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.
A is for Activist
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.
Book 1 | Book 2
And Tango Makes Three
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
mlm, queer parents, adoption, based on a true story.
Be Who You Are
Author: Jennifer Carr
Illustrator: Ben Rumback
Trans girl, supportive family.
Charlotte, Wander On
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.
Everywhere Babies
Author: Susan Meyers
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
wlw, mlm. Queer parents. Stealth.
The Frog and Toad Collection
Author and Illustrator: Arnold Lobel
mlm. Stealth.
Heather Has Two Mommies
Author: Lesléa Newman
Illustrator: Laura Cornell
wlw, queer parents
I Am Jazz
Authors: Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrator: Shelagh McNicholas
Trans girl, supportive parents. Auto-biographical.
Intersectional Allies
Authors: Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, Carolyn Choi
Illustrator: Ashley Seil Smith
Intersectionality, focused on disability, race, and religion.
Jaime is Jaime
Author: Afsaneh Moradian
Illustrator: Maria Bogade
Gender non-conformity
Julian is a Mermaid
Author and Illustrator: Jessica Love
Gender non-conformity.
Llama Glamarama
Author: Simon James Green
Illustrator: Garry Parsons
Gender non-conformity.
My Friends and Me
Author: Stephanie Stansbie
Illustrator: Katy Halford
mlm, wlw. Queer parents.
Neither
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.
Quackers
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.
Rainbow
Author: Michael Genhart
Illustrator: Anne Passchier
“A First Book of Pride” – the cover says it best.
Red: A Crayon Story
Author and Illustrator: Michael Hall
Trans children and/or children with trans parents.
She’s My Dad
Author: Sarah Savage
Illustrator: Joules Garcia
Transgender adult/parent.
The Story of Ferdinand
Author: Munro Leaf
Illustrator: Robert Lawson
Gender non-conformity. Stealth.
Unicorn Day
Author: Diana Murray
Illustrator: Luke Flowers
Gender non-conformity and/or trans and/or genderqueer, depending how you look at it.
We’re All Wonders
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.
What Colour is Love?
Author: Linda Strachan
Illustrator: David Wojtowycz
Diversity.
Worm Loves Worm
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
So, what are your favorite queer picture books?