Picture books

Ages 3–8

Unknown Author

This simple story in Cree and English explores a young child's relationship to his kôhkom, his grandmother, as they go for a walk in the bush to pick rosehips.

Ages 3–8

Sylvia Olsen

Which Way Should I Go by Sylvia Olsen — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Rebecca C. Benes

Native American picture books of change by Rebecca C. Benes — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Rudy Henry Wiebe

Steeped in aboriginal myth and lore, Hidden Buffalo is also the tale of how a whole tribe can turn its gaze from the horizon to see to the wisdom of a child.

Ages 3–8

Bonnie Murray

"Thomas needs to make a wheeled vehicle for science class. When his father helps him build a Red River Cart, Thomas learns another fascinating aspect of his Metis history."--Jacket.

Ages 3–8

Suzie Napayok

Akuluk is not excited about visiting her grandparents in Nunavut, until she sees all the animals that the tundra has to offer, and learns about hunting for wild eggs.

Ages 3–8

Judith Morecroft

Malu Kangaroo by Judith Morecroft — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Lesléa Newman

When Heather goes to playgroup, at first she feels bad because she has two mothers and no father, but then she learns that there are lots of different kinds of families and the most important thing is that all the people love each other.

Ages 3–8

Susanne Bösche

Jenny is a 5-year-old girl who lives in Denmark with her father and his lover. This photobook tells of a weekend in their lives, shopping, laundry, cooking, playing, a birthday party, and a friendly visit with Jenny's mother.

Ages 3–8

Johnny Valentine

A collection of five original and enchanting fairy tales about children with gay parents that make up this collection, beautifully illustrated with paintings and drawings, which Horn Book called “One of the outstanding children’s books of the season.”

Ages 3–8

Miriam B. Schiffer

Stella's class is having a Mother's Day celebration, but what's a girl with two daddies to do? It's not that she doesn't have someone who helps her with her homework, or tucks her in at night. Stella has her Papa and Daddy who take care of her, and a whole gaggle of other loved ones who make her feel special and supported every day. She just doesn't have a mom to invite to the party. Fortunately, Stella finds a unique solution to her party problem in this sweet story about love, acceptance, and the true meaning of family.

Ages 3–8

Lesléa Newman

Gloria goes to Gay Pride by Lesléa Newman — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Rosamund Elwin

For ages 4-8. When Asha's lesbian mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of classmates, Asha responds that having two mums is not a big deal. They are a family.

Ages 3–8

Ken Setterington

When Rosie finds out that her two mothers are planning to get married, she has only one worry ... will she get to be a flower girl?

Ages 3–8

José Carlos Andrés

My Dad is a Clown / Mi papá es un payaso by José Carlos Andrés — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Jane Severance

*When Megan Went Away* is a 1979 picture book written by Jane Severance and illustrated by Tea Schook. The book, published by the independent press Lollipop Power, concerns Shannon dealing with the separation of her mother and Megan, her mother's former partner. It is regarded as the first picture book to include LGBT characters, and specifically the first to feature lesbian characters, a distinction sometimes erroneously bestowed upon Lesléa Newman's Heather Has Two Mommies.

Ages 3–8

Frances Ann Day

Provides guidelines for evaluating books with lesbian and gay content, annotations for picture books, fiction, short stories, and non-fiction, and "author" profiles of lesbian and gay authors.

Ages 3–8

Isabelle Malenfant

Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. But most of all, Morris loves wearing the tangerine dress in his classroom’s dress-up center. The children in Morris’s class don’t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn’t welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, don’t wear dresses. One day when Morris feels all alone and sick from their taunts, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo. Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure. With warm, dreamy illustrations, Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris’s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination.

Ages 3–8

Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Jacob's new dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman — a thoughtfully chosen inclusive book for young readers.

Ages 3–8

Jessica Walton

What matters is that you are my friend.' A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.

Ages 3–8

Cheryl Kilodavis

He’s a Princess Boy. Inspired by the author’s son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this heartwarming book is a call for tolerance and an end to bullying and judgments.

Ages 3–8

Harvey Fierstein

Henry Cole's gently humorous illustrations give it a new vitality. This is a book to share with all children, to help them understand that each one of them is unique and valuable.

Ages 3–8

Marcus Ewert

Every night, Bailey dreams about magical dresses: dresses made of crystals and rainbows, dresses made of flowers, dresses made of windows. . . . Unfortunately, when Bailey's awake, no one wants to hear about these beautiful dreams. Quite the contrary. "You're a BOY!" Mother and Father tell Bailey. "You shouldn't be thinking about dresses at all." Then Bailey meets Laurel, an older girl who is touched and inspired by Bailey's imagination and courage. In friendship, the two of them begin making dresses together. And Bailey's dreams come true!

Ages 3–8

Laurin Mayeno

It's almost closing time will Danny find the costume of his dreams in time? One of A Kind, Like Me / Unico como yo is a sweet story about unconditional love and the beauty of individuality.