Nonfiction / Non-narrative Books
These are informative books that set out to explain gender or sexuality (6), feature histories of the LGBTQ movement (3), or are diverse stories without a main character (10). 9 had to do with sexuality, 8 with gender, and 2 with diversity in general.
For each book, I link the Amazon plot summary, a youtube read-aloud if available, and write a mini-analysis.
Plot Summary: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Pride Flag with the very first picture book to tell its remarkable and inspiring history! 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. Award-winning author Rob Sanders's stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno's evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable - and undertold - story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LU2daQ2exs
A great biography of Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay eleceted officials, and of the evolution of the rainbow flag as a symbol for gay rights. A great non-fiction story.
Plot Summary: What do you like? How do you feel? Who are you? This brightly illustrated children's book provides a straightforward introduction to gender for anyone aged 5-8. It presents clear and direct language for understanding and talking about how we experience gender: our bodies, our expression and our identity. An interactive three-layered wheel included in the book is a simple, yet powerful, tool to clearly demonstrate the difference between our body, how we express ourselves through our clothes and hobbies, and our gender identity. Ideal for use in the classroom or at home, a short page-by-page guide for adults at the back of the book further explains the key concepts and identifies useful discussion points. This is a one-of-a-kind resource for understanding and celebrating the gender diversity that surrounds us.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsXCsRnvo5M
This informational book explains terms like cisgender, gender fluid, and gender non-binary in a clear, simple way for kids. Also, the book is quite matter-of-fact about explaining the difference between sex and gender. The illustrations show a range of skin-tones and body shapes and clothing preferences. Additionally, there is a guide in the back for more information.
Plot Summary: When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways — but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby. As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-t8Cpqy0x4
This is a story of a classroom full of kids each describing a different family composition, practically every type imaginable. Beautiful representation of diverse families.
Plot Summary: Pink is for boys . . . and girls . . . and everyone! This timely and beautiful picture book rethinks and reframes the stereotypical blue/pink gender binary and empowers kids-and their grown-ups-to express themselves in every color of the rainbow. Featuring a diverse group of relatable characters, Pink Is for Boys invites and encourages girls and boys to enjoy what they love to do, whether it's racing cars and playing baseball, or loving unicorns and dressing up. Vibrant illustrations help children learn and identify the myriad colors that surround them every day, from the orange of a popsicle, to the green of a grassy field, all the way up to the wonder of a multicolored rainbow. Parents and kids will delight in Robb Pearlman's sweet, simple script, as well as its powerful message: life is not color-coded.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqyySFCXyHg
This is a really cute book that goes through all the colors of the rainbow (and quite a few activities associated with each) to state that that color is for girls AND boys.
Plot Summary: How do you daily confirm and celebrate gender fluidity when the 'he' and 'she' binary is so prevalent in EVERYTHING, everywhere, all the time!? Pronouns serve as a familiar starting point for kids and grown-ups to expand ideas about gender and celebrate personal expression with fun imagery that provides a place to meet and play. Award winning children’s book author and artist Maya Gonzalez is joined by her partner, Matthew, in their first children’s book together. With virtually no reflection for different gender presentations in children’s books available, together they created a book to do just that. They She He Me, Free to Be shows many gender presentations under each pronoun and invites even more. A go-to place to help keep the conversations alive, break down assumptions of who is “she” or “he” and expand beyond the binary to include “they” and more. The back offers a playful narrative about pronouns, inviting kids to know themselves inside and out, claim the pronouns that express the spirit of who they are and respect that in others. Also included is some discussion for grown-ups on how to hold a supportive space for kids (and for themselves).
Youtube link: N/A
This book is a great gender vocabulary builder for adults and kids and provides clear explanations of pronouns and gender expression. They, she, he, me, we, etc. are all sight words, so this is an excellent way to practice them.
Plot Summary: The story plays off "The Wheels on the Bus" as it follows a drag queen who performs her routine in front of an awestruck audience. A fun frenzy of fierceness, this book will appeal to readers of all ages. This nursery rhyme book from a founder of Drag Queen Story Hour is a fun, freewheeling celebration of being your most fabulous self. The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish encourages readers to boldly be exactly who they are. Written by a founding member of the nationally recognized Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH), this playful picture book offers a quirky twist on a classic nursery rhyme by illustrating all of the ways to "work it".
Youtube link: N/A
Just came out in May 2020, this looks like a very fun, drag-celebrating, musical parody of The Wheels on the Bus written by a Drag Queen. What an amazing way to sing and dance your way through story time!
Plot Summary: “This is our world. Like many things in nature it’s round and holds everyone at the same time. This is the Gender Wheel. Like our world it’s round and holds everyone at the same time too…” In 2010 Maya introduced the Gender Wheel and the Gender Team in the Gender Now Coloring Book. It was a jammed packed coloring extravaganza exploring bodies, nature and history in relation to multiple gender identities. It also opened up the possibility of play and expansion around our still limited language of “boy” and “girl.” Now the Gender Team returns, expanded and stronger than before, inviting you on a picture book journey through the Gender Wheel. It is a powerful opportunity for kids to understand the origins of the current binary gender system, how we can learn from nature to see the truth that has always existed and revise a new story that includes room for all bodies and genders. The Gender Wheel offers a nature-based, holistic non-western framework of gender in a kid-friendly way. Also included are Teacher Tips on how to hold a holistic perspective on gender in the classroom. www.genderwheel.com
Youtube link: N/A
This is a companion to They She He Me: Free To Be. The Gender Wheel allows kids to express gender in an easy-to understand way and builds vocabulary for both adults and children about gender non-binary things.
Plot Summary: A beautifully illustrated book about the fight for queer rights. Around one o'clock in the morning on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, sparking days of intense rioting. What happened at Stonewall sent shockwaves around the world, and became a defining moment for the LGBTQ+ community. From the impassioned speeches of bold activists Karl Ulrichs and Audre Lorde to the birth of Pride and queer pop culture, Rainbow Revolutions - a middle grade children's book - charts the dramatic rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and celebrates the courageous individuals who stood up and demanded recognition. With bold and beautiful illustrations by pop artist Eve Lloyd Knight.
Youtube link: N/A
Published in February 2020, this is a children’s book version of Lawson’s middle-grade book Rainbow Revolutions. It follows LGBTQ history from Stonewall to the present.
Plot Summary: What kind of families do animal babies have? All different kinds! Charming text and sweet illustrations introduce a wolf pup cared for by the pack, a young orangutan snuggling with its mother high in a tree, a poison dart frog tadpole riding piggyback on its dad, and more. Featuring rhyming verse and informational text, this book lets you discover just how diverse the animal kingdom really is!
Youtube link: N/A
This informational book features 26 animal families with diverse compositions from a troupe of orangutans all parenting together to a dog adopting a monkey baby to a pair of female albatross parents. Finally, this book offers illustrations of a diverse range of human families, challenging what it means to be a “normal,” “natural” family.
Plot Summary: A must-have primer for young readers and a great gift for pride events and throughout the year, beautiful colors all together make a rainbow in Rainbow: A First Book of Pride. This is a sweet ode to rainbow families, and an affirming display of a parent’s love for their child and a child’s love for their parents. With bright colors and joyful families, this book celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and reveals the colorful meaning behind each rainbow stripe. Readers will celebrate the life, healing, light, nature, harmony, and spirit that the rainbows in this book will bring.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cErGisi4yYU
This book is aimed at a younger audience and thus quite simplistic. It goes through the meanings of the colors of the rainbow while depicting a range of people, from gay couples, to lesbian families, to inter-racial families. It ends by saying that the rainbow means happiness and pride.
Plot Summary: Inclusive pronouns are learned alongside the alphabet in this joyously illustrated take on the classic ABC book. They, She, He easy as ABC shows that including everyone is all part of the dance. It’s easy. It’s fundamental. As the dance begins the kids proclaim, “No one left out and everyone free,” in a sing-song rhyme about inclusion. This sets the stage for readers to meet 26 kids showing us their dance moves. “Ari loves to arabesque. They hold their pose with ease. Brody is a break dancer. Brody loves to freeze.” Fast-paced rhyming keeps the flow of text upbeat and rhythmic, and naturally models how to use a wide range of pronouns. There’s no room for stereotypes on THIS dance floor with spirited imagery that keeps names, clothes, hair and behavior fresh and diverse. The combination creates a playful and effortless practice to expand ideas about gender while learning the alphabet and makes being inclusive as easy as A-B-C.
Youtube link: N/A
Great ABC book that introduces a diverse bunch of characters using a variety of different pronouns. Focus here is on ABC themed dance moves with quiet representation of gender queer characters.
Plot Summary: Have fun with the kids, moms, dads and pets in this delightful book that celebrates LGBTQ families as it teaches young children the alphabet.
Youtube link: N/a
This is an ABC book about kids doing kid things all the way through the alphabet. Some of the illustrations depict lesbian moms and some gay dads, but the focus is on the kid and their action that corresponds to the page’s letter.
Plot Summary: This simple, lyrical story celebrates a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all!
Youtube link: N/A
This is a book inspired by Glide Memorial Church (and other inclusive churches) whose simple story shows a diverse group of people getting ready for church. This is a nice book to offset the focus on religious homophobia and transphobia.
Plot Summary: In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBT community, This Day In June welcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united. Also included is a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBT history and culture, as well as a Note to Parents and Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways. This Day In June is an excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNhNSU4DSpE
Winner of the Stonewall award, Gayle E. Pitmat lays out a colorfully illustrated, rhyming description of the gay pride parade in this book. This book definitely needs some explanation and background information from the reader, but there is plenty to see and talk about in the illustrations. A great conversation starter!
Plot Summary: When You Look Out the Window tells the story of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, one of San Francisco's most well-known and politically active lesbian couples. Describing the view from Phyllis and Del's window, this book shows how one couple's activism transformed their community — and had ripple effects throughout the world. Includes a Reading Guide that provides helpful historical context, and a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Educators about the importance of teaching LGBTQ history and culture to children. This is a unique way to introduce children to untold stories in history while also being a clever tribute to two notable women.
Youtube link: N/A
This is a biography of Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, but also a story about how far we’ve come in accepting gay rights. This book shows more than it tells as we look out the couple’s window again and again to watch the changing community.
Plot Summary: Zak’s Safari is a book about donor-conceived kids of two-mom families.When the rain spoils Zak’s plan for a safari adventure, he invites the reader on a very special tour of his family instead. Zak shows us how his parents met, fell in love, and wanted more than anything to have a baby—so they decided to make one. In the first half of the book, Zak teaches us about his biological origins. Using simple but accurate language, we learn about sperm and egg cells, known-donors, donors from sperm banks, and instructions called genes that make up who we are. Zak's enthusiasm, combined with his scientific curiosity and gratitude for his inherited "awesome genes" make him the perfect tour guide for this contemporary conception story. The second half of the book celebrates family. Gorgeous illustrations depict Zak and his two moms living the adventure of everyday life: eating meals together, playing at the beach, going for nature hikes and hanging out with friends and family. Zak’s Safari aims to provide a starting place for many future conversations with your kids about their conception story and donor. Zak's Safari is written in a style that is genuine, informative, casual, and easy to understand.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e__O9KxQYLs
This book is a very specific informational narrative about sperm donors and how that whole process works, with a framing story about a little boy and his family. This book tries to explain how non-biological families, like the author’s own, can be made. One reviewer noted that it was less “casual” and more “technical,” however.
Plot Summary: Happy Together, a two-dad egg donation and surrogacy story, is a heartwarming book to help share the family building story with a young child. A story told through clear language and cheerful watercolor illustrations, readers will join Dada and Daddy bear on the journey to fulfill their greatest wish of becoming parents!
Youtube link: N/A
Just released as part of a 6-book series, Julie Marie, wrote this book to increase awareness of the various paths to parenthood after herself using assisted reproduction methods to start a family. There’s also a two-mom sperm donation story in the series.
Plot Summary: Just how many things can "one" be? One box of crayons. One batch of cookies. One world. One family. From veteran picture book author George Shannon and up-and-coming artist Blanca Gomez comes a playful, interactive book that shows how a family can be big or small and comprised of people of a range of genders and races.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DoMh22rPIQ
This book uses a slightly confusing numbering system to say that a family can look like any number of people, any genders, and any number of ages.