5 Books Which Celebrate LGBTQ+ Families

The follow-up to 2018’s award-winning title The Girls, this stunning book follows four boys - Rey, Nattie, Bobby and Tam - and charts the evolution of their friendship as they get older. As they become adults, and celebrate moments like Tam’s wedding to his husband, we see how the boys’ friendship grows with them. Helping to dismantle gender stereotypes, this also has a wonderful message for children about how it is good to talk about your feelings, even if it isn’t always easy.

Cover of "Uncle Bobby's Wedding"3. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah Brannen and Lucia Soto.
Published by Hodder Children’s Books, 2021.
Age 3-5 years.

This is a wonderful celebration of love with a fabulous wedding party too! Uncle Bobby is Chloe’s favourite uncle but when he announces he is getting married to Jamie, Chloe is worried it will change things between them. As Chloe spends a fantastic day with Uncle Bobby and Jamie she begins to realise how brilliant it will be to have two uncles and when the wedding day arrives she’s determined to help make it perfect.

Cover of "The Girl with Two Dads"4. The Girl With Two Dads by Mel Elliot.
Published by Farshore (previously Egmont), 2019.
Age 3-5 years.

A new girl called Matilda is joining the school and Pearl is very excited. When she sees two different dads dropping Matilda off she asks where her mum is. Matilda explains she has two dads and she invites Pearl round for dinner. Pearl thinks that with two cool dads it’s going to mean no rules and cake for dinner but she quickly learns that having two dads is just like having a mum and a dad - with the same boring rules and vegetables to eat! A great story of friendship and family, which is brilliantly told from a child’s perspective.

Book cover of "We Are Family"5. We Are Family by Patricia Hegarty and Ryan Wheatcroft.
Published by Caterpillar books.
Age 4-7 years.

With lots of different families represented in its beautiful illustrations, this poetic picture book explains how families are there for each other through good times and bad, and from morning until nightfall. Written in rhyming verse this is a heart-warming book which shows that families may look different from one another, live in different places or be large or small, but one thing remains the same - the love they all have for each other.

 

Further reading suggestions for books with LGBTQ+ themes:

- Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat. Published by Simon & Schuster, 2021. Age 8+.

- My Brother’s Name is Jessica by John Boyne. Published by Puffin, 2020. Age 9-12 years.

- Have Pride: An inspirational history of the LGBTQ+ movement by Stella Caldwell. Published by Welbeck. Age 10+ years.

- Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. Published by Walker Books, 2019. Age 3-7 years.

- Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown. Published by Templar Publishing, 2021. Age 2-5 years.