Five Books Which Celebrate LGBTQ+ Families

This month, to celebrate Pride, Caroline Cook, Journalist, children's book reviewer and a Bright Horizons parent shares with us five books which feature LGBTQ+ families.

Books can be fantastic mirrors and windows for children, helping them to see their own worlds reflected or giving them a glimpse into the lives of others. As we celebrate Pride this month, it’s the perfect time to enjoy some of the brilliant children’s books which feature all kinds of wonderful families...

1. Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer.
Published by Little Tiger, 2021.
Age 1-5 years.

This beautifully illustrated and inclusive board book showcases some of the small, everyday things which show our children how much we love them, from finding a lost shoe to playing knights and monsters together. Featuring families of all different dynamics, from single parent households, to those with two mums, it’s a wonderful celebration of families and love.

2. The Boys by Lauren Ace and Jenny Lovlie.
Published by Little Tiger, 2021.
Age 3-6 years.

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.

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.

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.

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.