June is Pride Month and here at LBYR we are proud to provide you with a list of picture books, perfect for celebrating all that Pride Month symbolizes and celebrates. Curious to know more about Pride? The Library of Congress provides some great history on the origins of Pride Month! At its core, Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and a reminder that we all deserve equal rights, no matter how we identify, what our orientation might be, or who we love. Whether you and your young readers are already familiar with Pride Month, or are looking to learn more, this list is full of bright, colorful, fun stories that remind us all to be proud of who we are!
When Alex’s class takes a field trip to the aquarium, the teacher encourages everyone to find a sea creature they’d most like to be. Alex likes the ocean because all the fish are different from one another and Alex often feels different than everyone. In this colorful book, readers learn just how powerful it can be to feel seen and understood. It’s a fun story about gender identity and pronouns—and super cool fish!
This sweet picture book shows how a simple spelling lesson turns into a life-changing moment for Poppy as she learns about the power in asking questions and importance of finding her own voice. It’s a bright, heartwarming school story that normalizes queerness and highlights the importance of representation.
Did you know the rainbow flag originally became a symbol of Pride Month (and Pride all year long!) because each color symbolized something different? Plus rainbows are a glowing reminder that all the colors coming together are really beautiful! Mark Kanemura’s story is inspired by his childhood in Hawaii and reminds us all to shine bright, and never let anyone dull our sparkle.
This is the perfect introduction for readers—young and old alike—to understand gender identity, and gender-inclusive pronouns. You don’t have to know what words you want to use to identify yourself, and sometimes they just have to find you.
Meet Rob Kearney, the world’s first openly gay professional strongman. This colorful picture book illustrates there are many ways to be STRONG! And it takes a lot of strength to be yourself every day, but it’s always worth it.
Pride Month is June which is also the month for Father’s Day! Daddy & Dada celebrates not just dads, but families and all the many shapes and sizes that they can be. It’s a joyous story of celebrating differences and acceptance and helps teach readers that the most important part of a family is the love that they share.
We are who we are because of Todd Parr! The New York Times bestselling author always encourages young readers to embrace what makes them different and be proud of who they are on the inside. In his signature color and style, Todd reminds us all that the things that make us unique, make us special!
This colorful book tells the story of an adorable creature that’s not quite a bird and not quite a bunny—it’s neither! But that makes it feel like it doesn’t quite fit in. As Neither searches for a place to belong (don’t worry! They find the Land of All) we’re reminded that our differences are what unite us in the end.
