Celebrate Pride With Your Kids: 9 Inclusive Books on Love and Identity

Pride Month is a beautiful reminder of the love, connection, and diversity that exists in all kinds of families, including LGBTQ+ families. For young kids, Pride is also an opportunity to celebrate what makes families unique, and to learn that love is love, no matter what it looks like.

So how do you talk with little ones about gender identity and family structures?

Why Talking About Identity Early Builds Confidence

Children begin learning about gender norms from caregivers and surrounding culture beginning in infancy. Research has shown that by age 5, children have internalized gender rules and formed strong ideas regarding which behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable based on one’s gender. 

When children’s interests and abilities are counter to the gender rules they’ve learned, self-esteem may suffer and developmental exploration can become constricted which is why it’s such a critical age to nurture these conversations if your kiddo is trying to have it.

When kids see that there are many ways to be a family, and many ways to be themselves, they grow up with more confidence, empathy, and curiosity.

How Books Help Kids Understand LGBTQ+ Identities

If you’re looking for developmentally appropriate words to use with your little one, books can be a very effective tool in navigating these conversations. They offer a safe and accessible way to introduce children to gender identity, same-sex families, and acceptance. Reading these stories together also gives children the language they need to ask questions, express themselves, and talk about the people they love.

Download our Gender Identity Toolkit for more information on how to have developemntally appropriate conversations about gender with kids!

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9 LGBTQ+ and Gender-Inclusive Kids’ Books to Read This Pride Month from Little Otter Therapist Erin Gauvin, LCSW

Here are nine book recommendations from Erin Gauvin, LCSW, Little Otter Therapist and LGBTQIA advocate, to read for a joyful and inclusive storytime this Pride Month.

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Ages 2-5

This gentle true story follows two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who raise a baby chick together. It’s a warm and simple way to introduce children to same-sex families and the many forms love can take.

2. All Kinds of Families, by Suzanne Lang

Ages 2-5

With playful illustrations and rhyming text, this book celebrates all the different ways a family can look. It reminds kids that families are about love, not rules or expectations.

3. Who's in a Family, by Robert Skutch

Ages 4-8

This inclusive book showcases a wide range of family types, from single parents to same-sex couples to multiracial households. It also invites children to draw their own family, reinforcing belonging and self-expression.

4. Julian is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love

Ages 4-8

Julian is a Mermaid tells the story of a young gender non-conforming child who is embraced by their Abuela. It very clearly illustrates early transgender identity exploration.

5. My Two Moms and Me & My Two Dads and Me by Michael Joosten; Illustrated by Izak Zenou

Ages 2-5

These board books follow cheerful, everyday routines of families with same-sex parents. The simple language and joyful tone make them perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

6. Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour; Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Ages 3-7

This tender story captures a little girl’s feelings when one of her moms goes away on a trip. It’s a heartfelt reflection on love, longing, and the security found in queer family structures.

7. Leo And The Pink Marker By Mariyka Foster

Ages 4-8

Through vibrant photography, this book follows Leo, a child who joyfully expresses his identity with creativity and confidence. It offers an affirming look at self-expression and LGBTQ+ family life.

8. My Culture, My Gender, Me by Cassandra Jules Corrigan; Illustrated by Moe Butterfly

Ages 5+

This book explores global diverse gender identities that span the Indigenous Two Spirit people, the hijras of the Indian subcontinent, the māhū people of Hawaii, the female husbands of the Igbo tribe, and many more.

9. Glenn Burke, Game Changer by Phil Bildner; Illustrated by Daniel J. O’Brien

Ages 6-9

This is a picture book biography about Glenn Burke, the first Major League Baseball player to come out as gay, and the story of how he created the high five.

At Little Otter, we support children’s active exploration of gender identity and expression as foundational to the development of a healthy sense of self. Parents have a central role in shaping children’s sense of safety surrounding gender related experiences.

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