12 Children’s Books with LGBT Characters
1. “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell – This heartwarming story is based on the true story of two male penguins who become a family by caring for an egg.
2. “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall – Red, a blue crayon mistakenly labeled as red, explores themes of identity and self-acceptance in this beautifully illustrated tale.
3. “The Miseducation of Cameron Post” by Emily M. Danforth – This young adult novel follows the story of Cameron Post, a lesbian teenager sent to a conversion therapy camp in the 1990s.
4. “George” by Alex Gino – The main character, George, is a transgender girl who navigates the challenges of coming out and being accepted for who she truly is.
5. “Julián Is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love – Julián, a young boy, embraces his love for mermaids and expresses his true self in this empowering picture book.
6. “Heather Has Two Mommies” by Lesléa Newman – This classic children’s book introduces Heather, a girl with two moms, and celebrates diverse family structures.
7. “Prince and Knight” by Daniel Haack – This fairy tale tells the story of a prince and a knight who fall in love, challenging traditional gender norms.
8. “Jack (Not Jackie)” by Erica Silverman – When Susan’s younger sibling, Jack, announces that they are actually Jackie, a transgender boy, Susan becomes supportive and helps Jackie transition.
9. “Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution” by Rob Sanders – This nonfiction book for children recounts the events of the Stonewall Riots, an important milestone in LGBTQ+
history.
10. “I Am Jazz” by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings – Based on the real-life experiences of Jazz Jennings, this book tells the story of a transgender girl and her journey of self-discovery.
11. “Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress” by Christine Baldacchino – Morris loves dressing up in a tangerine dress, challenging societal expectations of gender roles.
12. “Donovan’s Big Day” by Lesléa Newman – Donovan prepares for his moms’ wedding and takes on the important role of the ring bearer in this heartwarming story.
These books provide children with important representation and promote acceptance, understanding, and inclusion.