Books can help young people explore identity, see themselves and their families represented, and begin conversations with trusted adults. Suggested age ranges are approximate; caregivers may wish to preview a book to decide whether it fits a young person’s interests, development, and needs.

Ages 0–2

BookAuthorThemes
Pride 1 2 3Michael JoostenLGBTQ+ pride
Daddy, Papa, and MeLesléa NewmanGay parents · Family diversity
Mommy, Mama, and MeLesléa NewmanLesbian parents · Family diversity
A Tale of Two DaddiesVanita OelschlagerGay parents · Family diversity
A Tale of Two MommiesVanita OelschlagerLesbian parents · Family diversity
NeitherAirlie AndersonNonbinary identity · Belonging
The Bravest Knight Who Ever LivedDaniel ErricoGay identity · Acceptance
Kindness Makes Us StrongSophie BeerKindness · Family diversity
Love Makes a FamilySophie BeerFamily diversity · Belonging

Ages 3–5

BookAuthorThemes
Pink Is for BoysRobb PearlmanGender roles · Gender diversity
Mister SeahorseEric CarleGender roles · Caregiving
The Pringle & Finn CollectionPaul CastleGay parents · Family diversity
Julián Is a MermaidJessica LoveGender expression · Acceptance
Heather Has Two MommiesLesléa NewmanLesbian parents · Family diversity
The Family BookTodd ParrFamily diversity · Belonging
Zak’s SafariChristy TynerDonor conception · Lesbian parents
And Tango Makes ThreeJustin Richardson and Peter ParnellGay parents · Family diversity
I Am JazzJessica Herthel and Jazz JenningsTransgender children · Identity
This Day in JuneGayle E. PitmanLGBTQ+ pride · Community
Say Something!Peter H. ReynoldsBullying prevention · Advocacy
A Family Is a Family Is a FamilySara O’LearyFamily diversity · Belonging
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender IdentityTheresa ThornGender identity · Self-understanding

Ages 6–8

BookAuthorThemes
Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.Rob SandersLGBTQ+ history · Advocacy
My MaddyGayle E. PitmanNonbinary parents · Family
Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They!Lindz AmerPronouns · Gender euphoria
When Aidan Became a BrotherKyle LukoffTransgender children · Family
King & King & FamilyLinda de Haan and Stern NijlandGay parents · Transracial adoption
The Boy & the BindiVivek ShrayaGender expression · Cultural identity
The Different Dragon/El Dragón DiferenteJennifer BryanLesbian parents · Bilingual resource

Ages 9–12

BookAuthorThemes
The Cardboard KingdomChad SellGender expression · Friendship
King and the DragonfliesKacen CallenderGay identity · Grief and family
You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other ThingsCory Silverberg and Fiona SmythBodies · Gender · Puberty · Sexual health

Teens

BookAuthorThemes
Euphoria KidsAlison EvansFantasy · Queer friendship · Gender
Spit and PassionCristy C. RoadGraphic memoir · Queer Latina identity · Music
Breathe: Journeys to Healthy BindingMaia Kobabe and Sarah PeitzmeierBinding · Gender-diverse health · Personal narratives
Gender EuphoriaEdited by Laura Kate DaleTransgender · Nonbinary · Agender · Gender-fluid · Intersex experiences

Young adults and beyond

BookAuthorThemes
Gender Queer: A MemoirMaia KobabeGraphic memoir · Gender identity · Asexuality
When I Was Me: Moments of Gender EuphoriaEdited by Eve Greenwood and Alex AssanGender euphoria · Trans and nonbinary experiences

 

Titles and age ranges are provided for informational purposes. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of every idea or perspective contained in a book.