J.J. Austrian’s Worm Loves Worm (2016)
Worm Loves Worm (2016), written by J.J. Austrian and illustrated by Mike Curato, is a straightforward story about two worms who fall in love and want to be married.
When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community (2017)
When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community (2017), written by Gayle E. Pitman and atmospherically illustrated by Christopher Lyon, unfolds in the first person, allowing readers to follow Phyllis and Del as they help transform San Francisco into a LGBTQ*-affirming community.
Kai Cheng Thom’s From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (2017)
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (2017), written by Kai Cheng Thom and illustrated by Wai-Yant Li and Kai Yun Ching, is about a child named Miu Lan who cannot choose what to be: a boy or a girl, a bird or a fish. […]
Rigoberto González’s Antonio’s Card (2005)
Antonio’s Card, written by Rigoberto González and illustrated by Cecilia Concepción Álvarez, was published in 2005 by Children’s Book Press, a non-profit publisher of multicultural children’s literature. The protagonist, a Latinx boy named Antonio, lives with his mother and her partner, Leslie. Antonio’s peers make fun of Leslie, a tall […]
Harvey Fierstein’s The Sissy Duckling (2002)
The Sissy Duckling (2002), written by Harvey Fierstein and illustrated by Henry Cole, is the story of Elmer, a little boy Duck who loves to build, paint, cook, and play make-believe. Elmer is quite happy, even though he spends a lot of time playing alone – not quite fitting in […]
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s Ballerino Nate (2006)
Ballerino Nate (2006), written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley with pictures by R.W. Alley, tells the story of a young boy named Nate who becomes fascinated with ballet after seeing a student performance. He decides he wants to be a ballerina, but his slightly older brother tells him ballerinas are all […]
Vanita Oelschlager’s A Tale of Two Mommies (2011)
A Tale of Two Mommies (2011), written by Vanita Oelschlager and illustrated by Mike Blanc, is an affirming story about a little boy and his two moms. Three small, racially diverse children enjoy a day at the beach. One of the children, a little boy, has tawny beige skin, another […]
Laurel Dykstra’s Uncle Aiden (2005)
Uncle Aiden (2005), written and illustrated by Laurel Dykstra, might just be my favorite gay uncle book. And, there are probably as many gay uncle books as there are boys who wear dresses books, which is to say competition is fierce.
Tomie dePaola’s Bonjour, Mr. Satie (1991)
Bonjour, Mr. Satie (1991) by Tomie dePaola is the story of two children, Rosalie and Conrad, their uncle, Mr. Satie, and his “companion,” Ffortusque Ffollet, Esq. When the two world travelers visit their family, they bring Paris to America through French cuisine, a smattering of French words, and enchanting stories […]
Jennifer Carr’s Be Who You Are (2010)
Be Who You Are (2010), written by Jennifer Carr and illustrated by Ben Rumback, explores a young transgender girl’s transition. Although Hope’s sex assignment was male, she always felt like a girl. She tells her very accepting parents while she is quite young, and they support her. However, Hope isn’t […]
Raise Them Righteous 