LGBTQIA+ Representation in Kids Books

Outreach APW
3 hours ago
3 min read

Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that parents start reading to babies beginning at birth.¹ The benefits are well-documented: children who are read to develop better language skills and show stronger school-readiness. In addition, there is increasing evidence that storybooks help to build empathy in children through "increasing the reader's understanding of the world."² This highlights the importance of exposing children to a wide-range of experiences through books, so they are acquainted with all types of families and lived experiences. With that in mind and in honor of Pride month, we visited the Durham County Public Library to check out some children's books from their collection that represent LGBTQIA+ families.

Daddy, Papa, and Me

by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson

This board book follows an energetic toddler who flits from one activity to the next with Daddy and Papa. The family flies paper planes, paints, plays musical instruments, and dresses up in shiny crowns. All this action culminates in two tired dads and one happy toddler.

Mommy, Mama, and Me

by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Carol Thompson

Another board book by Lesléa Newman, this story follows a little kid as they go through the day with Mommy and Mama: a visit to the playground, a snack, a nap—this sweet, simple story highlights daily tasks performed with love.

Prince & Knight

by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis

The king and queen of a kingdom want to find a bride for their son, the prince, but the prince isn't interested in a princess. When a dragon attacks the kingdom and the prince must fight to protect his people, a knight in shining armor comes to his aid. After the dragon is vanquished, the two men fall in love and live happily ever after.

Maiden & Princess

by Daniel Haack and Isabel Galupo, illustrated by Becca Human

A ball is held to find a bride for a prince. All the village people are excited, except for one young woman who isn't interested in the prince romantically—they are friends and she sees him like a brother. However, everyone at the ball thinks she's the perfect match for the prince. She sneaks outside, tearful and afraid she'll be pressured into marriage. Outside the ball, she meets the prince's sister. They kiss, fall in love, and the kingdom celebrates their union.

Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle

by Nina LeCour, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

When Mommy takes a work trip, the story's narrator is excited to spend quality time with Mama, but she also misses Mommy. Following the days of the week, this story teaches that two emotions can exist at once: the little girl has fun with Mama but wants Mommy to come home. Mama and the little girl make a bouquet of flowers to represent each day of the week Mommy is away to give to her upon her return.

Heather Has Two Mommies

by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Laura Cornell

Published in 1989, this story was one of the first LGBTQIA+ kids books to gain mainstream attention. It tells the story of Heather, whose favorite number is two. That's because she has two of so many things, including mommies. When she starts school, the classroom is a fun and welcoming space. The teacher invites the kids to draw pictures of their families, and the students learn that families come in many forms. The takeaway?—the most important part of a family is love.

Final Thoughts

In addition to paving the way for strong social-emotional development and academic preparedness, reading is a fantastic way for parent and baby to bond. The close proximity required for reading and the sound of the parent's voice help to forge a secure connection. In fact, one study found that "encouraging parents to engage in emotionally attuned, interactive reading could help foster more positive adult–child relationships and support children’s socio-emotional development, particularly in families experiencing elevated stress."³ Reading, thus, is an easy, accessible activity that benefits both parent and baby.

References

¹American Academy of Pediatrics. (2026, April 22). Early literacy. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/early-childhood/early-childhood-health-and-development/early-literacy/

²Shulman, K., Baicker, K., & Mayes, L. (2024). Reading for life-long health. Frontiers in pediatrics, 12, 1401739. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2024.1401739

³Kroeff, C. R., Bernardi, J. R., Da Silva, C. H., Valentini, N. C., Goldani, M. Z., & Bandeira, D. R. (2025). Maternal Stress and Child Development: The Moderating Role of Interactive Shared Reading. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 916. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060916

Written by Bridget Bell

Reviewed by Roxanne Rosenberg, LCMHC, PMH-C