The Children’s Book Review | October 15, 2018
We recently interviewed Professor Gore about her new picture book All is Assuredly Well, the quietly impactful story of same-sex couple King Phillip the Good and his elegant husband The Most Excellent Don Carlos Emiliano Felipe de Compañero y Compañero. As an Expert Witness certified by the federal court, and one of nineteen plaintiffs, Professor Gore took the witness stand in federal court testifying against the city of Wichita Falls, Texas, when they passed a law allowing book banning at the children’s section of the public library. She said, “The law had been designed to rid the library of Heather Has Two Mommies and Daddy’s Roommate, the only two picture books at that time that depicted same-sex parent families.” The case was won and the books were no longer banned, however, in what has been almost three decades, the canon of books that celebrate LGBTQI families has only recently begun to grow.
Inspired by the beautiful All is Assuredly Well—co-authored by Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson—and our interview with the professor, here is a list of picture books that feature LGBTQI families.
All Is Assuredly Well
Written by Professor Gore and Maestro Wilson
Illustrated by Angela F. M. Trotter
Publisher’s Synopsis: With a book cover and illustrations as pretty as a sunlit, stained glass window, All is Assuredly Well is the quietly impactful story of King Phillip the Good and his elegant husband, The Most Excellent Don Carlos Emiliano Felipe de Compañero y Compañero, and their wish for a baby girl of their very own. A traditional fairytale blessed with a modern storyline that is ready to be told, All is Assuredly Well is written as beautifully as the field of a thousand flowers referenced within the book’s own pages. The authors wonderfully weave in old English to set the old-style tone, and readers that take well to customary tales will revel in new vocabulary words such as forsooth and sonorous. Almost like a special kind of book magic, the pages offer serenity through the repetitive phrase of “All is assuredly well.” Read aloud or read in silence, All is Assuredly Well is highly recommended. Read our complete review »
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Ages 4+ | Publisher: Camille Lancaster Literary Children’s Books | 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0999888001
Heather Has Two Mommies
Written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Laura Cornell
Publisher’s Synopsis: Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, and two pets. And she also has two mommies. When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because “the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.” This delightful edition for a new generation of young readers features fresh illustrations by Laura Cornell and an updated story by Lesléa Newman.
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Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Candlewick Press | 2015 | ISBN-13: 9780763666316
Daddy’s Roommate
Written by Michael Willhoite
Publisher’s Synopsis: A young boy discusses his divorced father’s new living situation, in which the father and his gay roommate share eating, doing chores, playing, loving, and living.
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Ages 4+ | Publisher: Alyson Books | 1994 | ISBN-13: 978-1555831189
And Tango Makes Three
Written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Publisher’s Synopsis: The heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family is narrated by award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris in this book and CD package.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.
Releasing in time for the tenth anniversary of And Tango Makes Three, this book and CD edition features narration by renowned actor Neil Patrick Harris.
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Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Little Simon | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-1481449946
Worm Loves Worm
Written by J.J. Austrian
Illustrated by Mike Curato
Publisher’s Synopsis: Perfect for fans of And Tango Makes Three and The Sissy Duckling, this irresistible picture book is a celebration of love in all its splendid forms from debut author J. J. Austrian and the acclaimed author-illustrator of Little Elliot, Big City, Mike Curato.
You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of a worm . . . and a worm.
When a worm meets a special worm and they fall in love, you know what happens next: They get married! But their friends want to know—who will wear the dress? And who will wear the tux?
The answer is: It doesn’t matter. Because Worm loves worm.
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Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Balzer + Bray | Jan. 5 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-0062386335
I Am Jazz
Written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
Publisher’s Synopsis: The story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for transkids everywhere
“This is an essential tool for parents and teachers to share with children whether those kids identify as trans or not. I wish I had had a book like this when I was a kid struggling with gender identity questions. I found it deeply moving in its simplicity and honesty.”—Laverne Cox (who plays Sophia in “Orange Is the New Black”)
From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz’s story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.
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Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Dial Books | Sept. 4, 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-0803741072
Donovan’s Big Day
Written by Leslea Newman
Illustrated by Mike Dutton
Publisher’s Synopsis: Donovan’s two moms are getting married, and he can’t wait for the celebration to begin. After all, as ringbearer, he has a very important job to do. Any boy or girl with same-sex parents—or who knows a same-sex couple—will appreciate this picture book about love, family, and marriage. The story captures the joy and excitement of a wedding day while the illustrations show the happy occasion from a child’s point of view.
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Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Tricycle Press | 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-1582463322
Mommy, Mama, and Me
Written by Leslea Newman
Illustrated by Carol Thompson
Publisher’s Synopsis: One of the only original board books about gay parents! A perfect purchase for new parents, baby showers, and more!
Rhythmic text and illustrations with universal appeal show a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there’s no limit to what a loving family can do together.
Shares the loving bond between same-sex parents and their children.
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Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Tricycle Press | 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-1582462639
A Tale of Two Daddies
Written by Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrated by Kristin Blackwood
Publisher’s Synopsis: A Tale of Two Daddies is a playground conversation between two children. The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right–she has Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow: “Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?” To which she answers: “Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.”
Intended for 4- to 8-year-olds, this book introduces a type of family increasingly visible in modern society. Neither favoring nor condemning, it reflects a child’s practical and innocent look at the adults who nurture and love her. It becomes clear that the family bond is unburdened by any cultural discomforts.
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Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Vanita Books | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0981971469
A Tale of Two Mommies
Written by Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrated by Kristin Blackwood
Publisher’s Synopsis: A Tale of Two Mommies is a beach conversation among three children. One boy asks another boy about having two mommies. A young girl listening in asks some questions too.
True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow. “Which mom is there when you want to go fishing? / Which mom helps out when Kitty goes missing?” To which he answers: “Mommy helps when I want to go fishing. / Both Mommies help when Kitty goes missing.”
A Tale of Two Mommies is intended for 4-8 year olds.
This book lets us look inside one non-traditional family, a same sex couple and their son. As the children talk, it’s clear this boy lives in a nurturing environment where the biggest issues are the everyday challenges of growing up.
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Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Vanita Books | 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-0982636671
The Family Book
Written and Illustrated by Todd Parr
Publisher’s Synopsis: The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
Parr’s message about the importance of embracing our differences is delivered in a playful way. With his trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, this book will encourage children to ask questions about their own families. Perfect for young children just beginning to read, The Family Book is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, promote character growth, and strengthen family relationships
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Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0316070409
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher
Written by Dana Alison Levy
Publisher’s Synopsis: The start of the school year is not going as the Fletcher brothers hoped. Each boy finds his plans for success veering off in unexpected and sometimes diastrous directions. And at home, their miserable new neighbor complains about everything. As the year continues, the boys learn the hard and often hilarious lesson that sometimes what you least expect is what you come to care about the most.
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Ages 9-12 | Publisher: Yearling | 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-0385376556
The book list 12 Kids Books That Celebrate LGBTQI Families was curated by Bianca Schulze. For similar articles, follow along with our content tagged with Family and LGBTQ Books.
