From two-mom families to gender-diverse kids: 25 LGBTQ+ children’s books that celebrate the full spectrum

With a rainbow mohawk, bright leggings and unicorn T-shirts, Rob Kearney doesn’t look like other champion strongmen. But that doesn’t mean he can’t achieve his big dreams of becoming the strongest man in the world. Filled with colorful illustrations, this biographical story reminds kids (and parents!) that being your true self is not only allowed, but encouraged.

A clever twist on the classic tale, Mighty Red Riding Hood tells the story of Little Red–a boy who loves nothing more than wearing his favorite frilly red hood. And nothing–not even a big old wolf bully–can convince him to be anything but himself.

This whimsically illustrated story serves as a good reminder that all families are different—but they’re all special in their own way.

When Keith knows he feels different from other cats and feels more comfortable around pigeons, he begins to question who he really is. Can he find a way to be himself? A great book to have a discussion on identity and accepting who we become.

Casey is a little boy who loves blocks and trucks, but he also loves things that sparkle + shimmer. This heartwarming story assures little boys that it’s okay to challenge gender stereotypes and just be yourself.

It’s Stella’s Mother’s Day celebration at school—but Stella has two dads. What will she do? This heartwarming story offers a great opportunity to talk with kids about how families come in all different configurations.

This book is such a fun and sweet read, written in the simplest way to illustrate the most simple concept–love is love is love (even if it’s between two worms 😉) and should be celebrated in all its amazing forms!

Pink isn’t just for girls—it’s for boys, too. This thought-provoking picture book challenges gender stereotypes and assures kids that it’s wonderful to enjoy what you love.

Roy and Silo, two male chinstrap penguins at New York’s Central Park Zoo, form a loving pair bond and build a nest together, eventually becoming parents when a kind zookeeper gives them an extra egg to hatch and raise their chick, Tango, in this heartwarming true story. Henry Cole’s soft, complementary illustrations perfectly enhance the simple yet powerful text by the husband-and-husband writing team, creating an award-winning picture book that naturally introduces concepts of acceptance and diverse family structures to children ages 3-8 while celebrating the universal desire for family and love.

Bailey, a young transgender girl, dreams every night about magical dresses made of crystals, rainbows, flowers, and windows, but when her family dismisses her dreams and insists “You’re a BOY!” she faces rejection until she meets Laurel, an older girl who helps bring Bailey’s beautiful dress designs to life. Rex Ray’s sleek, artful illustrations complement Marcus Ewert’s modern fairy tale about becoming the person you feel you are inside, creating one of the first children’s picture books to feature an openly transgender protagonist in this 2010 Stonewall Honor Book that celebrates self-acceptance and identity for ages 5-9.

Prince Bertie, who has “never cared much for princesses,” is pressured by his mother the Queen to marry so he can inherit the throne, but when Princess Madeleine arrives with her brother Prince Lee, Bertie falls in love with the prince instead in this groundbreaking fairy tale. Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland’s exuberant collage-flecked illustrations bring to life this joyful celebration that challenges traditional fairy tale assumptions, creating a modern tale of happily-ever-after that introduces young readers ages 5-8 to same-sex couples in an age-appropriate, matter-of-fact way.

This charming LGBTQ+ fairy tale follows Cedric, a pumpkin farmer who becomes a knight and rescues both a prince and princess from a dragon, but discovers that his greatest act of bravery is choosing to marry the prince instead of the princess. Written in gentle rhyme with whimsical illustrations, the book teaches children that true courage means being authentic to yourself and that love comes in many forms, making it an excellent conversation starter for families about acceptance and diversity.

This vibrant picture book celebrates the diversity of family structures through simple, repetitive text that begins each page with “Some families are…” and covers everything from single-parent homes to families with two moms or two dads, adopted children, and multi-generational households. With Todd Parr’s signature bold, bright illustrations and easy-to-understand language perfect for ages 1-5, the book reassures young readers that every family is special and unique while providing an excellent starting point for conversations about family diversity and acceptance.

Julian, a young boy riding the subway home with his abuela, becomes mesmerized by three spectacularly dressed women with billowing hair and fishtail dresses, inspiring him to create his own fabulous mermaid costume at home using a yellow curtain for a tail and fern fronds for a headdress. Jessica Love’s Caldecott Honor-winning debut uses minimal text and gorgeous gouache illustrations on brown paper to tell this joyful celebration of self-expression and unconditional love, where Julian’s grandmother responds to his mermaid transformation not with judgment but by helping him accessorize with her pearls and taking him to join the community mermaid parade.

Adorable animal families appear in framed portraits throughout different rooms of a house in this charming picture book, with gentle rhyming text that celebrates every family structure from single parents to two moms, grandparents, step-families, and adopted children. Whimsical cartoon-style animal illustrations set against realistic photographic backgrounds and accessible rhyming text perfect for reading aloud deliver the reassuring message that “if you love each other, then you are a family,” helping children recognize and celebrate their own unique family dynamics.

arvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials, collaborated with designer Gilbert Baker to create the rainbow Pride flag in 1978 as a symbol of hope, equality, and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community in this inspiring biography. Vibrant illustrations capture the colorful seventies vibe while age-appropriate text handles sensitive topics like Harvey’s assassination through a newspaper headline rather than graphic detail, delivering an empowering message about standing up for equality and celebrating diversity that’s suitable for ages 5-8.

Jazz Jennings shares her real-life story of knowing from age two that she had “a girl’s brain in a boy’s body” in this autobiographical picture book that explains in simple, age-appropriate language what it means to be transgender and how Jazz’s supportive family helped her live authentically. Clear, accessible text perfect for ages 4-8 and gentle illustrations serve as an empowering conversation starter for families about gender identity, acceptance, and celebrating differences, helping both transgender and cisgender children understand that what matters most is who someone is inside.

Heather’s favorite number is two—she has two arms, two legs, two pets, and two mommies—and when she starts school and wonders about not having a daddy, her class activity of drawing their families reveals that every family looks different in this groundbreaking 1989 picture book. Updated illustrations by Laura Cornell beautifully depict the joy and diversity of family structures while delivering the timeless message that “the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other,” making it a gentle introduction to family diversity for ages 3-7.

Dyson, a four-year-old boy who loves pink sparkly things, wearing dresses and tiaras, and expressing himself authentically, even while climbing trees, inspires this heartwarming nonfiction picture book written by author Cheryl Kilodavis about her own son and her initial struggles to understand his gender expression. Simple text suitable for K-2 readers and featureless illustrations that allow children to see themselves in the characters address themes of unconditional love, acceptance, and standing up against bullying while delivering an important message about celebrating uniqueness and supporting children for whoever they are.

Harriet, a spirited young girl who loves wearing costumes everywhere from the dentist to the supermarket, accidentally gets swept away by real penguins while shopping for party hats in her penguin costume with her two dads for her special dress-up birthday party. Jessie Sima’s sweet and funny adventure celebrates individuality and family diversity through whimsical digital illustrations filled with tiny details and soothing pastels, naturally including a multiracial family with two loving dads without making it the focus of the story, perfect for ages 4-8.

A curly-haired toddler (whose gender remains purposefully ambiguous) enjoys a fun-filled day with two loving mothers in this groundbreaking board book that was among the first ever published specifically for children in two-mom families. Carol Thompson’s flowing mixed media illustrations in a warm palette perfectly complement Lesléa Newman’s rhythmic text as the family plays hide-and-seek, cooks together, reads bedtime stories, and shares tender moments, delivering a simple but powerful message about the universal nature of family love for ages 3-7.

A companion to Mommy, Mama, and Me , this board book is perfect for families with two dads.

Errol and his beloved teddy bear Thomas are best friends who do everything together, but when Thomas confides that “in my heart, I’ve always known that I’m a girl teddy, not a boy teddy” and wishes to be called Tilly, Errol responds with unconditional love and acceptance. Jessica Walton sensitively handles this introduction to gender identity by wisely assigning the transition to a teddy bear rather than a human character, while Dougal MacPherson’s sweet ink-and-watercolor illustrations with sketchy, contemporary style beautifully convey the emotional journey in this gentle, accessible story perfect for preschoolers.

Jacob loves playing dress-up and wearing dresses at home, but when classmates tell him boys can’t wear “girl” clothes, he asks his supportive parents to help him make a real dress to wear to school in this heartwarming story about gender nonconformity. Written by parents of a gender-nonconforming child and featuring warm cartoon illustrations by Chris Case, the book offers an upbeat yet realistic look at peer dynamics while delivering the message that “there are all sorts of ways to be a boy,” making it an ideal companion for families and educators navigating discussions about gender identity and self-confidence.

Four children—Ruthie (a transgender girl), Xavier (her cisgender brother), Alex (who is both a boy and a girl), and JJ (who is neither a boy nor a girl)—move through their vibrant neighborhood in this straightforward exploration that introduces young readers to the concept that some people are boys, some are girls, and some are both, neither, or somewhere in between. Theresa Thorn’s plain, intentional language skillfully normalizes each child’s gender identity while providing essential vocabulary, complemented by nonbinary illustrator Noah Grigni’s magical jewel-toned illustrations that emphasize curiosity, joy, and positive self-expression in this award-winning primer for ages 4-8.