5 New Queer-Inclusive Picture Books of Family, Love, and Community

In our current era, reading can be an act of resistance. Five brand-new LGBTQ-inclusive picture books out this month celebrate families and people diverse in many ways—a simple goal, but one with powerful repercussions. Add them to your family's bookshelf or seek them at a library near you (and suggest them if they're not there yet).

Let's start with two books that feature photographs of real children, offering important reflections of the real world. "We are Little Feminists: Becoming Siblings," by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau (Little Feminist), follows previous board books in the LGBTQ-inclusive We are Little Feminists series in using simple text and photos to illustrate a theme. Here, readers encounter children and their new siblings from a varied group of families. The text talks of the changes big and small—and the upcoming fun and joy—for everyone in the families, and reassures readers that the families' love will grow.

Some of the images show the siblings simply enjoying family life, while others hint at how the family grew: We see parents who are pregnant; a two-dad family and son holding an ultrasound photo (presumably of their surrogate and sibling-to-be); a mom-dad family at court, smiling in front of a judge (presumably having just completed an adoption). There is also a two-mom family and ones that could be solo-parent families. Sometimes the siblings and parents look alike; other times they don't. Backmatter also includes helpful Family Discussion Questions for children of different ages.

And in the simple but powerful "Love Is a Big Feeling," by Shelley Rotner (Holiday House), National Geographic photographer Rotner uses photos of a diverse group of real children and families to explore the concept of love, "a big feeling that comes from deep inside." We see some of the many ways to express love—through a smile, a hug, a dance, and more—and that love can be about spending time with friends, reading a story, or caring for the earth, among other things.

Love is also "a big feeling for family," shown via photos of several different types of families, including ones with single moms, a mom and a dad, two moms, and two dads. And while love is about kindness and peace towards others, the book asserts, it concludes by urging readers to "Love who you are!" Add this volume to your collection along with Rotner's earlier, queer-inclusive "Families" and "True You: A Gender Journey."

Moving on to books with drawn illustrations, a gender-expansive indigenous boy stars in "Raven's Ribbons," by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramire (Little, Brown), a lovely and evocative story of finding affirmation in family and community. Raven loves the round dances of his people, and his favorite part is watching the swirling ribbon skirts. When he asks his grandmother if a boy could wear one, though, she replies that she's never seen that. Later, however, thinking of all the individuals who have worn the unique ribbon skirts she's made, Grandma sews—and the next morning, presents Raven with a rainbow-colored ribbon skirt of his own. At the next round dance, Raven (in his skirt) and Grandma are the first on the dance floor.

Author and poet James Baldwin gets a second recent picture book biography in "Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer," by Quartez Harris, illustrated by Gordon C. James (Little, Brown). "The first time James Baldwin read a book, the words clung to him like glitter," begins the lyrical narrative. The book takes us from his childhood with a supportive mother and strict preacher stepfather through the publication of his first novel, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," which showed the world "the conditions and fullness of Black life." Baldwin's queerness is not mentioned in the main text, but is discussed in the backmatter. Harris beautifully evokes the power of Baldwin's own words, while Caldecott Honor—winning illustrator James's lush oil images offer dynamic snapshots of Baldwin's life.

Pair this title with 2024's "Jimmy's Rhythm & Blues," by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Jamiel Law (HarperCollins), which offers a little more detail about Baldwin's life and his queerness in the story itself (as opposed to the backmatter), and takes us into his later years; "Go Tell It" is a little more impressionistic and focuses on his earlier period, while still giving young readers a sense of some key moments, motivations, and accomplishments (and perhaps inspiring them to learn more, starting with the backmatter). Both are excellent.

Finally, a timely title for Valentine's Day is "Bobby and the Big Valentine," by Timmy Woitas, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda (Penguin Workshop). Bobby and Eddie do everything together in this sweet book about a first crush. Bobby even dreams of the two of them someday living in a castle as a prince and knight. Now, he wants to create a Valentine's card for Eddie—but can he make one as big and special as his feelings? (Spoiler: yes.)

This isn't the first picture book about a two-boy crush, but is one of few that doesn't include anyone's disapproval; it's just pure joy. Pair Bobby's story with 2021's "Love, Violet," by Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), a Stonewall Award-winning Valentine's Day tale about a girl with a crush on another girl. They're great reading for the upcoming holiday—or really any time you want to celebrate queer love.

Dana Rudolph is the founder and publisher of Mombian (mombian.com), a two-time GLAAD Media Award-winning blog plus a searchable database of 1,700+ LGBTQ family books.