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www.welcomingschools.org
GREAT LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE PICTURE & MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS
DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE FAMILIES
Families. Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly. (Pre-K – K) Big or small, similar or
different, there are all kinds of families featured in the many photos. This inclusive
look can help children see beyond their own experiences and begin to understand
others.
Families. Susan Kuklin. (4 – 5) With interviews and engaging
color photos, this shows the diversity of families in America.
Includes mixed-race, immigrant, two-dad, two-mom and single parent families
and families for whom religion is a focal point.
The Family Book. Todd Parr. (Pre-K – K) All kinds of families are celebrated in
a funny, silly and reassuring way. Includes adoptive families, stepfamilies, single-
parent families, two-mom and two-dad families and families with a mom and a dad.
Families, Families, Families! Suzanne and Max Lang. (Pre-K
– K) A host of silly animals represent all kinds of families.
Depicted as portraits, framed and hung, these goofy creatures
offer a warm celebration of family love.
The Great Big Book of Families. Mary Hoffman. (Pre-K – 3)
Features all kinds of families with 2-page spreads showcasing
one aspect of home life - from houses and holidays, to schools
and pets, to feelings and family trees.
One Family. George Shannon. (Pre-K – 2) While the text looks
at numbers and the concept of “one” – one batch of cookies, one
family, one world – the images portray a diverse range of people
and families – multigenerational, interracial, gay.
Over the River and Through the Woods. Linda Ashman.
(Pre-K – 1) The classic song gets a fresh new twist! The fun
begins when Grandma and Grandpa send invitations to their
far-flung, modern, and multiracial family
PICTURE BOOKS
The Adventures of Tulip, Birthday Wish Fairy. S. Bear Bergman. (Pre-K – 3)
Follow Tulip as he helps out with the birthday wishes of all the nine-year-olds in North
America. When Tulip receives a wish from a child known as David who wishes to live
as Daniela, he seeks the wise counsel of the Wish Fairy Captain.
And Tango Makes Three. Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell.
(Pre-K – 2) Penguins Roy and Silo at New York’s Central Park Zoo, keep putting
a rock in their nest and try to hatch it. The zookeeper gives them a real egg that
needs care. The penguins take turns sitting on it until it hatches, and Tango is
born.
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www.welcomingschools.org ! ! !
Annie’s Plaid Shirt. Stacy B. Davids. (Pre-K – 2) Annie loves her plaid shirt and
wears it everywhere. One day her mom tells her that she must wear a dress to her
uncle's wedding. While Annie protests, her mom insists. Annie is miserable. She
feels weird in dresses. Why can't her mom understand? Annie has an idea.
But will her mom agree?
Confessions of a Former Bully. Trudy Ludwig. (2 – 5) Told from
the unusual point of view of someone who bullied rather than the target. Highlights
bullying with words. Provides kids with real life tools they can use to identify and stop
relational aggression. Mentions taunting for being perceived as gay.
The Different Dragon. Jennifer Bryan. (K – 1) Shows how the
wonderful curiosity and care of a little boy, with some help from his two moms, can
lead to magical places with a dragon who is tired of being tough.
Donovan's Big Day. Lesléa Newman. (Pre-K – 2) Captures the
excitement of a young boy as he and his extended family prepare for
the boy’s two moms’ wedding. A picture book about love, family, and marriage.
The Flower Girl Wore Celery. Meryl G. Gordon. (Pre-K – 1) Emma
can't wait to be the flower girl. She'll wear a celery dress and walk
down the aisle with the ring bear and happy bride and groom. Or at
least, that's what Emma assumes. But nothing turns out to be quite
what she's expecting.
Heather Has Two Mommies, Lesléa Newman. (Pre-K – K) 25th
Anniversary Edition. Heather’s favorite number is two – two arms, two legs, and two
pets. And she also has two mommies. As school begins, Heather sees that, "the
most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another."
Home at Last. Vera B. Williams and Chris Raschka. (1 – 3) After
Lester is adopted by Daddy Albert and Daddy Rich, he develops a big problem—
he can't fall asleep. It's the sweet dog, Wincka, who finally solves the problem and
helps Lester feels home at last.
I am Jazz. Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings. (K – 5) From the
time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain
in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like
herself in boys' clothing. Based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings.
Introducing Teddy: A gentle story about gender and
friendship. Jess Walton. (Pre-K – K) Introduces the youngest readers to
understanding gender identity and transition in an accessible and heart-warming
story about being true to yourself and being a good friend.
Jacob’s New Dress. Sarah and Ian Hoffman. (Pre-K – 2) Jacob
loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be.
Some kids at school say he can't wear "girl" clothes, but Jacob wants to wear a
dress. Can he convince his parents to let him wear what he wants?
Keesha’s South African Adventure. Cheril N Clarke and Monica
Bey-Clarke. (Pre-K – 2) After learning about South Africa in school,
the inquisitive and lighthearted Keesha dreams of going to see it for herself. She
gets the surprise of a lifetime when her two moms decide to take her there.
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www.welcomingschools.org ! ! !
King and King. Linda de Haan. (Pre-K – 2) The queen made up her mind that it
was time for the prince to marry and become king before the end of the
summer. Many princesses came to visit but no one was quite right –– until
another sweet prince came along.
One of a Kind, Like Me / Unico Como Yo. Laurin Mayeno.
(Pre-K – 1) Tomorrow is the school parade, and Danny knows
exactly what he will be: a princess. A sweet story about unconditional love and the
beauty of individuality.
Stella Brings the Family. Miriam B. Schiffer. (Pre-K – 1) Stella's
class is having a Mother's Day celebration, but what's a girl with two daddies to
do? Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet
story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.
A Tale of Two Daddies. Vanita Oelschlager. (Pre-K – 1) A young
girl answers a friend's questions about what it is like to have two
fathers. The boy asks straightforward questions. The story ends
with simply, “Who is your dad when you're sad and need some
love?” Both, of course.
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding. Sarah S. Brannen. (Pre-K – 2) Everyone
is happy but the young girl who fears losing her favorite uncle when
he gets married until she sees she is really gaining a new uncle.
MIDDLE GRADE BOOKS
After Tupac & D Foster. Jacqueline Woodson. (5 – 9) The day D Foster enters Neeka
and her best friend’s lives, the world opens up for them. Through her, the girls see
another side of life. They share a passion for the rap music of Tupac Shakur. They also
deal with discrimination directed at the gay brother of one of the girls.
Also Known as Elvis. James Howe. (4 – 7) Skeezie’s got the leather
jacket of a tough guy, but a heart of gold. While stuck at home for the
summer taking care of his sisters and working five days a week to help out
his mom, he navigates first crushes and tough choices about family and friends.
Final book in The Misfits series.
The Best Man. Richard Peck. (3 – 5) With humor and insight,
Newbery Medalist, Richard Peck, follows a boy from elementary
school to middle school navigating school and family dynamics. Starts
with a wedding disaster and ends with a great one.
Better Nate Than Ever. Tim Federle. (5 – 9) Nate plans a daring
overnight escape to New York for an open casting call for E.T.: The
Musical, knowing this could be the difference between small-town blues
and big-time stardom. In the sequel, Five, Six, Seven, Nate!, Nate
finds out that Broadway rehearsals are nothing like he expects: full of
intimidating child stars, cut-throat understudies, and a secret admirer!
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot. Dan Pilkey. (2
– 4) When George and Harold try to avert disaster, they travel into the future and
seek the help of their adult selves. Harold is pictured with his husband
and their kids.
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www.welcomingschools.org ! ! !
Drama. Raina Telgemeier. (5 – 8) Graphic novel through drama – a play – and drama
between characters explores middle school feelings with boyfriends and girlfriends,
and boyfriends and boyfriends.
George. Alex Gino. (3 – 6) When people look at George, they think they
see a boy. But she knows she's a girl. George really wants to play
Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web. Will she be able to?
Gracefully Grayson. Ami Polonsky. (5 – 7) Grayson has been holding
onto a secret for what seems like forever: "he" is a girl on the inside. Will
new strength from an unexpected friendship and a caring teacher's wisdom
be enough to help Grayson step into the spotlight she was born to inhabit?
The House of Hades. Rick Riordan. (4 – 6) In the fourth installment of the
Heroes of Olympus series, Demigod Nico comes out and admits he is in
love with Percy. The topic continues into The Blood of Olympus as he
develops a crush on a counselor at Camp Half-Blood.
Keeper. Kathi Appelt. (4 – 7) To Keeper, this moon is her chance to fix all
that has gone wrong. When the riptide pulls at her boat, panic sets in, and
the fairy tales that lured her out there go tumbling. Includes a tender romance
between two boys years earlier.
Lily and Dunkin. Donna Gephart. (5 – 7) As 8th grade begins both Lily
and Dunkin are trying to establish new identities for themselves.
Everyone sees Lily as Timothy, but she is ready for the real her to be
known. Dunkin just moved to town and wants to leave his past behind.
Luv Ya Bunches. Lauren Myracle. (4 – 6) A funny, honest depiction of the
shifting alliances between girls that shape school days. Written with a mix
of instant messages, blogs, and narrative. Four diverse 5
th
grade girls
come together in friendship, one has two moms. First in a series of Flower
Power books.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor, Book 2. Rick
Riordan (4 – 8) Thor's hammer has fallen into enemy hands. Magnus teams up with Alex
Fierro a gender fluid formerly homeless teen to retrieve the hammer quickly, so the
mortal worlds will not be defenseless against an onslaught of giants.
The Manny Files. Christian Burch. (3 – 6) Shy Keats Dalinger learns
from his unconventional male "nanny" to be more self-confident and out-
going while the "manny" becomes more and more a part of the
family. Sequel: Hit the Road, Manny.
The Marvels. Brian Selznick. (5 – 9) Two stand-alone stories – one in
pictures, one in prose. The journey begins in 1766, when a young boy survives a
shipwreck. It continues a century later when another young boy looking for clues about
his family finds refuge with his uncle in a beautiful, mysterious home.
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher. Dana Alison Levy. (3 – 5) From camping
trips to scary tales told in the dark, from new schools to old friends, from imaginary
cheetahs to very real skunks, the Fletchers’ school yea is anything but boring. Meet
the Fletchers: four boys, two dads, and one new neighbor who just might ruin
everything. Continues with The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island.
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www.welcomingschools.org ! ! !
The Misfits, James Howe. (6 – 9) Four best friends try to survive seventh grade in
the face of all-too-frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence and
sexual orientation/gender expression. The story of the four friends continues with
Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside, and Also Known as Elvis.
The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World. E. L. Konigsburg. (5 – 7)
Two boys find themselves caught up in a story that links a young boy's
life, an old man's reminiscence, and a painful secret dating back to Nazi Germany.
Includes the victimization of artists and gays during the Holocaust.
The Other Boy. M. G. Hennessey. (5 – 10) Twelve-year-old Shane, a
transgender boy, has moved to a new city and school where people
only know him as a boy. He loves playing baseball, graphic novels and
hanging out with his best friend. But an older boy undermines Shane’s privacy.
Show’s Shane’s range of emotions from anxiety and fear to happiness and courage.
Discusses hormone treatments directly.
The Pants Project. Cat Clarke (3 – 6) Liv knows he was always meant to be a boy but
he hasn’t told anyone yet – even his two moms. Now, his new school has a terrible
dress code, he has to wear skirts! The only way for Liv to get what he wants
is to go after it himself. But to Liv, this isn't just a mission to change the
policy―it's a mission to change his life.
Playground: A Mostly True Story of a Former Bully. Curtis "50 Cent"
Jackson, Laura Moser. (6 – 9) A realistic look at bullying from the
perspective of an urban young teen boy in middle school. Looks at the boy’s feelings
as both a target and perpetrator of bullying. Some explicit language.
The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General
Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang. Amy Ignatow. (4 – 6)
Fifth graders, Lydia and Julie, are determined to
uncover the secrets of popularity by observing, recording,
discussing, and replicating the behaviors of the “cool” girls. Julie
has two dads. Seven books in the series. Book 2 takes on bullying.
Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community. Robin Stevenson. (4 – 8) Pride events
are an opportunity to honor the past, protest injustice, and celebrate a diverse and
vibrant community. How did Pride come to be? And what does Pride mean to the
people who celebrate it? Includes extensive photos and descriptive text.
Princess Princess Ever After. Katie O’Neill. (2 – 5) When the heroic princess Amira
rescues the kind-hearted princess Sadie from her tower prison, neither expects to find a
true friend in the bargain. They join forces to defeat a jealous sorceress while realizing
their happy ever after is with each other.
Riding Freedom. Pam Muñoz Ryan. (4 – 6) A fictionalized account of the
true story of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst who ran away from an
orphanage, posed as a boy, moved to California, drove stagecoaches and
continued to pass as a man her whole life.
This Would Make a Good Story Someday. Dana Alison Levy. (4 – 6)
Sara Johnston-Fischer loves her family. But that doesn’t mean she’s
thrilled when her summer plans are upended for a surprise cross-country
train trip with her two moms, her two sisters.
