Gender in Children's Literature - Spring 2007 - The College of New Jersey
LGBT Books for Kids (a list to start with)
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The following books are for young children. The New York Public Library has a page on books for older readers--click here!
Brown, Forman. The Generous Jefferson Bartleby Jones.
This children's book is a wonderful story about a young boy named Jefferson who has two fathers. His best friends Kim and Chad get jealous of Jefferson's relationship with his fathers because their fathers are "too busy" to spend time with them. Jefferson then decides to "share" his fathers with them and they all end up learning from each other. This book allows children to see the different relationships kids can have with their father(s) and the different types of parents a child can have. -KC
Bryan, Jennifer. The Different Dragon.
The Different Dragon is a good book for children to read for multiple reasons. Noah is a young boy who has two mothers and a younger sister. Noah and "Go Ma" (one of his mothers) tell bedtime stories, each taking part. Noah gives the dragon a valuable lesson that it is ok to be different. The story doesn't really go into detail or focus on the fact that Noah has two mothers. - E.C.
Burks, Stephanie. Kelli Bienvenu, illustrator. While You Were Sleeping. Burks/Trafford, 2004.
Two moms adopt a baby. Good illustrations; interracial moms, baby is a black boy.
Combs, Bobbie. Desiree Keane and Brian Rapa, illustrators. ABC, A Family Alphabet Book. Two Lives, 2000.
This children's picture book presents families with same sex parents, multi-racial parents and children. The book's text and illustrations present ideas on family diversity in a way that is kid friendly. Extremely positive book, showing diversity instead of telling about diversity.
Considine, Kaitlyn. Binny Hobbs, illustrator. Emma and Meesha My Boy. Twomomsbooks, 2005.
This story is about a little girl who has two moms and a cat. The book's main focus is about the rules and restricttions that the two moms enforce on the little girl in regards to taking care of the cat. The story ends with the child being positively reinforced and her expressing love for the cat. -K.O.
de Haan, Linda, and Stern Nijland. King & King. Tricycle, 2002.
The LGBT picture book King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland is the tale of a young prince that is encouraged, by his mother, to marry and become the king of the castle. This pressure did not thrill the prince but he agreed to look at candidates. Several princesses were called in but the prince fell in love at first sight with one particular person: the brother of Princess Madeleine. The queen was very happy to have the two princes marry and become the two kings of the land. This book put an interesting twist on the classic bachelor prince story. I was pleasantly surprised that the prince was able to follow his heart and marry another prince without any objection from the queen. However, I was left wondering, how would his father have reacted if he were present in the book? Also, the illustration of the wedding shows that some of the guests were not as excited and accepting of the nuptials. - T.C-H.
de Haan, Linda, and Stern Nijland. King & King & Family. Tricycle, 2004.
I find it beneficial that there is a book about the relationship and marriage of two men. I do ffind it harmful that one obviously displays masculine traits while the other displays feminine traits. I find it harmful to reinforce this stereotyping. I also find it harmful that the hyoung girl is discovered popping out of their suitcase. It makes the possibility to adopt more unrealistic.
Edmonds, Barbara Lynn. Matthew Daniele, illustrator. Mama Eat Ant, Yuck! Hundredth Munchy, 2000.
The actual plot of Mama Eat Ant, Yuck! is fairly typical of a children's book. Where it differs is in the family presented, which features two mothers, yet the fact that the story does not center around this helps to portray the relationship as an established and normal one to children. What's interesting is that the book still ends with the little girl becoming a mother, but because Edmonds' story stresses both the opportunity for higher education and the choice for an unconventional relationship, it does not feel forced upon the character. - J.M.
Edmonds, Barbara Lynn. Matthew Daniele, illustrator. When Grown-Ups Fall in Love. Hundredth Munchy, 1997.
The moral of the story is: "It's love that makes a family," regardless of whether the family has a mom and a dad, two moms, or two dads. The storyline is very simplistic, teaching acceptance but not doing much more. The illustrations aren't that captivating and don't always match the text. This book is a very "safe" way to introduce heterosexuality and homosexuality. -K.R.
Elwin, Rosamund, and Michele Paulse. Dawn Lee, illustrator. Asha's Mums. Women's Press, 1990.
The story does a good job of showing that it is possible to have two moms, but there isn't much to the story. I think if it had a little more explanation to why or how she has two moms it would make more sense to young children instead of just saying she has two moms...and that's all. - MB
Gordon, Nancy. Molly's Family.
Molly's family took a great approach to confronting the issue of a same-sex family. I enjoyed how the family explained to Molly that she had two mothers who had so much love that they wanted to share it with a baby.
Gordon, Sol. Vivien Cohen, illustrator. All Families Are Different. Prometheus, 2000.
This book talks about all different types of families. This book talks about: adopted children who live in foster homes, different races and color skins, different religions, different cultures and languages. There is a check list where children are to check off which statement is most like their own family. This book talks about divorce and tells children it is not their fault. This book encourages to treat others with kindness. There are pages in the back of the book where children can draw their families, a favorite place they like to go with their families, their favorite holiday, favorite pet or animal, a picture of themselves, their friend, their favorite hobby, favorite toy, and what they want their family to look like when they grow up. - L.M.
Newman, Leslea. Peter Ferguson, illustrator. The Boy Who Cried Fabulous.
The Boy Who Cried Fabulous is about a young boy named Roger who is frequently late to wherever he needs to be because he stops to admire the "fabulous" things of the world. As punishment, Roger's parents forbid him from describing anything as fabulous. Although there are underlying indications that Roger is homosexual, the purpose of the book is not to question the child's sexuality yet more so to emphasize the consequences of the restriction of language and, consequently, the restriction of one's self-expression. -B.D.
Newman, Leslea. Adriana Romo, illustrator. Felicia's Favorite Story. Two Lives Publishing, 2002.
This story is about a little girl whose favorite bedtime story is the one about her adoption. Felicia was adopted by two women who loved each other very much, Linda and Vanessa (Mamma Nessa and Mamma Linda to Felicia); they decide one day that they want to share the love that they have with a child. The story of her adoption also addresses that some mothers (Felicia's birth mom) cannot care for a child, so they give it to parents who want a child to love. -J.W.
Newman, Leslea, and Diana Souza. Heather Has Two Mommies. Alyson Wonderland, 1989.
This book addresses growing up in a household with Lesbian parents. It also addresses issues such as adoption, artificial insemination, and child rearing in same sex relationships. The book stresses the fact that it is not structure that makes a family, but instead strong emotional bonds and love. The book sets out emphasize the importance of love in the family through giving multiple examples of non typical families, it also address other issues possibly omitted from other picture books, being deemed to "mature". - Alek
Newman, Leslea. Catherine Stock, illustrator. Too Far Away to Touch. Clarion Books, 1995.
It's great that the author conveys a same-sex relationship, between the uncle and his partner, with complete acceptance from the little girl and mother. However, I feel the author should have stated the uncle had AIDS at the beginning so the reader can relate the symptoms/suffering to AIDS. I also think the way the disease is presented is very age appropriate and not overwhelming (doesn't use harsh language).
Parr, Todd. The Family Book. Little, Brown & Co., 2003.
This is a short picture book that talks about different types of families. It is very simple and short and gives an overall view on different families. It is very simple because the pictures, content and text are all simplistic. It seems to be a good book for younger children to give them basic information on families. - L.G.
Parr, Todd. It's Okay to Be Different. Little Brown, 2001.
This book starts every page with "It's okay to." It brings up situations that are realistic to children's lives, but also has some unrealistic with feeling different. It is essentially reinforcing to kids that it is okay to be different. And if they don't know what "different" means, it provides many examples (need some help, miss teeth, have no hair, be a different color, large, small, talk about feelings, wear glasses, etc.). In regards to learning about LGBT people, the book teaches kids that all people are special, even if they are different. - B.F.
Richardson, Justin, and Peter Parnell. Henry Cole, illustrator. And Tango Makes Three. Simon & Schuster, 2005.
And Tango Makes Three is about two penguins in the zoo who fall in love. The controversy come in when we learn the two penguins are both boys. The zookeeper gives the two penguins an egg to raise. People came to see them and were excited for the penguin family. They lived happily ever after. -JF
Valentine, Johnny. Lynette Schmidt, illustrator. The Daddy Machine. Alyson Wonderland, 2004.
Two kids with two moms. Moms go away and provide a construction set. The kids build a dad. Gender friendly: no "dad" gender stereotype. Negative: the children felt that they needed a dad to play with. Not content with just their moms. Overall: a fun book. Illustrations are catchy.
Valentine, Johnny. Lynne Schmidt, illustrator. The Duke Who Outlawed Jelly Beans. Alyson Wonderland, 1991.
This book presents the reader with five different short stories, each about a different young character with some sort of LGBT issue in their life. Whether the children have lesbian or gay parents, are discriminated against because of their gender, or have feelings of a lesbian or gay sort, each must face the challenges presented to them by those around them. The stories each end happily, showing the children overcoming the adversity and allowing the reader to perhaps develop a more open mind about LGBT families and issues.
Valentine, Johnny. Melody Sarecky, illustrator. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads. Alyson Wonderland, 1994.
In this short kids' book a young boy has two blue dads, the color blue representing gay. a girl is confused about how he could have two blue dads and addresses stereotypes, rumors, and questions about how the blue appeared and if it can rub off. Ethnic diversity and flexibility in gendered activities such as cooking and working raise issues while geared to children. -KC
Willhoite, Michael. Daddy's Roommate. Alyson Wonderland, 1990.
Pictures stereotypical, text very simple. Mother tells son about dad being gay. Emphasis is on love and happiness.
. . . .and there are more...if you know a book that should be on this list, write to gray@tcnj.edu
...and thanks to Rainbowheart for getting us started