’t think anything of this event because he believes his father should be able to marry whomever he loves.
Riley is Papa’s princess and Daddy’s dragon. She loves her two fathers! When Riley’s classmate asks her which dad is her real one, Riley is confused. She doesn’t want to have to pick one or the other. Families are made of love in this heartwarming story that shows there are lots of ways to be part of one.
Katy’s school is celebrating Grandparents Day, and Katy is nervous. She doesn’t want to introduce her grandpas in front of the class because she’s worried that nobody will understand her lisp. To make matters worse, when Katy tells her teacher that she’s inviting her gay and married ”grampas,” her teacher thinks she means to say grandma and grandpa instead of grandpa and grandpa.
While riding the subway home from the pool with his Abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
The Rainbow Bee book is a sweet and thoughtfully illustrated story about a bee who is born looking quite different (with rainbow stripes) into a hive that has never dealt with diversity amongst its members.“Rainbow not only looked different but liked different things too.”The authors introduce surprise, conflict and vulnerability in a way that children of all ages can understand and enjoy. Rainbow, the main character in the story, is able to help the hive realize that differences can be beautiful, and should be embraced.“We’re all a little different; some taller, some shorter, some wider, some slimmer, some yellow and black, and some rainbow. But inside we’re all the same.”
In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBT community, This Day In June welcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united.
In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a brave knight come together to defeat a terrible monster and in the process find true love in a most unexpected place.
From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz’s story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.
Introducing Teddy introduces the youngest readers to understanding gender identity and transition in an accessible and heart-warming story about being true to yourself and being a good friend.
Giving a fabulous voice to the kind of boys who are under-represented in children’s books, Dylan St. Claire confidently walks between “masculine” and “feminine” behavior: He cries openly and expresses his emotions but also cracks jokes and finds his inner strength when the going gets rough. Full of laughs and a one-of-a-kind character kids will cheer for, this hilarious story is a celebration of individuality, persistence, overcoming disappointment, and what it takes to be a true star.
A charming look at the many forms a happy family can take—whether she’s with Mommy at her house, or with Daddy and his partner Harry at their apartment, this little girl always knows she’s loved.
Scoochie and Skiddles are cousins who learn important life lessons through their amazing adventures together. In Fun at Gramma’s, Scoochie and Skiddles discover that the best times are created through creativity, imagination, and the joy of family. Scoochie and Skiddles turn an ordinary day into something magical and exciting. When the day ends, Scoochie must find a positive way to manage her feelings of disappointment and Gramma helps in only that special way that a Gramma can. Join them on their adventure to “the best day ever”.
A children’s book. A book for all. A window into the life of a non-traditional family to instill in children a sense of inclusivity.
Two Dads Under the Christmas Tree is a children’s book about Adoption. It is the first book of the “Jayden’s Funny Tales” series created by Tobias Mile. The book, 32 pages with 14 color pages illustrated by Milan Samadder, will be printed in a luxury version, with high-quality paper and a dust jacket. Perfect for a Christmas gift!
Every book or product on Gays With Kids is independently selected by our staff, writers and experts. If you click on a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
