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Lists

Pride for All Ages: 15 New Pride Month Books for Kids and Teens

by Kim Tano and Madeline Shier, June 11, 2021 8:57 AM
Pride for All Ages: 15 New Pride Month Books for Kids and Teens


2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewell uprising, demonstrations against the 1969 police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar. That uprising was a watershed moment in LGBTQ+ history, and led to annual Pride celebrations in the month of June. As cities around the U.S. and the world tentatively reopen for Pride celebrations this year, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the visible growth in LGBTQ+ titles available for kids and teens.

Where in the past we've had to make do with a few old faithful standards (Heather Has Two Mommies continues to be a nostalgic classic), we're thrilled that in recent years, and this year in particular, we had a difficult time narrowing our list of recommended LGBTQ+ kids’ and teen titles. We're especially thrilled to see more and more unique identities, intersectional identities, and Own Voices narratives represented on these shelves.

Accordingly, for our Pride recommendations this year, we've limited ourselves to titles that have published since last Pride. This selection of primarily Own Voices books highlights some of our recent favorites for all age groups.

Happy Pride, and happy reading!

Pink Is for Boys Pink Is for Boys
by Robb Pearlman and Eda Kaban

This scaled-down board book version of a 2018 picture book is a wonderful first introduction for littles to the concept that colors are not gendered — a concept that itself encourages early exploration of likes and dislikes without paying mind to prescribed gender norms. I’ll be getting this book for my best friend’s kiddo, whose favorite things are trucks and tutus. — Madeline

Sharice's Big Voice Sharice's Big Voice
by Sharice Davids, Nancy Mays, and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley

Sharice’s Big Voice tells the life story of Sharice Davids, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress and the first LGBTQ+ congressperson to represent Kansas. Sharice learned at a young age to listen carefully to people around her to learn how to best help them, then found her journey as a White House fellow under Barack Obama and then on to her win for Congress in 2019. Joshua Mangeshing Pawis-Steckley's woodland art-inspired illustrations pair perfectly with this amazing autobiography. — Kim

What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns
by Katherine Locke and Anne Passchier

When Ari’s Uncle Lior comes to visit, they talk about words to describe themselves. Uncle Lior’s words are “playful,” “collector,” “gardener,” and “they/them.” When Ari sees others throughout their day, their words are “mechanic,” “polite,” “vegetarian,” and “she/her,” “artistic,” “sweet,” “kind,” and “ze/zir.” Ari has been trying to discover their own words and with careful thought decides that the words “impatient,” “excited,” “colorful,” and “they/them” feel just right this day! A great inspiration for kids ages five and up to discover their own pronouns. — Kim

Our Subway Baby Our Subway Baby
by Peter Mercurio and Leo Espinosa

The world was captivated by this real-life story of Danny, who found an abandoned newborn baby on his way out of a NYC subway station in August 2000. After authorities made sure the baby was okay, the judge overseeing the baby’s case asked Danny and his partner Peter (the author) if they would like to adopt this sweet baby boy together and they began preparing their home for a newborn. Twelve years later, the same judge performed Peter and Danny’s wedding ceremony and they raised their son to adulthood. This is a sweet and unique story of love and family. — Kim

Almost Flying Almost Flying
by Jake Maia Arlow

Dalia’s a roller coaster fanatic who lives vicariously through YouTube. With her father getting remarried, she spots her chance: she (and her new friend Rani) can join her stepsister-to-be’s summer road trip and finally ride a coaster for real. But as she and Rani get closer, Dalia finds herself on her first emotional roller coaster too. This sweet and funny story of friendship, family, and first love is a perfect summer read. — Madeline

The Legend of Auntie Po The Legend of Auntie Po
by Shing Yin Khor

It’s 1885 and Mei lives in California with her father, a cook in a logging camp. Between doing chores to help run the camp and telling tales to the children about the myths of Auntie Po, Mei barely has enough time to spend with Bee, dreaming of their future together and dancing in the woods. This wonderful graphic novel blends magical realism, historical fiction, and a sweet romance perfect for all ages. — Kim

Spin With Me Spin With Me
by Ami Polonsky

Essie’s less than thrilled to move to a new town — until she meets Ollie, and sparks fly. Ollie’s nonbinary, and while they’re happy with their gender identity, they struggle with feeling reduced to a label. Essie, who finds comfort in labels, wrestles with what her attraction to Ollie means about her own. This thoughtful, bright read is perfect for kids who are figuring out their own identities and orientations. — Madeline

The Best at It The Best at It 
by Maulik Pancholy

Stonewall Honor recipient and a current Oregon Battle of the Books read! Starting middle school can be tough; it’s especially hard when you’re questioning your sexuality, figuring out your neurodivergence, and dealing with bullies. Rahul latches onto his grandfather, Bhai’s, advice: “Find one thing you’re really good at and become the BEST at it.” But is being the best really possible? Or worth focusing on? — Madeline

Pet Pet
by Akwaeke Emezi

I was absolutely enthralled from the first line of this incredible book (“There shouldn’t be any monsters left in Lucille.”) to the last. Emezi’s prose and premise are somehow both dreamlike and realer than real, and illuminate the monsters and angels of our time like only great fiction can. This YA debut, told from the perspective of curious, big-hearted trans girl Jam, deserved every award and piece of praise it earned. I cannot recommend it enough. — Madeline

Juliet Takes a Breath Juliet Takes a Breath
by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote

Juliet Milagros Palante leaves the Bronx and heads to Portland, OR, after coming out to her family. In Portland, she interns for the author of her favorite book and navigates microaggressions in predominantly white Portland. Celia Moscote's illustrations bring to life these beloved characters in Juliet’s world in this graphic novel version of a longtime Powell’s bookseller favorite. — Kim

Cemetery Boys Cemetery Boys
by Aiden Thomas

In this gorgeous debut from Portland local Aidan Thomas, Yadriel sets out to prove himself a brujo and force his family to acknowledge his true gender. But when his summoning spell goes awry, he ends up with the wrong ghost — local bad boy Julian Diaz — and a laundry list of unfinished business. If you’re a fan of paranormal love stories or authentic looks at Latinx culture, you won’t want to miss this one! — Madeline

Heartstopper, Vol. 3 Heartstopper, Vol. 3
by Alice Oseman

The series follows Nick and Charlie, two teens who discover love and romance in a British grammar school. In this third installment, Nick and Charlie are official boyfriends and work on telling their friends and families, which is hard for Nick since he hasn’t come out to his mom. Coming out to their classmates gets even more challenging during a class trip to Paris, but their love grows strong in this charming and compelling teen graphic novel. — Kim

Felix Ever After Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender

Felix has two goals for his summer arts program: up his chances at getting into Brown, and fall in love. But the program starts with an anonymous hate crime — someone has posted pictures of Felix before he transitioned, with his deadname. Determined to have his revenge, Felix embarks on an anonymous scheme of his own. He doesn’t expect that to be the thing that sets him on the road to love — from others, and from himself.
— Madeline

The Black Flamingo The Black Flamingo
by Dean Atta

Winner of the American Library Association Stonewall Award for 2020 and out in paperback this year, The Black Flamingo follows Michael, a half-Greek-Cypriot and half-Jamaican teen living in London and navigating his cultural as well as his sexual identity. As Michael attends university, he discovers the support of a local drag society and reinvents himself as Black Flamingo in this beautifully written novel-in-verse for teens and up.
— Kim

Beyond the Gender Binary Beyond the Gender Binary
by Alok Vaid-Menon

Our conception of gender is not an essential truth of life, but a set of societal rules that we use to determine how someone “should” behave. Indian American artist-activist Vaid-Menon does an incisive job illustrating the harm done by the gender binary, and how we punish those who do not conform to it (particularly people of color) in this thought-provoking quick read from the Pocket Change Collective. — Madeline



 Discover more book recommendations for kids and adults on our Pride Month page.



Books mentioned in this post

Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas

Beyond the Gender Binary

Alok Vaid-Menon and Ashley Lukashevsky

Spin with Me

Ami Polonsky

Our Subway Baby

Peter Mercurio and Leo Espinosa

Best at It

Maulik Pancholy

Heartstopper, Volume 3

Alice Oseman

Juliet Takes a Breath: The Graphic Novel

Gaby Rivera and Celia Moscote

Pet

Akwaeke Emezi

Felix Ever After

Kacen Callender

The Black Flamingo

Dean Atta

Pink Is for Boys

Robb Pearlman, Eda Kaban

Almost Flying

Jake Maia Arlow

Legend of Auntie Po

Shing Yin Khor

What Are Your Words A Book About Pronouns

Katherine Locke, Anne Passchier

Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman

Sharice Davids and Joshua Mangeshig Pawis Steckley and Nancy K. Mays
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