The list below was compiled from several sources: a family in the SF Bay Area’s Our Family Coalition, San Francisco Public Library recommendations, Our Family’s Books’ School Classrooms & Libraries Featuring LGBT Individuals or Issues recommendations, the Amazon.com gay/lesbian/bisexual families list.
See the Booklists: Children’s Lit with LGBT Family Diversity section on the LD Links page for a handful of other lists. Most of these booklists overlap to one another to a degree (there’s still not near enough out there), and some are more up-to-date than others. As soon as I can get my kids to do reliable data entry I’ll get ’em to compile & cross-reference all these lists and keep ’em updated, for their weekly allowance.
Links, where available, are to the book at Powell’s Books.
{For the grown-ups: I’ve selected two dozen books on LGBT family-making and parenting here at Powell’s.}
Picture Stories
A B C: A Family Alphabet Book, by Bobby Combs. Illus. by Desiree Keane and Brian Rappa. Two Lives, 2001. Ages 2-5.
Children learn their ABC’s in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
1 2 3: A Family Counting Book, by Bobbie Combs. Illus. by Danamarie Hosler. Two Lives, 2001. Ages 2-5.
Children learn to count from one to twenty in this book featuring multicultural gay and lesbian parented families.
Celebrating Families, by Rosemarie Hausherr, Scholarstic. Ages 4-8.
All different kinds of families (multiracial; gay/les; mom in wheelchair; etc.).
The Dragon and the Doctor, by Barbara Danish, Feminist Press @ CUNY. Ages 4-8.
Great story about a dragon w/a sore tail who goes to see a doctor (a woman), who fixes the tail and then attends a party w/the dragon and her friends. One of the friends has two moms.
Who’s in a Family, by Robert Skutch, Tricycle Press. Ages 4-8.
Great book about multiracial, single/divorced families, gay/lesbian families, families w/one child.
The Family Book, by Todd Parr, Megan Tingley Publisher. Ages 4-8.
And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell, Ala Notable Childrens Books. Ages 4-8.
Great story about two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who want to have a baby like the other penguin couples. A zoologist notices and gives them an egg to hatch.
Emma and Meesha My Boy, by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine, Twomomsbooks.com. Ages 4-8.
A book about a little girl with two moms who gets a new cat.
Oliver Button is a Sissy, by Tomie dePaola. Harcourt, 1979. Ages 4-7.
Life is not easy for a boy who prefers dancing to sports. A companion video, Oliver Button Is a Star, features the author and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus.
The Sissy Duckling, by Harvey Fierstein. Illus. by Henry Cole. Simon & Schuster, 2002.
Ages 4-8.
Elmer is derided by his father and schoolmates for not being like the other male ducklings until he proves that a “sissy” can be a real hero.
Best Best Colors: Los Mejores Colores, by Eric Hoffman. Illus. by Celeste Henriquez. Redleaf, 1999. Ages 3-5.
When his two mothers get a rainbow flag, a young boy realizes that all colors are beautiful, especially together. A bilingual English-Spanish story.
Felicia’s Favorite Story, by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Adriana Romo. Two Lives, 2002.
Ages 2-5.
A girl loves to hear about how her two mothers adopted her from Guatemala.
Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman. Illus. by Diane Souza. Alyson, 2000.
Ages 3-6.
Tenth anniversary edition of the groundbreaking story about a three-year-old who discovers that there are all kinds of families.
The White Swan Express, by Jean Davies Okimoto and Elaine M. Aoki. Illus. by Meilo So. Clarion, 2002. Ages 4-8.
Heartwarming story of four couples, including a lesbian couple, who travel to China to adopt baby girls.
It’s Okay to Be Different, by Todd Parr. Little, Brown, 2001. Ages 3-6.
A colorful picture book that enumerates many ways of being different. While same-sex parented families aren’t mentioned, this book can be used to introduce the topic with young listeners.
Pinky and Rex and the Bully, by James Howe. Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Atheneum, 1996.
Ages 7-9.
Pinky is a boy whose favorite color is pink and whose best friend is a girl named Rex in this story about learning to be comfortable with who you are.
Non-Fiction
Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Struggle, by Marilyn Tower Oliver. Enslow, 1998.
Ages 11+.
Providing historical context, the author discusses issues affecting gays and lesbians, including marriage, parenting, military service, hate crimes, and job discrimination.
What If Someone I Know Is Gay?: Answers to Questions About Gay and Lesbian People, by Eric Marcus. Price Stern Sloan, 2000. Ages 11+.
Marcus forthrightly answers all kinds of questions that kids and teens are likely to ask.
Zack’s Story: Growing Up With Same-Sex Parents, by Keith Elliot Greenberg. Photos. by Carol Halebian. Lerner, 1996. Ages 6-11.
Straightforward photo-essay about the family of an eleven-year-old that includes two moms, and a stepfather and a stepmother.
The NAMES Project, by Larry Dane Brimner. Childrens, 1999. Ages 9-12.
A moving history of the AIDS epidemic and the significance of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Part of the Cornerstones of Freedom series.
Jenny Lives With Eric and Martin, by Susanne Bosche. Photos. by Andreas Hansen.
Gay Men’s Press, 1983. Ages 4-7.
A photo-essay about a five-year-old who lives with her dad and his partner. Age-appropriate, positive depiction and discussion of a gay family.
It’s so Amazing! A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie H. Harris. Illus. by Michael Emberley. Candlewick, 1999. Ages 8+.
A gay and lesbian positive book that explains all about puberty, love, sex, and getting pregnant — including alternative insemination and in vitro fertilization.
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie H. Harris. Illus. by Michael Emberley. Candlewick, 1994. Ages 8+.
An excellent book that discusses everything kids want to know about sex, including homosexuality, in a positive, matter-of-fact way.
The Harvey Milk Story, by Kari Krakow. Illus. by David Gardner. Two Lives, 2002. Ages 5-10.
A picture book biography about the life and death of the gay rights leader and San Francisco City Supervisor.
page last updated: 09.15.07
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