Award-winning new books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and diverse storylines continue to fill publishers’ lists. Since the 1990s, the month of June has officially marked the commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion. Pride parades are held in most major cities. The month offers an opportunity for families and educators to highlight the history of the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights that continues today. There are a variety of age-appropriate books to choose from—picture books that portray diverse family structures to teen books that explore first romances. Fiction has the power to foster empathy and understanding. Browse through the suggested titles below and continue to expand your child’s world.

As always, before sharing a book with children, read through the text to ensure the content matches your children’s emotional and cognitive developmental level. Not every book will be right for every child. If you’re looking for additional book suggestions, ask your public library’s children’s librarian or check free online reviews with reputable publications like School Library Journal or Kirkus. In addition, use this guide to assess potential bias in a book.

Preschool

• Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour, Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
• ’Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick, Illustrated by Juana Medina
• Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, Illustrated by David Roberts
• My Moms Love Me by Anna Membrino, Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz
• Patience, Patches! by Christy Mihaly, Illustrated by Sheryl Murray
• The Rainbow Parade written and illustrated by Emily Neilson
• Kind Like Marsha: Learning from LGBTQ+ Leaders by Sarah Prager, Illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday
• ABC Pride by Louie Stowell and Elly Barnes, Illustrated by Amy Phelps
• I Love You Because I Love You by Muon Thi Van, Illustrated by Jessica Love
• Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, Illustrated by Charlene Chua

Elementary-Aged

• Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino
• If You’re a Kid Like Gavin: The True Story of a Young Trans Activist by Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by J Yang
• The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali
• Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee
• Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
• Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff
• Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass
• You Only Live Once, David Bravo by Mark Oshiro
• Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass
• Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper
• A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Byron McCray

Teen

• Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
• The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
• Friday I’m in Love by Camryn Garrett
• A Tale of Two Princes by Eric Geron
• Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
• When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
• The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
• The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor
• The Minus-One Club by Kekla Magoon
• You Don’t Have a Shot by Racquel Marie
• Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min
• Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
• Different For Boys by Patrick Ness, Illustrated by Tea Bendix
• 6 Times We Almost Kissed (And One Time We Did) by Tess Sharpe
• When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw
• Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer, Illustrated by Jules Zuckerberg
• Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk

About the Author

V. Kulikow is a former Montessori teacher and youth services librarian. She currently works as a UX designer and enjoys content creation both with words and images. On weekends you can find her gardening, taking nature photos, and working on her garden design certification through the Native Plant Trust.

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The opinions expressed in Montessori Life are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of AMS.