Jacob's Missing Book

Authors: Sarah and Ian Hoffman

Illustrator: Chris Case

Grades: PreK - 2

Jacob—the star of one of the most banned books of the decade—is back in Jacob’s Missing Book, a kid-friendly story about book banning, censorship, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Noah is confused about Emily’s family, so he asks her―who’s Papa and who’s Dad? Jacob knows just how to explain, but he can’t—the book he needs isn’t in the library anymore! As the day goes on, everyone talks about the mysterious missing book. Ms. Reeves tries to explain why the book is no longer in the library and what all the fuss is about. In the meantime, Jacob hatches a plan to share the story about Emily’s family with all their friends.

And Tango Makes Three

Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Illustrator: Henry Cole

Grades: PreK - K

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.

Marley's Pride

Author: Joëlle Retener

Illustrator: DeAnn Wiley

Grades: PreK - 4

Marley is a little nonbinary kid with big anxieties. Crowds? Pass. Loud noises? No, thanks. When their Zaza is up for an award at Pride, they want to go to the parade for the first time with their beloved grandparent. But can Marley overcome their fears? Highlighting the joyful experiences of a queer Black family finding community at Pride, this story features end matter about the history of Pride, a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms, and a list of resources.

How Are You, Verity?

Author: Meghan Wilson Duff

Illustrator: Taylor Barron

Grades: PreK - 3

A neurodivergent child interacts with their neighbors to discover the true meaning behind greetings and salutations.

When people say “How are you?” are they really asking or just saying hello? Verity, who is neurodivergent, plans an experiment to figure this out. Verity is bubbling with excitement about an upcoming school field trip to the aquarium! When neighbors ask, “How are you?” Verity shares their excitement and fascinating facts about sea animals. Their older brother John kindly suggests that the question "How are you?" is actually a greeting and not an invitation to share so much. Verity plans an experiment to find out if their brother is right. But when the trip to the aquarium is cancelled, Verity is heartbroken. When people ask “How are you?” what should they say then?

Hooray for She, He, Ze, and They! What Are Your Pronouns Today?

Author: Lindz Amer

Illustrator: Kip Alizadeh

Grades: PreK - 2

In their trademark conversational style, narrator Lindz introduces themselves and their pronouns (they/them), and asks readers about theirs. They then explain that pronouns are what we use to tell people about our gender, “that tingly feeling inside that tells you who you are and how you want to express yourself to the world.

Joyful Song

Author: Lesléa Newman

Illustrator: Susan Gal

Grades: PreK - 3

What a happy day! Zachary’s baby sister will have her naming ceremony. In the temple! With his moms, the congregation, and all their friends! He’s so excited he can barely contain it. On the walk from their home, they meet neighbor after neighbor who want to know the baby’s name. But – not yet! – his mothers tell him. The tradition is to have a great reveal at the ceremony. So they invite each neighbor to come along. A colorful, diverse parade blooms along the route, until… At last it’s time, and Zachary gets to reveal his sister’s name…What is it? A truly JOYFUL moment for everyone!

Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes

Author: Rob Sanders

Illustrator: Harry Woodgate

Grades: 1 - 3

Learn about the lives of some of the most important LGBTQ+ heroes in this unique picture book that combines poetry and biographical information to honor those at the forefront of LGBTQ+ history.

Young readers will learn about the lives and legacies of seventeen heroes of the queer community from both past and present. Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones, Pauline Park, Richard Blanco, and Pete Buttigieg are just a few of the iconic figures represented in this wonderfully designed and colorful picture book with illustrations by Harry Woodgate. A perfect introduction to the people who have stood up for what they believed in, the poetry in this book provides great read-aloud potential sure to entertain and inform readers of all ages.

¡Vivan las uñas de colores! (I love my colorful nails!)

Authors: Alicia Acosta and Luis Amavisca

Illustrator: Gusti

Grades: PreK-1

Juan used to like painting his nails. When his schoolmates started laughing at him, his dad decided to show his support by painting his own nails too. Why can’t boys paint their nails? A tale to understand that a kid’s joy has no boundaries. This is a story inspired by true events.

A Juan le gustaba pintarse las uñas y cuando se rieron de él en el colegio, su padre decidió apoyarle y pintárselas él también. Esta es una historia inspirada en hechos reales.

Authors: JR and Vanessa Ford

Illustrator: Kayla Harren

Grades: PreK - 3

In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time.

Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn’t yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: “I’m not a girl,” he tells his family. “I’m a boy–a boy in my heart and in my brain.” Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he’s always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he’s always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he’s nervous and the “what-ifs” gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his “what-ifs” begin to melt away.

Inspired by the authors’ own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed.

Sam is my Sister

Author: Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Illustrator: MacKenzie Haley

Grades: PreK - 3

Evan loves being big brother to Sam and Finn. They do everything together—go fishing, climb trees, and play astronauts. But lately, Evan notices that he and Sam don’t look like brothers anymore. Sam wants to have long hair, and even asks to wear a dress on the first day of school. As time goes by, Evan comes to understand why Sam wants to look like a girl—because Sam is a girl. Sam is transgender. And just like always, Sam loves to dream with Evan and Finn about going to the moon together. Based on one family’s real-life experiences, this heartwarming story of a girl named Sam and the brothers who love and support her will resonate with readers everywhere.

A Plan for Pops

Author: Heather Smith

Illustrator: Brooke Kerrigan

Grades: PreK - K

This book beautifully showcases a same sex relationship without making it a central focus of the story. In this tender book, Lou visits Grandad and Pops every Saturday and they walk to the library, hand in hand. But one day, Pops has a fall, and he will be wheelchair bound for good. Pops becomes withdrawn, but with help from Grandad, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops, one Lou hopes will bring the smile back to Pops’ face.

Desert Queen

Author: Jyoti Rajan Gopal

Illustrator: Svabhu Kohli

Grades: PreK - 3

As a young boy, Harish hears and feels the music of the Thar Desert, all around him: “When the khamaicha thrums and the dholak drums and the boy’s feet tap and his fingers sway … it is softly … softly, so no one sees.” Harish knows the line between what men and women should want, and he keeps it in sight. But when Harish’s family suffers loss, he finds himself in charge of two sisters, in charge of making money. And so he begins to dance publicly, in the bright colors and kohl rimmed eyes of the god Krishna … and in the rhythm-making anklets and the swirling costumes of the female Rajasthani dancers he so admired. A new persona is born. The path of Queen Harish to stardom is not without trial, but it is one of bravery and fearlessness. A story of triumph and inspiration. Something to sing about out loudly, proudly, so everyone can hear.

Glenn Burke, Game Changer (The Man Who Invented the High Five)

Author: Phil Bildner

Illustrator: Daniel J. O’Brien

Grades: 1 - 3

As a rookie baseball player on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Glenn Burke could do it all-hit, throw, catch, score. As a teammate, he was the heart of the clubhouse; he made fellow players laugh and energized them with his enthusiasm. In fact, his habit of congratulating his teammates led Burke to invent the high five-a spontaneous overhand slap that has evolved into an international gesture of connection, unity, and support. But despite creating such a joyful symbol, Burke wasn't always given support in return. As a Black gay man, he faced prejudice and obstacles almost everywhere he went, putting his career at stake and making his everyday life difficult. Glenn Burke, Game Changer recognizes this hardship while celebrating how Glenn's bravery and his now-famous handshake paved the way for others to live openly, truly, and freely.

¡Vivan las uñas de colores! (I Love My Colorful Nails!)

Authors: Alicia Acosta and Luis Amavisca

Illustrator: Gusti

Grades: PreK-1

A Juan le gustaba pintarse las uñas y cuando se rieron de él en el colegio, su padre decidió apoyarle y pintárselas él también. Esta es una historia inspirada en hechos reales.

Juan used to like painting his nails. When his schoolmates started laughing at him, his dad decided to show his support by painting his own nails too. Why can’t boys paint their nails? A tale to understand that a kid’s joy has no boundaries. This is a story inspired by true events.

The Apartment House on Poppy Hill

Author: Nina LaCour

Illustrator: Sònia Albert

Grades: 2 - 5

Nine-year-old Ella lives with her two moms, artistic Livy and more structured Abby, at 1106 Wildflower Place, a small, old apartment house in San Francisco. New neighbors have just moved in and she’s determined to welcome the young couple and tell them about the rules and quirks of the building. Ella is a chatty, cheerful guide, and friends with almost everyone there, including Matilda, the artsy, flamboyant woman who lives downstairs and is Ella’s companion for tea; and Jacques and Merland, the two-man couple across the hall. The only people she doesn’t really know are the Robinsons, the secretive couple on the top floor. Each illustrated chapter offers a connected vignette in Ella’s life and reveals a little more about this close-knit community.

Worm & Caterpillar Are Friends

Author: Kaz Windness

Illustrator: Kaz Windness

Grades: PreK - 1

Worm and Caterpillar are friends—best friends. Worm loves how they are just alike, but Caterpillar has a feeling there is a big change coming. Then Caterpillar disappears for a while and comes back as Butterfly. Will Butterfly and Worm still be friends? Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book.

Circle of Love

Author: Monique Gray Smith

Illustrator: Nicole Neidhardt

Grades: PreK - 2

In this warmhearted book, we join Molly at the Intertribal Community Center, where she introduces us to people she knows and loves: her grandmother and her grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their baby, her cousins, and her treasured friends.

They dance, sing, garden, learn, pray, and eat together. And tonight, they come together for a feast! Molly shares with the reader how each person makes her feel—and reminds us that love is love.

Through tender prose and radiant artwork, this book shows how there is always room for others in our lives. Circle of Love is a story celebrating family, friends, community, and, most of all, love.