CCBC Booklists

CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.

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LGBTQ Lives in Selected Children's and Young Adult Books

©2025, 2009 Cooperative Children's Book Center

This bibliography was designed to provide librarians, teachers, parents and others with suggested books for children and teens that provide information about or reflect the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth and gay- or lesbian-parented families.

The books in the bibliography are divided into four broad categories, some of which are divided by format (non-fiction, picture books, fiction):

  • General Books about Gay Issues
  • Families with Gay and Lesbian Parents*
  • LGBTQ Children and Teens
  • Sex and Gender Identity/Gender Nonconformity

*This category includes books that reflect gay and lesbian family life, and books that reflect family differences in general and may resonate more deeply with children who live in gay- or lesbian-parented families. It also includes books that aren't specifically about gay- or lesbian-parented families but featuring characters and situations that are open to interpretation.

Interested in additional titles? Check out the annual Rainbow List, created by the American Library Association's Rainbow Project. You can also use our Recommended Book Search to find more books with LGBTQ characters.

General Books about LGBTQ Issues

Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights

Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights
by Bausum, Ann
Viking, 2015. 120 pages. Age 13 and older

Viral: The Fight Against AIDS in America

Viral: The Fight Against AIDS in America
by Bausum, Ann
Penguin Random House/Viking, 2019. 168 pages. Age 13 and older

The Other Pandemic: An AIDS Memoir

The Other Pandemic: An AIDS Memoir
by Curlee, Lynn
Charlesbridge, 2023. 164 pages. Age 14 and older

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
by Sanders, Rob
Illustrated by Steven Salerno. Random House, 2018. 40 pages. Ages 5-8

Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution

Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution
by Sanders, Rob
Illustrated by Jamey Christoph. Random House, 2019. 40 pages. Ages 5-9

Pride Colors

Pride Colors
by Stevenson, Robin
Orca, 2019. 26 pages. Ages birth - 3

Families with Gay and Lesbian Parents or Other Adult Relatives

Fiction

The Only Black Girls in Town
The Only Black Girls in Town
by Colbert, Brandy
Little, Brown, 2020. 355 pages. Ages 9-12

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
by Levy, Dana Alison
Delacorte/Random House, 2014. 260 pages. Ages 7-10

The Stars Beneath Our Feet
The Stars Beneath Our Feet
by Moore, David Barclay
Knopf, 2017. 294 pages. Ages 9-13

No Fixed Address
No Fixed Address
by Nielsen, Susan
Random House/Wendy Lamb Books, 2018. 280 pages. Ages 9-13

World Made of Glass
World Made of Glass
by Polonsky, Ami
Little, Brown, 2023. 276 pages. Ages 10-13

I Miss You, I Hate This
I Miss You, I Hate This
by Saedi, Sara
Little, Brown/Poppy, 2022. 345 pages. Age 14 and older

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
by Saenz, Benjamin Alire
Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. 445 pages. Age 13 and older

The List of Things That Will Not Change
The List of Things That Will Not Change
by Stead, Rebecca
Random House/Wendy Lamb Books, 2020. 224 pages. Ages 8-12

My Fate According to the Butterfly
My Fate According to the Butterfly
by Villanueva, Gail D.
Scholastic Press, 2019. Ages 8-12

Picture Books

An Ordinary Day
An Ordinary Day
by Arnold, Elana K.
Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic. Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster, 2020. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Forever Home: A Dog and Boy Love Story
Forever Home: A Dog and Boy Love Story
by Cole, Henry
Illustrated by Henry Cole. Scholastic/Scholastic Press, 2022. 40 pages. Ages 3-7

Just Us
Just Us
by Griffin, Molly Beth
Illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. Charlesbridge, 2024. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Real Sisters Pretend
Real Sisters Pretend
by Lambert, Megan Dowd
Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Tilbury House, 2016. 32 pages. Ages 4-7

Plenty of Hugs
Plenty of Hugs
by Manushkin, Fran
Illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. Dial/Penguin Random House, 2020. 32 pages. Ages 2-5

Bathe the Cat
Bathe the Cat
by McGinty, Alice Blumenthal
Illustrated by David Roberts. Chronicle, 2022. 40 pages. Ages 3-5

Mommy, Mama, and Me
Mommy, Mama, and Me
by Newman, Leslea
Illustrated by Carol Thompson. Tricycle, 2009. 16 pages. Birth-3

Daddy, Papa, and Me
Daddy, Papa, and Me
by Newman, Leslea
Illustrated by Carol Thompson. Tricycle, 2009. 16 pages. Birth-3

Joyful Song: A Naming Story
Joyful Song: A Naming Story
by Newman, Leslea
Illustrated by Susan Gal. Levine Querido, 2024. 40 pages. Ages 4-6

My Footprints
My Footprints
by Phi, Bao
Illustrated by Basia Tran. Capstone Edition, 2019. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Harriet Gets Carried Away
Harriet Gets Carried Away
by Sima, Jessie
Illustrated by Jessie Sima. Simon & Schuster, 2018. 42 pages. Ages 3-6

Home at Last
Home at Last
by Williams, Vera B.
Illustrated by Chris Raschka and Vera B. Williams. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2016. 32 pages. Ages 6-10

LGBTQ Children and Teens

Fiction for Young Adults

Icarus
Icarus
by Ancrum, K.
HarperCollins/HarperTeen, 2024. 382 pages. Age 14 and older

Fire from the Sky
Fire from the Sky
by Astot, Moa Backe
Levine Querido, 2023. 205 pages. Age 14 and older

Flamer
Flamer
by Curato, Mike
Illustrated by Mike Curato. Henry Holt/Macmillan, 2020. 366 pages. Age 12 and older

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
by Dimaline, Cherie
Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra, 2023. 271 pages. Age 14 and older

Bitter
Bitter
by Emezi, Akwaeke
Knopf/Random House, 2022. 264 pages. Age 12 and older

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet
by Ferguson, Jen
HarperCollins/Heartdrum, 2022. 360 pages. Age 14 and older

Canto Contigo
Canto Contigo
by Garza Villa, Jonny
St. Martin's/Wednesday Books, 2024. 352 pages. Age 14 and older

The Henna Wars
The Henna Wars
by Jaigirdar, Adiba
Page Street, 2020. 387 pages. Age 12 and older

Fire Song
Fire Song
by Jones, Adam Garnet
Annick, 2018. 230 pages. Age 14 and older

Darius the Great Is Not Okay
Darius the Great Is Not Okay
by Khorram, Adib
Dial/Penguin Random House, 2018. 314 pages. Age 12 and older

Kiss & Tell
Kiss & Tell
by Khorram, Adib
Dial/Penguin Random House, 2022. 378 pages. Age 14 and older

Destination Unknown
Destination Unknown
by Konigsberg, Bill
Scholastic, 2022. 283 pages. Age 14 and older

When the Angels Left the Old Country
When the Angels Left the Old Country
by Lamb, Sacha
Levine Querido, 2022. 400 pages. Age 14 and older

Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Last Night at the Telegraph Club
by Lo, Malinda
Dutton/Penguin Random House, 2021. 409 pages. Age 14 and older

Here the Whole Time
Here the Whole Time
by Martins, Vitor
Translated by Larissa Helena. Push/Scholastic, 2020. 273 pages. Age 13 and older

Lakelore
Lakelore
by McLemore, Anna-Marie
Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, 2022. 289 pages. Age 14 and older

Miss Meteor
Miss Meteor
by Mejia, Tehlor Kay and Anna-Marie McLemore
HarperCollins/HarperTeen, 2020. 392 pages. Age 12 and older

Pumpkin
Pumpkin
by Murphy, Julie
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 2021. 326 pages. Age 12 and older

Only This Beautiful Moment
Only This Beautiful Moment
by Nazemian, Abdi
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 2023. 390 pages. Age 14 and older

All Our Hidden Gifts (Gifts, #1)
All Our Hidden Gifts (Gifts, #1)
by O'Donoghue, Caroline
Candlewick/Walker, 2021. 374 pages. Age 12 and older

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
by Reyes, Sonora
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 2022. 385 pages. Age 13 and older

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me
by Tamaki, Mariko
Illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. First Second/Roaring Brook, 2019. 289 pages. Age 14 and older

Check Please! (#Hockey, #1)
Check Please! (#Hockey, #1)
by Ukazu, Ngozi
Illustrated by Ngozi Ukazu. First Second/Roaring Brook, 2018. 240 pages. Age 14 and older

Stars in Their Eyes
Stars in Their Eyes
by Walton, Jessica
Illustrated by Aska. Graphix/Scholastic, 2023. 209 pages. Age 11 and older

Fiction for Children

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet
The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet
by Arlow, Jake Maia
Dial/Penguin Random House, 2023. 284 pages. Ages 8–12

Drum Roll, Please
Drum Roll, Please
by Bigelow, Lisa Jenn
Harper, 2018. 306 pages. Ages 10-13

Zenobia July
Zenobia July
by Bunker, Lisa
Penguin Random House/Viking, 2019. 313 pages. Ages 8-13

King and the Dragonflies
King and the Dragonflies
by Callender, Kacen
Scholastic Press, 2020. 259 pages. Ages 9-12

Hurricane Child
Hurricane Child
by Callender, Kheryn
Scholastic, 2018. 214 pages. Ages 10-13

Star-Crossed
Star-Crossed
by Dee, Barbara
Aladdin, 2017. 277 pages. Ages 9-12

Will on the Inside
Will on the Inside
by Eliopulos, Andrew
HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 2023. 292 pages. Ages 9-13

The Legend of Auntie Po
The Legend of Auntie Po
by Khor, Shing Yin
Kokila/Penguin Random House, 2021. 290 pages. Ages 9-13

How to Become a Planet
How to Become a Planet
by Melleby, Nicole
Algonquin, 2021. 278 pages. Ages 9-12

The Magic Fish
The Magic Fish
by Nguyen, Trung Le
Random House/RH Graphic, 2020. 229 pages. Age 11 and older

Splinter & Ash (#1)
Splinter & Ash (#1)
by Nijkamp, Marieke
Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2024. 343 pages. Ages 9-13

Parachute Kids
Parachute Kids
by Tang, Betty C.
Illustrated by Betty C. Tang. Graphix/Scholastic, 2023. 281 pages. Ages 9-13

Non-fiction

Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen
Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen
by Andrews, Arin and Joshua Lyon
Simon & Schuster, 2014. 248 pages. Age 12 and older

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American
Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American
by Gao, Laura
Illustrated by Laura Gao. Balzer + Bray/HarperAlley, 2022. 269 pages. Age 13 and older

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure
Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure
by Hancox, Lewis
Illustrated by Lewis Hancox. Graphix, 2022. 298 pages.

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out
by Kuklin, Susan
Candlewick, 2014. 182 pages. Age 12 and older

Lost Soul, Be at Peace
Lost Soul, Be at Peace
by Thrash, Maggie
Illustrated by Maggie Thrash. Candlewick, 2018. 187 pages. Age 13 and older

Honor Girl
Honor Girl
by Thrash, Maggie
Illustrated by Maggie Thrash. Candlewick, 2015. 267 pages. Age 13 and older

Spinning
Spinning
by Walden, Tillie
Illustrated by Tillie Walden. First Second/Roaring Brook, 2017. 395 pages. Age 13 and older

Sex and Gender Identity/Gender Nonconformity

Fred Gets Dressed

Fred Gets Dressed
by Brown, Peter
Illustrated by Peter Brown. Little, Brown, 2021. 40 pages. Ages 3-7

Sam!

Sam!
by Gabriel, Dani
Illustrated by Robert Liu-Trujillo. Penny Candy, 2019. 52 pages. Ages 5-7

Melissa

Melissa
by Gino, Alex
Scholastic Press, 2015. 195 pages. Ages 8-11

Dear Mothman

Dear Mothman
by Gow, Robin
Abrams/Amulet, 2023. Ages 9-12

Julian Is a Mermaid

Julian Is a Mermaid
by Love, Jessica
Illustrated by Jessica Love. Candlewick, 2018. Ages 3-8

When Aidan Became a Brother

When Aidan Became a Brother
by Lukoff, Kyle
Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita. Lee & Low, 2019. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Too Bright to See

Too Bright to See
by Lukoff, Kyle
Dial/Penguin Random House, 2021. 188 pages. Ages 8-12

Homebody

Homebody
by Parish, Theo
HarperAlley/HarperCollins, 2024. 211 pages. Ages 13-18

Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope

Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope
by Patterson, Jodie
Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Crown/Random House, 2021. 32 pages. Ages 4-7

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality
by Schrefer, Eliot
Illustrated by Jules Zuckerberg. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books, 2022. 225 pages. Age 12 and older

Jerome By Heart

Jerome By Heart
by Scotto, Thomas
Illustrated by Olivier Tallec. Enchanted Lion, 2018. 24 pages. Ages 4-8

Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and You

Sex Is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and You
by Silverberg, Corey
Illustrated by Fiona Smyth. Second Story, 2015. 159 pages. Ages 8-13

The House That Whispers

The House That Whispers
by Thompson, Lin
Little, Brown, 2023. 330 pages. Ages 9-13

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity
by Thorn, Theresa
Illustrated by Noah Grigni. Henry Holt/Macmillan, 2019. 32 pages. Ages 3-9

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea
by Tokuda-Hall, Maggie
Candlewick, 2020. 357 pages. Age 12 and older

The Good Hair Day

The Good Hair Day
by Trimmer, Christian
Illustrated by J Yang. Abrams, 2023. 32 pages. Ages 4-9

Always the Almost

Always the Almost
by Underhill, Edward
St. Martin's/Wednesday Books, 2023. 307 pages. Age 14 and older

Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady

Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady
by van Rijckeghem, Jean-Claude
Translated by Kristen Gehrman. Levine Querido, 2022. 419 pages. Age 13 and older

The Prince and the Dressmaker

The Prince and the Dressmaker
by Wang, Jen
Illustrated by Jen Wang. First Second/Roaring Brook, 2018. 276 pages. Age 11 and older

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.

Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.