Books
This collection features books that explore 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, families, gender diversity, Two-Spirit teachings, and the history of the Pride movement. These titles support inclusive education and help spark meaningful conversations in classrooms and communities.
Age Group
Grade: K-4 Books
Theme: Pride & Pride Parade (K-4)
Theme: Pride Flag (K-4)
Theme: Gender & GSRD (2SLGBTQ+) Terms (K-4)
The Boy and the Bindi
by Vivek Shraya
(Diversity – learning about another culture) When a five-year-old boy becomes fascinated with his mother’s bindi and wishes to have one of his own, he learns about its cultural significance, allowing the boy to discover the magic of the bindi, which in turn gives him permission to be more fully himself.
47,000 Beads
by Koja Adeyoha & Angel Adeyoha
Theme: Family (K-4)
Families
by Kerry McCluskey & Jesse Unaapik Mike
(Indigenous)
Talittuq is excited to start his first day of grade two. As he meets his friends again after summer vacation, he notices that a lot of his friends’ families are very different from his own. Some have one mom and one dad, and some have only a mom. Some live with two dads or two moms. Talittuq learns that families come in many different shapes and sizes, and what holds them all together is love!
Love Makes a Family
by Sophie Beer
(Ages 0-3)
This book shows that it doesn’t matter what your family looks like, the only thing that makes a family a family, is love! Each page showcases bright illustrations of diverse families doing special activities together. Your little one will love looking through the pages to see their own family reflected, and of course feel the love your family shares together.
My Two Moms and Me
by Michael Joosten
Grade: 5-8 Books
The Whispers
by Greg Howard
A fantastical coming-of-age story about loss, friendship, and identity, The Whisperscenters around 11-year-old Riley, who believes in wish-granting fairies known as the whispers. Riley embarks on a journey with his friend Gary to find the whispers and ask for his mom to return, and maybe also for his crush Dylan to like him back.
Middle School’s A Drag, You Better Werk!
by Greg Howard
Another excellent middle grade novel from the author of The Whispers, this book follows entrepreneurial 12-year-old Mikey Pruitt as he starts his own talent agency and represents clients in the leadup to the big talent show. Among his roster is eighth-grader Julian Vasquez — drag queen name Coco Caliente — who helps Mikey see that he, too, can be openly gay at school.
To Night Owl From Dogfish
by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
This epistolary novel co-written by two powerhouse authors captures the budding friendship between bookish Avery Bloom and fearless Bett Devlin, whose dads fall in love and send them to sleepaway camp to get to know each other. Witty and heartwarming, To Night Owl From Dogfish subtly portrays two modern families on their way to becoming one.
Small Town Pride
by Phil Stamper
A novel about finding your place, using your voice, and the true meaning of pride.
Jake is just starting to enjoy life as his school’s first openly gay kid. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can’t be said about everyone in their small town. When Jake’s dad hangs a pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a pride parade. Except Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea. Why can’t they hold a pride festival in their town?
Grade: 9-12 Books
Fiction (9-12)
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time: An Indigenous LGBT Sci-fi Anthology and Fire Song
by Various Authors
(Indigenous)
“Love Beyond, Body, Space, and Time” is a collection of indigenous science fiction and urban fantasy focusing on LGBT and two-spirit characters. These stories range from a transgender woman trying an experimental transition medication to young lovers separated through decades and meeting far in their own future. These are stories of machines and magic, love, and self-love.
You Should See Me in a Crown
by Leah Johnson
(BIPOC)
Liz Lighty has always believed she’s too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small midwestern town. But it’s okay — Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College and become a doctor. But when her financial aid falls through, her only option is her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. Despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she’s willing to do whatever it takes. The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, the smart and funny Mack. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?
Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender
Felix has never been in love. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.
As he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself. Felix Ever After is an honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve.
Non-Fiction (9-12)
Gender Identity Workbook for Teens: Practical Exercises to Navigate Your Exploration, Support Your Journey, and Celebrate Who You Are
by Andrew Maxwell Triska
Discover more about who you are and who you might want to become. Whether you’ve been pondering big feelings and questions about your gender, or you’re just a little curious about it, the Gender Identity Workbook for Teens is an interactive workbook that will walk you through what gender identity actually is. You’ll learn that there are endless ways to express yourself and that there’s no right or wrong way to identify.
This Book is Gay
by James Dawson
Inside you’ll find the answers to all the questions you ever wanted to ask: from sex to politics, hooking up to stereotypes, coming out and more. This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it’s like to grow up LGBT also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.
Queer: The Ultimate LGBT Guide for Teens
by Kathy Belge, Marke Bieschke, Christian Robinson Dawson
How to They/Them: A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity
by Stuart Getty Dawson
This charming and disarming guide unpacks all these questions and more with a fun, visual approach. From a real-deal they/them-using genderqueer writer, this book makes it humorous and easy to learn so that everyone can get it. No soap boxes or divisive comment section wars here. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, always human, this 101 primer is about more than just bathrooms and pronouns. It’s about gender expression and the freedom to choose how to identify. While they might only be for some, that freedom is for everyone!
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living
by Dan Savage & Terry Miller
Growing up isn’t easy. Many young people face daily tormenting and bullying, and this is especially true for LGBTQ kids and teens.
It Gets Better is a collection of original essays and expanded testimonials written to teens from celebrities, political leaders, and everyday people, because while many LGBTQ teens can’t see a positive future for themselves, we can.