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Celebrating Pride Month is a way to raise children who understand that families come in different stripes. Heather may have two mommies, and Lester may have two adoptive daddies, and some children like to dress up as mermaids when it is not Halloween, but all of these children belong to loving families.
Learning about Pride Month should not just be for LGBTQ families, everyone can benefit from these books about diversity.
While there used to be a time when it was difficult to find books that dealt with same-sex parents, or young people figuring out their sexual orientation. Today, according to Brightly, there are books available from the smallest tots to tweens.
My Two Moms and Me
This board book for babies and toddlers by Michal Joosten and illustrated by acclaimed artist Izak Zenou follows a busy family throughout their day from getting up in the morning to settling down at night with a bedtime story. This inclusive and happy book is sure to be a hit with any child. The same author also wrote My Two Dads and Me.
Daddy, Papa and Me
Author Leslea Newman and illustrator Carol Thompson wrote this adorable board book using the rhythmic text that babies and toddlers adore. Listen to this soothing story that is about how a toddler spends the day with his two dads and make it a part of your family’s book collection. The same author also wrote Mommy, Mama and Me.
And Tango Makes Three
This heartwarming true story about two penguins named Roy and Silo at the Central Park Zoo in New York City who created a family when they got to welcome a baby penguin of their own. Written by authors Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, And Tango Makes Three is available as a hardcover, paperback and as a book and CD edition that was narrated by actor Neil Patrick Harris. For kids ages 4 and up.
Julián is a Mermaid
This book for kids ages 4-8 by Jessica Love tells the tale of Julián who sees three women splashingly dressed as mermaids on the subway one day when he was with his nana. He keeps dreaming about the mermaids and decides to make his own costume but he is afraid of what his nana will think. It has a very sweet ending.
I Am Jazz
This autobiographical picture book authored by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel, illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas tells the story of a transgender child. This book is a great way to start a conversation with your kids about gender, identity, and compassion. Listen to Jazz Jennings read her award-winning story. For kids ages 4 and up. She also wrote a follow up book Being Jazz: My Life As a Teen that is suitable for teens.
Home at Last
This book by Vera B. Williams and illustrated by Chris Rachka tells the story about a school-age boy Lester who was adopted by two daddies and then has trouble falling asleep. It is a LGBTQ story that is applicable to any kid who was ever apprehensive about going to a new school, making new friends, or learning something new. For kids ages 5 and up.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
This book for young readers ages 5-8 by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Steven Salerno tells the true story of the gay pride flag from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and its designer Gilbert Baker. How the rainbow flag went global and its role today.
George
This Scholastic Gold book written by Alex Gino is about a boy name George who knows that she is not a boy. She thinks she has to keep this a secret but when her teacher announces that the class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web, she really wants to be Charlotte even if that means telling her class who she really is. For kids ages 9 and up.
My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer
This book by Jennifer Gennari for tweens ages 10 and up is about prejudice against same-sex marriage and LGBTQ people. When June’s mother decides to marry her girlfriend, June is less than thrilled. When people in the community start placing offensive signs on their lawn and kids bully June at school, she is forced to make a difficult decision and publicly stands up for her mom.
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