Pride Month is here and we are celebrating with these wonderful books that promote inclusivity and self-acceptance.
The LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
These inspiring stories encourage self-discovery, break stereotypical barriers and foster gender variation.
We hope you learn as much as you can about this community and celebrate our differences.
PAYDEN'S PRONOUN PARTY
PAYDEN’S PRONOUN PARTY by Blue Jaryn introduces children to different gender pronouns.
It features a boy names Payden who loved to play dress-up or characters he loves. However, he wasn’t sure of his own identity.
He wasn’t sure he felt like a boy, so saying that he was a “he” probably wasn’t best for him. His parents suggested they call him whatever he feels comfortable with.
As he walked through the town, he asked his friends for advice about pronouns. From she/her to ze/zir, Payden tried to figure out what best suited him.
After finally understanding the meanings, he was gender-neutral after careful thought. It made him feel just right, so his parents had a party, inviting all his friends to celebrate his finding himself.
With bold and vibrant illustrations by Xochitl Cornejothis, this book is the perfect introduction to gender pronouns.
I'M NOT A GIRL
I’M NOT A GIRL by Maddox Lyons and Jessica Verdi is another wonderful book about self-discovery.
It features a child named Hannah, who wishes everyone would understand that he is a boy. He was born a girl but knows he is a boy inside.
Through all the frustrations of being misunderstood, he was happy to choose a swimsuit made for boys.
His new friends at the pool thought he was a boy, but hearing his name confused them. After insisting he IS a boy, his friends understood and encouraged him to be himself and inspired him to speak to his parents.
It’s hard being someone you’re not, and it’s frustrating when no one understands.
Having supportive friends and family can make a big difference when children undergo these drastic changes.
This heartfelt story of acceptance and self-love is amazing, and the illustrations by Dana Simpson are absolutely remarkable.
GRANDAD'S CAMPER
GRANDAD’S CAMPER by Harry Woodgate is a sweet story told by a grandfather to his grandchild.
Grandad’s cottage is always fun, and his garden has yummy fruits and veggies, but his stories are the best.
He told stories of adventures with his deceased husband Gramps in their camper. They traveled the world together, visiting beaches and the city.
Inspired by his stories, they repaired the old camper and set out on an adventure of their own.
We always love stories that inspire intergenerational bonding. With bold and vibrant illustrations, GRANDAD’S CAMPER is a story of love and loss.
It encourages those who have lost a loved one to recreate memories while keeping their memories alive.
FRED GETS DRESSED
In FRED GETS DRESSED by Peter Brown, a boy named Fred has to get dressed for the family picture.
He thinks it’ll be fun to dress like mom or dad and decided that he loves wearing mommy’s dress.
When his parents find him in a dress, they embraced his curiosity and joined in on the fun.
With painted nails and shiny jewelry, FRED GETS DRESSED encourages gender fluidity and allows children to freely be themselves.
ODDBIRD
ODDBIRD by Derek Desierto is one of the most anticipated books of the year.
It features a fearless bird whose feathers were not as colorful as the other birds. Because he was different, he changed his feathers to fit in, but in the process discovered it was so much more fun being himself.
We absolutely love this book and are mega fans of Derek’s distinctive, vibrant illustrations.
Oddbird taught the other birds a lesson in acceptance and self-love and the value of finding your identity and accepting who you are. Being different makes the world more fun.
FROM ARCHIE TO ZACK
FROM ARCHIE TO ZACK by Vincent X. Kirsch is an inclusive book that celebrates the love between two friends.
Archie and Zack are best friends who do everything together. From camping to musicals, they are simply inseparable. Archie loves Zack and Zack loves Archie, but expressing their love seems difficult even though everyone knew.
They each wrote letters, but neither felt courageous enough to give to each other, so they continued being the best of friends.
We’ve all had a crush growing up and expressing one’s love isn’t always easy, especially when it’s sometimes deemed unconventional, but books like this encourage and motivate boys and girls to be brave.
The bright, vibrant illustrations are absolutely captivating.
RAINBOW BOY
What is your favorite color?
RAINBOW BOY by Taylor Rouanzion features a boy who, when asked his favorite color, takes us through the colors of the rainbow because he can’t choose one.
From mermaid green to glistening blue snowflakes, we explore the colors of the rainbow with his fun daily activities.
With vivid and bold illustrations by Stacey Chomiak, children get to explore colors in this fun, imaginative book.
It fosters creativity and encourages inclusivity, and the boy is absolutely adorable.
BORN READY
In BORN READY by Jodie Patterson, Penelope is a ninja who loves skateboards and baggy jeans.
Penelope may look like a girl outside, but inside she feels like a boy, but no one notices her frustration.
Through a little mischief and misbehaving, she expressed her anger to her mother, who quickly embraced those emotions and offered support to her son.
Penelope becomes strong and confident and with a lot of practice and the love and support from his family, he defeated his opponent at the Karate tournament.
We love how this book expresses the emotions a family undergoes when a child discovers who they truly are and the illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow captures the essence of the story
Dealing with the changes may be tough, but love conquers and embracing one’s differences makes it even better.
BLING BLAINE
BLING BLAINE, Throw Glitter, Not Shade by Rob Sanders features a boy named Blaine who loved bling.
He bedazzled and embellished his entire attire for school, and when he arrived; he was always happy and shining.
Not everyone understood Blaine’s bling, and they even said mean things about him. This made him sad and not want to sparkle any more.
School became dull as Blaine lost his shine. With encouragement from his friends, who showed him it’s okay to be different, he was back to his glittery self.
He felt happy to know his friends had his back and will learn and accept him for who he is.
We love the message of inclusivity in this book, and it encourages children to be their sparkly selves. No one should dim your sparkle.
The bright and vibrant illustrations by Letizia Rizzo are absolutely breathtaking.
PINK IS FOR BOYS
PINK IS FOR BOYS by Robb Pearlman is one of the best picture books that teaches Inclusivity.
It celebrates children and their many adventures and breaks the stereotypes and gender barriers that can inhibit a child’s experiences while growing up.
Who says boys can’t like pink or girls can’t like blue? Who says a girl can’t play a “boy sport” or a boy can’t play a “girl sport?”
This book celebrates diversity and encourages children to express themselves. The marvelous illustrations by Eda Kaban are absolutely relatable and full of fun and color.
WHEN AIDAN BECAME A BROTHER
WHEN AIDAN BECAME A BROTHER by Kyle Lukoff is a sweet story of self-discovery.
Everyone thought Aidan was a girl. His room had girl things, and he wore dresses, but Aidan knew he was a boy.
After expressing his feelings to his parents, they quickly allowed him to be who himself.
Then Aidan was going to be a big brother. He set out to welcome his new sibling and ensured they didn’t feel misunderstood like he was.
From carefully chosen paints for the baby’s room to a name that the baby may like, Aidan knew how important being a big brother would be.
And best of all, he knew his sibling will have lots of love.
With bright, spunky, and fun illustrations by Kaylani Juanita, this book encourages self-accept and promotes gender variance.
HOW MISCHIEF CHANGED THE WORLD
HOW MISCHIEF CHANGED THE WORLD by Bettina Harriman and Jacklyn Harte is one of the most interactive books ever written.
It’s a notebook that encourages social-emotional learning in children and features adventurous little Mischief. Mischief differs from other children and their differences make them unique. They learn that how they treat themselves determines how they treat others.
HOW MISCHIEF CHANGED THE WORLD is a special notebook that teaches children how to manage their emotions positively, therefore allowing children to fully express themselves in a fun and creative way.
By identifying and connecting with their role models, children can learn to be their own superheroes and make positive changes.
Saying this book is an interactive notebook is an understatement.
It’s inclusive and diverse with witty illustrations that are guaranteed to be a class favorite among teachers and educators. Though it’s geared towards older children, younger children can also benefit from what this book offers.
Being yourself and marching to the beat of your own drum can be an act of mischief that can inspire others to make the world a better place.
People who speak up and let their voices be heard are the ones who help to change the world.
