Rebekah Gienapp

My last official Sunday serving as children’s minister at my congregation happened to fall just a few days after our denomination hardened its stance against fully including LGBTQ Christians in all of our ministries. My particular United Methodist congregation was vehemently opposed to this outcome, and folks were grieving hard.

As I prepared to give my last children’s sermon, I knew the kids and I needed to have a conversation about welcoming and celebrating all people. I needed to explicitly name that our congregation welcomes and celebrates gay people as being loved by God, just they way they are. If I just said “we love everybody,” kids would miss the message.

Did I mention I needed to do this within the space of about 3 – 5 minutes available in our longer worship service?

I managed to do it by reading and talking about a beautiful children’s book. Today, I’m sharing that book, along with 17 LGBTQ affirming picture books that encourage children to accept and appreciate themselves and others. It’s never too early to start conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation. (And don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to talk about sex to very young kids.)

17 LGBTQ Affirming Picture Books You’ll Want on Your Child’s Shelves

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Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Jodie Patterson and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

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In the My Reflection Matters Village, I got to hear Jodie Patterson tell her family’s moving story of how Penelope helped them realize that he was a boy. This joy-filled children’s book tells the same story, and Penelope’s determined spirit shines through.

Penelope’s family is big and busy, and he can’t seem to make them stop and listen, so that he can tell them: I’m a boy! So he makes his presence known with actions to make them see, hear, and feel him. (Those actions are often unpleasant.) When he finally tells Mama that he’s a boy, she reassures him that it’s fine to “feel like a boy.”

But no, Mama isn’t understanding! Penelope tells her “I don’t feel like a boy, I AM a boy.” Once she finally understands, Mama is ready to help Penelope show his joyful true self to all of the world. (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 3 – 8)

Related post: 18 children’s books for all ages with nonbinary and transgender characters

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole

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This picture book, which tells the true story of two male penguins raising a baby at the Central Park Zoo, has been around long enough to achieve classic status.

While the other boy and girl penguins at the zoo find each other and become couples when the time is right, Roy and Silo (two boys) do everything together. They even build a nest together like the other penguin couples. When another penguin lays two eggs and can’t care for both, a zookeeper decides to let Roy and Silo care for the egg. They take turns lovingly keeping the egg warm, until one day little Tango is born. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Baby’s First Words by Christiane Engel

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Babies and toddlers are eager to label their worlds. This word book, featuring a curious baby with two dads, helps little ones do just that. Another reason to love this word book is that it includes both adjectives and nouns (for example “loud fire engine”), as well as feeling words. The illustrated tabs also make it easy for babies and caregivers to skip right to a favorite page. (Recommended for ages 0 – 3)

The Bread Pet: A Sourdough Story by Kate DePalma and Nelleke Verhoeff

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When Uncle JB stops by Cora’s house on his way out West, he asks if she’ll take care of his bread pet. Cora agrees, having no idea how quickly the sourdough starter “pet” will take over their kitchen.

Soon she and her two moms have to do something to contain it, but Cora can’t bear to throw away any of the bread pet. When Mum remarks that many people would love to have the sourdough bread they’re overwhelmed with, a solution is born.

Kids can also find simple instructions for making their own sourdough bread in the back of the book. (Recommended for ages 4 – 9)

A Church for All by Gayle Pittman and Laure Fournier

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Step inside a joy-filled church where people of all ages, gender identities, races, classes, sexual orientations, and physical abilities gather together. The rhyming text is simple, allowing the pictures to carry the heart of the book’s message.

When I read this to the children at our church during my children’s sermon, I prefaced it by talking about how our church wants families with two mommies, and families with two daddies, and families with a mom and a dad (or any other type of family), to know that God loves them and is so glad they are here. Since the words don’t point this out, I thought it was important to make it explicit. That way the children didn’t miss the LGBTQ affirming message of the book. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Related Post: 6 ways to make a children’s Peace Camp a success

In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco

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A young woman tells us all about the adventures (and a few mishaps) of growing up in a loving family with her mothers Meema and Marmee, and her siblings Will and Millie. Although Meema and Marmee are very different, they’re both unflappable. Neither is frazzled when Will slides all the way down the banister, taking the knob with him, or when toddler Millie draws all over a wall with charcoal from the fireplace.

Even when one neighbor is repeatedly rude to their family, Meema doesn’t let her prejudice distract them from putting together a huge celebration for the neighborhood. (Recommended for ages 5 – 10)

Related Post: Picture Books about Loving Families in Many Forms

Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond is Amazing and Dylan Glynn

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Desmond is Amazing is a 12 year old drag kid who founded the first drag house for children. In this colorful children’s book, Desmond shares his own story as well as the stories of LGBTQ rights pioneers Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Along the way, he gives advice (like how to deal with haters and answers questions (like whether performing drag means someone is trans.) (#ownvoices, recommended for ages 5 – 9)

Related post: Children’s books about LGBTQ history

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff and Kaylani Juanita

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The first few years of Aidan’s life, he often felt misunderstood. People thought he was a girl, but Aidan knew he was a boy. Eventually, Aidan and his parents figured out just what kind of boy he was, and what made him happy.

So when his parents tell him that Mom is going to have a baby, Aidan knows his job as a big brother is to make sure the baby feels understood. But when the time comes for the baby to arrive, Aidan starts to worry.  What if the baby doesn’t like the clothes and the nursery decorations he helped to choose? With his parents’ support, he starts to understand that being a good big brother doesn’t have to mean doing everything right. (Recommended for ages 5 – 9)

Related Post: 14 children’s books about adjusting to a new sibling

They, She, He, Easy as ABC by Maya Christina Gonzalez and Matthew SG

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The fun rhyme and rhythm of this ABC book help children learn how to use inclusive pronouns. First, there’s a short introduction to pronouns. For example, “they is a way to let everyone be. No one left out and everyone free!”

Then we dance our way through the alphabet with children who find many different ways to express themselves and break stereotypes. They also happen to use a variety of pronouns for themselves. “Ari loves to arabesque. They hold their pose with ease,” while “Brody is a break dancer. Brody loves to freeze.” (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Related post: Talking about microaggressions with kids

Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer and Holly Clifton-Brown

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Stella is unsure what to do when her teacher announces they are having a Mother’s Day celebration and everyone can invite a special guest. Stella has a wonderful family who loves her, especially her Daddy and Papa, but she doesn’t have a Mom. Who should she bring to the celebration?

Worrying over who to invite make Stella lose her focus even when she’s doing her favorite things, like playing soccer. But by the time the class makes the invitations to the celebration, Stella has figured out just what to do. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Related Post: Huge list of LGBTQ affirming resources for parents and teachers

I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, and Shelagh McNicholas

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When Jazz Jennings was thirteen years old, she co-wrote this picture book about her life. Since the age of two, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain even though she had a boy’s body. Readers see her playing with her friends Samantha and Casey, but Jazz adds that she’s not exactly like her two friends.

Jazz tells about the confusing journey she and her family went through, until they finally met with a doctor that helped them understand what it meant to be transgender. Even then, Jazz faced challenges at school. This simple, straightforward book will help kids and adults alike to empathize with and understand trans kids. (Recommended for ages 4 – 9.)

Related Post: 12 Diverse Children’s Books Written by #ownvoices Authors

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart and Anne Passchier

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This is a great book to read before pride events or any time of year. I didn’t know that each color of the flag has a specific meaning, which this book explores with simple words and vibrant illustrations. I especially love the page that shows families holding pride flags around the world. (Recommended for ages 2 – 5)

Prince and Knight by Daniel Haack and Stevie Lewis

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This rhyming fairy tale tells the familiar story of a prince who must marry since it will soon be time to take the throne. On this quest, “the prince met many ladies (and he made them all swoon!), but it was soon clear that he was singing a different tune.”

The attempt to find a bride is soon forgotten when a dragon attacks the village. When the prince sets out to face the dragon alone, a brave knight (whose armor is indeed shining) shows up to join the battle. Both prince and knight soon realize that they are not just partners in battle, but should be partners in life as well. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8)

Related Post: 12 Fairy Tales for Young Feminists

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman and Kristyna Litten

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The pageantry, exuberance, and acceptance of a San Francisco Pride parade come to life in this colorful book. Simple rhymes and elaborate illustrations give children the chance to ask questions and develop respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The book’s core message is that on “this day in June, we’re all united!”

After the story, there’s a Reader’s Guide that explain themes in the illustrations, as well important aspects of LGBTQ history and culture. Pitman, a psychology professor, also includes an age by age guide for parents about how to talk to kids about gender indentity and sexual orientation. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Related Post: 12 stereotype-busting picture books starring disabled characters

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant

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Morris loves doing many things at school: painting, doing puzzles, and singing the loudest at circle time. But his favorite thing is to put on the tangerine dress in the dress-up corner. Its color reminds him of tigers, the sun, and his mother’s hair. He loves the swish and crinkle noises the dress makes when he walks.

His classmate Becky tries to pull the dress off of him, insisting that boys can’t wear dresses. The other boys won’t let him ride in their cardboard spaceship because “astronauts don’t wear dresses.” After a few days of this, Morris doesn’t feel so good. His mom lets him stay home from school. At home, he imagines going on a space safari while wearing the tangerine dress. When Morris goes back to school, he’s ready to be just who he wants to be, and play how he wants to play. (Recommended for ages 4 – 8)

Related Post: 11 Fun Ideas for Teaching Gender Diversity to Toddlers

10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert and Rex Ray

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Each night Bailey dreams about beautiful dresses, creations made of crystals, lilies, roses, and even windows! But each time she asks a family member if they can help her get one of the dresses, they tell her she’s a boy, and dresses are not for boys.

No one wants to listen when Bailey says that she doesn’t feel like a boy. But when Bailey meets another girl who wants to make dresses, she’s finally able to share her dreams with someone who understands. (Recommended for ages 3 – 7)

Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson 

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I can’t decide whether I like the adorable photographs or the joyful rhymes of this book better. Families will want to cuddle their little ones close while they read this playful book together.

There’s a growing demand for books with LGBTQ families that just celebrate little one’s everyday life, and this book helps fill that gap. (Recommended for ages 0 – 2)