The Ultimate List of LGBTQ-Friendly Children’s Books

I have a secret.

It’s a special routine that I perform every time I’m in a bookstore.

First I pretend to be interested in the Best Sellers. Then I go to the Art section and flip through a bunch of books I know I’ll never buy. And then I do it. I look around, slip to the back of the store, and search for books about me.

Not literally books about me. Those don’t exist yet! I look for books about my people. Gay people.

When I was a kid, there weren’t many options to choose from. This made the task of finding them both exhilarating and consistently deflating. But as I got older, the world started to change. More people felt confident coming out. And those confident young people became impressive gay authors.

My routine, much like my sexuality, was no longer kept in a closet. I confidently owned my desire to find titles about (and by) members of the LGBTQ community.

Then I became a parent. That desire to find myself in the books I was reading was given a whole new meaning. I wanted (and still want) my kids to have books that they can relate to. Books that show gay parents and other diverse families living happy lives. Books that make them feel as normal as they are.

To celebrate Pride Month, I’ve partnered with a few of my favourite publishers to bring you the most robust selection of LGBTQ-friendly children’s books on the internet.

You ready to do this thing? In no particular order, here are the must-have books to add to your collection…

#1: Wrestle!

Summary: Gus LOVES wrestling. And going to Sydney Mardi Gras, where he gets to dress up and parade through the streets with his mums! But his mums have banned him from wrestling because it’s too violent, so he’s worked out a plan to combine his two great loves and win over his mums again. Inspired by Gus Skattebol-James’ story in the award-winning documentary, Gayby Baby, Wrestle! is a funny story about love, identity and the joys of dressing up. A book for families everywhere, especially those with same-sex parents.

Author(s): Charlotte Mars, Maya Newell & Gus Skattebol-James

Illustrator: Tom Jellett

Purchase: Allen & Unwin

#2: Stella Brings the Family

Summary: Stella’s class is having a Mother’s Day celebration, but what’s a girl with two daddies to do? Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, she just doesn’t have a mom to invite to the class party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.

Author: Miriam B. Schiff

Illustrator: Holly Clifton-Brown

Purchase: Chronicle Books

#3: All You Need Is Love

Summary: A charming celebration of the different kinds of families and relationships. Through colourful images and rhyming stories, the author depicts a range of families and lifestyles all grounded in love and acceptance. With light-hearted humour and positive discussion around diversity, this book promotes a healthy understanding of differences.

Author: Shanni Collins

Illustrator: Shanni Collins

Purchase: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

#4: Love Makes A Family

Summary: This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family… LOVE. In its beautiful pages, many different families are shown enjoying happy, everyday activities. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what’s most important in each family’s life is the love the family members share.

Author: Sophie Beer

Illustrator: Sophie Beer

Purchase: Hardie Grant Publishing

#5: Stonewall. A Building, An Uprising, A revolution.

Summary: Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising with the very first picture book to tell of its historic and inspiring role in the gay civil rights movement.

Author: Rob Sanders

Illustrator: Jamey Christoph

Purchase: Penguin Random House

#6: The Family Book

Summary: There are so many different types of families, and THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates them all in a funny, silly, and reassuring way. Todd Parr includes adopted families, step-families, one-parent families, and families with two parents of the same sex, as well as the traditional nuclear family. His quirky humour and bright, childlike illustrations will make children feel good about their families.

Author: Todd Parr

Illustrator: Todd Parr

Purchase: Little, Brown and Company

#7: Julian Is A Mermaid

Summary: A glimpse of three women dressed as mermaids leaves one boy filled with wonder and ready to dazzle the world. Mesmerizing and full of heart, this is a picture book about self-confidence and love, and a radiant celebration of individuality. 

Author: Jessica Love

Illustrator: Jessica Love

Purchase: Booktopia

#8: Want To Play Trucks?

Summary: Jack and Alex meet almost every morning in the sandbox at the playground. Jack likes trucks and Alex likes dolls. Readers will smile at the quintessential playground squabble on display in this amusing, relatable tale from Ann Stott and Bob Graham. Luckily for Jack and Alex, the day is saved with a little bit of compromise and the easy acceptance that characterizes the youngest of friendships. This book is perfect for parents interested in encouraging and supporting non-traditional play, as it questions gender stereotypes and celebrates diversity in a gentle and kid-friendly manner.

Author: Ann Scott

Illustrator: Bob Graham

Purchase: Booktopia

#9: Who’s In My Family? All About Our Families

Summary: Join Nellie and Gus and their parents for a day at the zoo, where they see all kinds of children and families – both animal and human! The warm, humorous, family-filled illustrations; friendly conversations between the two siblings and matter-of-fact text will help young children feel that whoever is in their family, it is perfectly normal and totally wonderful.

Author: Robie H. Harris

Illustrator: Naidne Bernard Westcott

Purchase: Booktopia

#10: Who We Are! All About Being the Same and Being Different

Summary: Join Nellie, Gus, baby Jake, and their parents at Funland as they go on rides, watch performers, and play games along with many other children and grown-ups. As they enjoy their excursion, they — and young readers — notice that people are the same as one another in lots of ways, and different in lots of ways too. 

Author: Robie H. Harris

Illustrator: Naidne Bernard Westcott

Purchase: Booktopia

#11: Pride. The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.

Summary: In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.

Author: Rob Sanders

Illustrator: Steven Salerno

Purchase: Booktopia

#12: This Love. A Celebration of Harmony Around the World.

Summary: A series of gentle rhymes sensitively explores what love feels like to children from all around the world. This timeless book shows that love is a common language with the power to unite, wherever you come from. 

Author: Isabel Otter

Illustrator: Harriet Lynas

Purchase: Booktopia

#13: My Two Super Dads

Summary: Families come in all different shapes, sizes and makeup these days. This family has two dads and shares the story of day to day life: cooking, games and fun all around!

Author: Bronny Fallens

Illustrator: Muntsa Vicente

Purchase: Booktopia

#14: My Two Super Mums

Summary: My Two Super Mums presents a family of four: two mums and two daughters enjoying their day-to-day life. Written in a simple verse style the story conveys the message that it doesn’t matter the makeup of your family, as long as you are happy and loved.

Author(s): Bronny Fallens

Illustrator: Fleure

Purchase: Booktopia

#15: I Am Jazz

Summary: Co-author Jazz Jennings, 13, sketches out the story of her life — so far — as a transgender child with a loving, supportive family and good friends. She encounters challenges and teasing, and the way she copes makes her story helpful to all children who sometimes feel like outsiders.

Author(s): Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

Illustrator: Shelagh McNicholas

Purchase: Booktopia

#16: Families, Families, Families!

Summary:. Do you have two dads? Or one step mum? Or what about the world’s biggest grandpa? Discover a whole host of silly animal families in this hilarious celebration of the love found in families big and small. Max Lang’s award-winning art style and Suzanne Lang’s hilarious rhymes will tickle the tail feathers of readers big, small and everything in between.

Author: Suzanne Lang

Illustrator: Max Lang

Purchase: Booktopia

#17: My Two Moms And Me

Summary: Families with same-sex parents are celebrated in this board book that follows busy moms and their kids throughout their day-eating breakfast, going on a playdate, heading to the pool for a swim, and settling back in at night with a bedtime story and a good-night lullaby.

Author: Michael Joosten

Illustrator: Izak Zenou

Purchase: Booktopia

#18: My Two Dads And Me

Summary: An adorable board book for the babies and toddlers of gay fathers, featuring a variety of diverse loving families with two dads.

Author: Michael Joosten

Illustrator: Izak Zenou

Purchase: Booktopia

Have I missed any? I’m keen to add and grow to this list as more and more children’s books hit the stores, so pop your recommendations in the comment section below!

Until next time, stay crafty.

Credit: These gorgeous photos were taking by Ramone Minchero. Most of these books were gifted to me from a collection of amazing publishers, including Penguin Random House Australia, Allen & Unwin, Walker Books Australia, Pan Macmillan Australia and Random House Kids.