Many members of Duck Prints Press have young children, so we got to talking about what our favorite queer children’s stories are. These are all picture books – aimed at children under 8. This list doesn’t include any middle grade or young adult books.
Note that, regarding any individual book, we’re not saying, “this is flawless,” “this is perfect rep,” or “this is the right book for everyone/every situation/every family.” I’ve included a few notes about each book, to give a general idea of the representation it incorporates, but we always recommend that you read the full descriptions at the links provided (which are to Bookshop.org whenever possible), assess the book, borrow it from the library – basically, give it a read, and assess for yourself, and always pick with your own situation and sensibilities in mind when buying books for the young children in your life!
The list is in alphabetical order by book title.
Author and Illustrator: Innosanto Nagara
An alphabet book, with intersectionality, disability, race, queerness, and more.
The Adventures of Honey and Leon
Author: Alan Cumming
Illustrator: Grant Shaffer
mlm, semi-autobiographical.
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
mlm, queer parents, adoption, based on a true story.
Author: Jennifer Carr
Illustrator: Ben Rumback
Trans girl, supportive family.
Author: Matt Cubberly
Illustrator: Irina Kovalova
(you’ll have to read and find out!)
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
Author: Jill Twiss
Illustrator: E. G. Keller
mlm, politics.
Author: Susan Meyers
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
wlw, mlm. Queer parents. Stealth.
Author and Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
mlm. Stealth.
Author: Lesléa Newman
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
wlw, queer parents
Authors: Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrator: Shelagh McNicholas
Trans girl, supportive parents. Auto-biographical.
Authors: Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, Carolyn Choi
Illustrator: Ashley Seil Smith
Intersectionality, focused on disability, race, and religion.
Author: Afsaneh Moradian
Illustrator: Maria Bogade
Gender non-conformity
Author and Illustrator: Jessica Love
Gender non-conformity.
Author: Simon James Green
Illustrator: Garry Parsons
Gender non-conformity.
Author: Stephanie Stansbie
Illustrator: Katy Halford
mlm, wlw. Queer parents.
Author and Illustrator: Arlie Anderson
Gender non-conformity; can also be seen as an allegory for non-binary and/or intersex and/or other forms of gender queerness. Stealth.
One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dad
Author: Johnny Valentine
Illustrator: Melody Sarecky
mlm. Queer parents.
Author and Illustrator: Liz Wong
Gender non-conformity; can also be seen as an allegory for non-binary and/or trans and/or other forms of gender queerness. Stealth.
Author: Michael Genhart
Illustrator: Anne Passchier
“A First Book of Pride” – the cover says it best.
Author and Illustrator: Michael Hall
Trans children and/or children with trans parents.
Author: Sarah Savage
Illustrator: Joules Garcia
Transgender adult/parent.
Author: Munro Leaf
Illustrator: Robert Lawson
Gender non-conformity. Stealth.
Author: Diana Murray
Illustrator: Luke Flowers
Gender non-conformity and/or trans and/or genderqueer, depending how you look at it.
Author and Illustrator: R. J. Palacio
Self-acceptance, with an emphasis on neurodivergence, disability, and queerness.
What Are Your Words? A Book About Pronouns
Author: Katherine Locke
Illustrator: Anne Passchier
About pronouns. Non-binary representation and neo-pronouns included.
Author: Linda Strachan
Illustrator: David Wojtowycz
Diversity.
Author: J. J. Austrian
Illustrator: Mike Curato
wlw/mlm. Gender non-conformity.
The Pea that Was Me Series
Author and Illustrator: Kimberly Kluger-Bell
Different kinds of pregnancies, including mlm and wlw parents.
An Egg and Sperm | Egg Donation | Embryo Donation | IVF | Sperm Donation | A Single Mom and Sperm Donor | Two Dads, Egg Donation and Surrogacy | Two Moms and Sperm Donor
Contributions by: unforth, Willa, nottesilhouette, foxymoley, FallingIntoBlue, Owlish, Annabeth, nickelkeep, fpwoper