Welcome to Family Equality’s Book Nook, a comprehensive list of the best LGBTQ+ books for the whole family!
Whether you’re searching for your child’s first picture book or a young adult novel that your tween will devour, Family Equality’s Book Nook is a list of our favorite books that represent diverse families in a loving and respectful way.
Check out the search portal below to discover what new LGBTQ+ books you need to add to your at-home, local, or school libraries!
Explore the Book Nook
🔎 Use the filters to refine your search by age group:
Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History
Sarah Prager
Take a journey through the lives of fifty revolutionary queer figures who made history in this groundbreaking illustrated biography collection from the author of Queer, There, and Everywhere. Did you ever wonder who invented the computer? Or who advised Martin Luther King Jr. on his nonviolent activism? Author Sarah Prager and illustrator Sarah Papworth bring to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people our history books forgot to mention. Delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people; Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who’s helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and so many more! From athletes (Billie Jean King) to doctors (Magnus Hirschfeld) and activists (Marsha P. Johnson) to painters (Frida Kahlo), LGBTQ+ people have made their mark on every century of human existence. This book is a celebration of the many ways these hidden heroes have made a difference and will inspire young readers to make a difference, too.
Riding Freedom
Pam Munoz Ryan
This fictionalized biography of real historical figure Charley Pankhurst follows Charley through work as a stable hand, finding love, losing a husband, and living as a man to achieve some pretty serious dreams.
See You At Harry’s
Jo Knowles
Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. Her dad is always busy planning how to increase traffic to the family business. Her Mom is constantly going off to meditate. Her sister Sarah, who’s taking a “gap year” after high school, is too busy finding ways not to work; and her brother Holden is too focused on his new “friend” to pay attention to her. And then there’s Charlie: three years old, a “surprise” baby, and the center of everyone’s world.
If it wasn’t for Ran, Fern’s best and oldest friend, there would be nowhere to turn. Ran is always calm, always positive. His mantra “All will be well” is soothing in a way that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost believe. But when their lives are unexpectedly turned upside down, Fern feels more alone than ever, and responsible for the event that wrenches the family apart. All will not be well. Or at least, all will never be the same.
So Hard to Say
Alex Sanchez
Frederick is new at school, and knows he should be flattered that popular, pretty Xio has taken an interest in him. But no matter how much attention Xio gives him, Frederick just can’t stop thinking about soccer captain Victor instead. What’s a new guy to do?
The Accidental Adventures of India McAllister
Charlotte Agell
India takes us along as she chronicles her life, searching to find herself in a pretty special family. India lives with her mom and their dog, across town from her dad and his new partner (and their bird!). India was also adopted from China as a baby, and it’s definitely not easy being the only Chinese person in town. But India tells us all about her life with humor and a smile!
The Boy in the Dress
David Walliams
Dennis’ life isn’t easy – his mother has died, his father is depressed, his brother is a bully, and nobody knows about Dennis’ love of fashion – but at least he has his position as leading scorer on the soccer team. That all changes when his friend Lisa convinces Dennis to go to school in a dress as “Denise”, and the principal expels him from both school and the soccer championships! How will Dennis save the team – and his relationships?
The Case of the Stolen Scarab
Nancy Garden
When Nikki and Travis move to Vermont with their two moms, they think it means a new future. What it ends up meaning is digging way into the past, on a mystery mission to find out who stole a valuable artifact from a local museum.
The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island
Dana Alison Levy
The Fletchers are back on Rock Island, home of all their best summer memories. But from the first day they arrive, it’s clear that this year, things have changed. FIRST, a giant fence is blocking their beloved lighthouse. SECOND, they have new neighbors. THIRD, who the heck is the weird artist guy who’s never actually painting? And FOURTH, there’s now an ice cream truck! Can the island stay the same even with these crazy transformations?
Over the course of the summer, the Fletchers will learn that sometimes, even in a place where time stands still, the wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful surprises await.
The Harvey Milk Story
Kari Krakow
“On a rainy day in January, on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, Harvey Milk was sworn into office, the first openly gay elected city official in the United States of America. Harvey Milk had made history.”
In making history that day, Minnie Milk’s intelligent, energetic and courageous son “showed the world that by not being afraid to be yourself, you can give others the courage to be proud of who they are.” Harvey’s legacy is everywhere today in the hundreds of openly gay elected officials in every level of government, including the United States Congress.
The House You Pass on the Way by
Jacqueline Woodson
Staggerlee is used to being alone. As the granddaughter of celebrities and the daughter of an interracial couple in an all-black town, she has become adept at isolating herself from curious neighbors. But then her cousin, Trout, comes to visit. Trout is exactly like Staggerlee wishes she could be: outspoken, sure of herself, beautiful. Finally, Staggerlee has a friend, someone she can share her deepest, most private thoughts with. Someone who will teach her how to be the strong girl she longs to be. But is Trout really the girl Staggerlee thinks she is?
More Resources for LGBTQ+ Families
Once you put down your most recent purchase, check out all the other activities, resources, and programs we create to support and connect LGBTQ+ families like yours across the country!
Get new resources from Family Equality in your inbox
Have an LGBTQ+ book you’d like to submit to our list?
If you know about an LGBTQ+ book that isn’t on our list, but should be—let us know! Use the form below to contact a staff member, and we’ll be in touch about next steps.