
Hello, book enthusiasts! Curious about what’s new in the world of queer children’s literature? This is your go-to spot for the latest updates on queer kidlit releases! Every month this feature will include the latest queer inclusive stories – families of all kinds, breaking down gender stereotypes, and just being yourself, no strings attached.
Get those bookmarks ready, because it’s time to dive in!
Please Note: This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission from purchases made, at no additional cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and continue bringing content to you.
Board Books
It’s a They! (Is It a Boy or a Girl?) by Dr. Lindsey Herriot
In this board book told in sweet rhyming couplets, we are invited to celebrate a new baby, and their gender-neutral pronouns, from the point of view of their excited siblings. The baby is snuggly and sweet in their bright pajamas, they love to snooze and sway…and when asked if they’re a boy or a girl, we’re told, “We aren’t sure of their gender yet―and they bring us so much joy.” Accompanied by delightful photos of babies and siblings of diverse ethnicities, it’s clear that no matter which gender pronouns baby eventually chooses, they are loved just for who they are, and always will be.

Pride Puppy! by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin

★“[A] sheer delight and will be a welcome addition to shelves everywhere. Highly―and proudly―recommended.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “This engaging introduction to Pride parades for the youngest readers successfully testifies to the warmth and power of queer community.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
A young child and their family are having a wonderful time together celebrating Pride Day―meeting up with Grandma, making new friends and eating ice cream. But then something terrible happens: their dog gets lost in the parade! Luckily, there are lots of people around to help reunite the pup with their family. This rhyming alphabet board book tells a lively story, with rich, colorful illustrations that will have readers poring over every detail as they spot items starting with each of the letters of the alphabet. An affirming and inclusive book that offers a joyful glimpse of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this day each year.
P is for Pride by Greg Paprocki
Read with your toddler from A to Z about the LGBTQ+ community in the board book P is for Pride while supporting diverse families with kindness and love.
Greg Paprocki’s P is for Pride introduces toddlers to the alphabet by pairing each letter with a word associated with the LGBTQ+ community and supporters in an age-appropriate way. Learn how to be inclusive with words like Courage, Equality, Gay, Nonbinary, Rainbow flag, and Hug, Kindness, and Love in scenes showcased with Paprocki’s classically retro mid-century art style that’s proven to be a hit with both toddlers and adults.

Picture Books
Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener and DeAnn Wiley

★ “A Black nonbinary child finds ways to navigate their sensory sensitivities during Pride . . . Joyfully affirming” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Marley is a little nonbinary kid with big anxieties. Crowds? Pass. Loud noises? No, thanks. When their Zaza is up for an award at Pride, they want to go to the parade for the first time with their beloved grandparent. But can Marley overcome their fears? Highlighting the joyful experiences of a queer family of color finding community at Pride, this story features endmatter about the history of Pride, a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms, and a list of resources.
Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes by Rob Sanders and Harry Woodgate
Learn about the lives of some of the most important LGBTQ+ heroes in this unique picture book that combines poetry and biographical information to honor those at the forefront of LGBTQ+ history.
Young readers will learn about the lives and legacies of seventeen heroes of the queer community from both past and present. Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones, Pauline Park, Richard Blanco, and Pete Buttigieg are just a few of the iconic figures represented in this wonderfully designed and colorful picture book with illustrations by Harry Woodgate. A perfect introduction to the people who have stood up for what they believed in, lived lives according to their own ideals, and their partners, friends, and allies, the poetry in this book provides great read-aloud potential sure to entertain and inform readers of all ages.
Beloved children’s book author Rob Sanders makes the lives of the most prominent LGBTQ+ heroes jump off of the page through his beautiful poems and detailed biographies. This title includes a glossary as well as a description of each poetry style, making it an ideal choice for home and classroom.

Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton and James Mayhew

Far out to sea and deep below the whispering waves lives a merman called Nen. Nen spends his days exploring his underwater kingdom, but something is missing: his heart is empty. So, Nen ventures to the forbidden world above and it is here that he meets Ernest, a lonely fisherman. But can two people from different worlds be together and what will happen when a terrifying storm gathers? A lyrical, beautiful celebration of love, acceptance and faith, with a gentle message about how we treat our oceans, and each other.
The ABCs of Queer History by Seema Yasmin and Lucy Kirk
A Through-the-Alphabet Celebration of Queer History in the US, from the Publisher of the New York Times Bestseller The ABCs of Black History
In a beautiful picture book brimming with P for Pride, writer and poet Seema Yasmin and illustrator Lucy Kirk celebrate all the joys and challenges of queer history in the United States through lively, rhyming verse and bright, colorful illustrations.
This is a book of people, of ideas, of accomplishments and events. It’s a book about Allies and Ancestors, about Belonging and Being accepted, about Hope, Knowledge, and Love. About historic moments like Stonewall, and how it changed the world. And all about Trailblazers, like Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Harvey Milk, Barbara Jordan, George Takei, Elliot Page, and Sally Ride.
And ultimately, it’s a book to help kids learn a different kind of ABCs—not just words like apple, ball or cat, but rather the essence of what it means to be diverse, to be equitable, to be inclusive. That no one counts unless we all count, and how we must open our eyes and ears, minds and hearts, to hear everyone’s story and understand and celebrate their experience.

Olivette Is You by Nico Tortorella and Melissa Kashiwagi

Meet Olivette, who wants kids to know that “all of it is YOU!” and to embrace every part of themselves. The brainchild of actor Nico Tortorella, this buoyant story is a celebration of all the many different parts of us.
Olivette is here to let you in on a secret: you can be anything you want to be. And even better, you can be all of it! Olivette is energetic, moody, and unique—just like you, Olivette contains multitudes.
Olivette Is You—all of it is you—is inspired by actor, musician, and author Nico Tortorella’s own experience. Through this buoyant picture book, Nico shows you that you don’t have to choose who or what to be; you are already everything.
Saturday is Pancake Day by Bernadette Green and Daniel Gray-Barnett
It’s Saturday morning, and Milo’s been cooking his famously delicious pancakes. They’re ready to serve but Henry doesn’t feel like getting up. Now it’s up to Milo and the twins to find a solution!
Dada Henry doesn’t feel like pancakes this morning, and Milo and the twins aren’t sure why. They persist making more and more elaborate concoctions: ‘Maple Come Back for More’, ‘Little Puddings Supreme’, and ‘Brussels Sprouts Forget Me Never’, but nothing will lure Henry out of bed.
Come on a chaotic culinary adventure as the fox family finds the perfect answer to a familiar problem. A funny, and heartwarming tale from award-winning creators Bernadette Green and Daniel Gray-Barnett in their first collaboration.

Free to Be Fabulous by David McMullin and Robbie Cathro

An exuberant and affirming picture book about self-expression, allyship, and celebrating differences.
Daniel is obsessed with his favorite pop star Fabulina and can’t wait to show off his signature shimmy-kick to her biggest hit “Strong, Brave, Free” at the school talent show. After winning the talent show, Daniel feels euphoric. But Daniel soon realizes that not everyone loves his shimmy-kick. The Mean notices with persistent jokes, whispering, and harmful words. Daniel begins to feel small, never wanting to shimmy-kick again. He hides. But with the help of his friends and his fans, Daniel emerges—all eyes on him—dancing in the face of the Mean, in solidarity with his classmates. Strong. Brave. Free.
I Think We Can!: A Visit to the Pride Parade (The Little Engine That Could) by G. M. King and Jill Howarth
Everyone is welcome in the circle.
In this warmhearted book, we join Molly at the Intertribal Community Center, where she introduces us to people she knows and loves: her grandmother and her grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their baby, her cousins, and her treasured friends.
They dance, sing, garden, learn, pray, and eat together. And tonight, they come together for a feast! Molly shares with the reader how each person makes her feel—and reminds us that love is love.
Through tender prose and radiant artwork, author Monique Gray Smith (Cree/Lakota) and illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Diné) show how there is always room for others in our lives. Circle of Love is a story celebrating family, friends, community, and, most of all, love.
Includes an author’s note, contextual notes, and glossary.

Middle Grade
Winnie Nash is NOT Your Sunshine by Nicole Melleby

In this powerful novel by an award-winning author, 12-year-old Winnie Nash is forced to live with her grandma for the summer and finds herself torn between her family’s secrets and the joy of celebrating Pride.Winnie Nash never used to have so many secrets.
But then she agreed to stay with her grandma for the summer so her mom can take care of her health during her latest pregnancy. Now Winnie plays card games with Grandma’s friends (boring), joins the senior citizen book club (fine, even if no one thinks she’ll read the books), and absolutely does not talk about her mom’s sad days (she never used to be so sad…).
The biggest secret is that her parents asked Winnie not to mention she’s gay to Grandma. And there’s a really cute girl who also hangs out with the senior citizens. What happens if Grandma notices just how much Winnie likes Pippa? The longer Winnie hides the truth, the more she longs to be surrounded by her LGBTQ+ community and the more she feels like the only place she can be herself is at New York City’s Pride celebration. Winnie decides she’ll get to Pride, one way or another. But is this just one more secret she has to keep?
Pride Power: The Young Person’s Guide to LGBTQIA+ by Harriet Dyer
This guide is for young people aged 11+ to introduce them to the power of Pride and the LGBTQIA+ community
Pride has different meanings for different people. It can be about protesting for equal rights for everyone, a celebration of our differences and identities, and a way of finding your tribe and a supportive community that values you and accepts you wholeheartedly.
Pride Power! is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community and will help you to navigate pronouns and key terms, learn about the fascinating history of Pride and modern queer culture, highlighting game-changers and unsung heroes alike, from Marsha P. Johnson to Nick and Charlie in Heartstopper.

Nightmares in Paradise: Ring of Solomon (Ring of Solomon, 2) by Aden Polydoros

Zach Darlington saved the world and hardly anyone knows about it.
Aside from his best friend, Sandra; his annoying little sister, Naomi; and his friend Ash (who, by the way, is the King of Demons). Somehow, they’ve all managed to keep last summer’s fights against the Behemoth, the Leviathan, and the evil Knights of Apocalypse cult a secret for almost a whole year.
Zach and Sandra have their hands full practicing with the archangel Uriel’s flaming sword (in case they ever need to fight monsters again), dodging bully Jeffrey and his sidekicks at school, and doing typical seventh-grade things like homework and watching their favorite horror movies. But when Naomi starts blabbing their secrets—and then disappears during their family’s Passover seder—Zach’s parents are worried and mad. At Zach!
Since the sword went missing along with Naomi, Ash is sure that Uriel is to blame. Which means that Zach, Sandra, and Ash are off to Eden—the actual Garden of Eden—to save Naomi and bring her home.
The Garden is no paradise. It’s full of scary angels, monsters, and tricksters ready to lay traps, not to mention the Knights of Apocalypse, who still hold a grudge against Zach for interfering with their apocalypse plans last summer.
Can Zach make it through the overgrown, dangerous Garden to save his sister and bring her home? And will he still be grounded for life if he does?
No one said being a seventh-grade hero was going to be easy.
Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde
A thrilling adventure story that examines consent and privacy in a way that books have not had to before this generation where everything is online.
Nothing about us, without us.
When Paige learns that her parents enrolled her in an autism study without telling her, her world turns upside down. Suddenly she isn’t sure if she can trust the two people she oves most. A chip was implanted in her brain that sends them information about her mood, brain activity, and location. It can even boost the chemicals that keep her calm or make her happy. So Paige has to wonder… can she even trust her own mind?
Now the company that created her chip is days away from merging with the most popular social network in the world. And they are known for selling people’s private information to the highest bidder.
Paige knows there is only one thing she can do. Armed with the names and addresses of the other kids involved in the study, she must track them down and tell them the truth, so they can put a stop to the merger and get the chips removed for good.

The Queens’ English: The Young Readers’ LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Phrases by Chloe O. Davis
This young readers adaptation of The Queens’ English is a nonfiction illustrated reference guide to the LGBTQIA+ community’s contributions to the English language.
This playful, richly illustrated visual dictionary is the perfect book for anyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like “boi,” “drag,” or “demisexual,” the history of the word “queer,” and the wonderfully diverse, wide-ranging histories that have contributed to LGBTQIA+ culture and vocabulary.
Drawing from traditions as divergent as the ancient poet Sappho to the underground ball scene of the 1980s, from the Stonewall Riots to RuPaul’s Drag Race, this glossary is a colorful compendium—and a celebration of every king, queen, butch, femme, trans, folx, and enby who has shaped the history, identity, and limitless imagination of queerness.

Graphic Novels
Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson and Tatiana Hill

Skates on. Fangs out. Let’s roll. This perfectly paranormal graphic novel about a 13-year-old ice skater who embraces the dark side and finds her light when she joins a vampire roller derby team is to die for.
Ice-skater Mina is on a one-track path to Olympic gold and glory—that is, until she totally wipes out at her biggest competition, and is kinda-sorta-kidnapped by undead kids on roller skates. Sucked into the high stakes world of Paranormal Roller Derby, she finds herself “recruited” by a squad of vampires who need a human player to complete their team—just in time to save the league from losing it all.
Between learning to play derby well enough to kick butt on the track, crushing hard on the dreamy team captain, and navigating the spooky rules of the supernatural, how can Mina go from striving to be a ten alone, to becoming one of nine chaotic bodies forming a perfectly-imperfect team? Forget being the best. Will she be enough to help her new friends survive the season?