LGBTQ+ Family Books


Rainbow Families recognizes the power of seeing our families represented in the books our children read and we regularly get questions on recommendations for books for children and families. We’ve created this resource to highlight national LGBTQ+ booklists from friends and partners, LGBTQ+ authors and publishers as well as highlight book recommendations from our own members!


Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The recommended books provided by partner organizations or Rainbow Families’ members and supporters listed here are not endorsed by Rainbow Families nor do they necessarily represent the views of the organization. Rainbow Families is not responsible for the accuracy of content in these books and assumes no liability for actions taken based on the contents of these books.

Rainbow Families Member’s Recommended Books

The following books have been recommended by Rainbow Families’ members and supporters and they have reported the recommended age-range, topics covered, etc.


Format: Title, Author(s), Year Published, (Color-coded topics) [additional tags from recommender].

Author Submitted: Books recommended by the author will have an * after the title.

Color Coded Topics: Adoption, BIPOC Family/Main Character, Foster Care, Interracial Adoption, Interracial Family, Transgender Parent, Two Dads, Two Moms

  • Preschool Books (Ages 0-5)

    • Bathe the Cat, Alice B. McGinty, 2022 (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Interracial Family, Two Dads) [Picture Book, Comedy, Family Life, Pets]
    • Daddy, Papa, and Me, Lesléa Newman, 2008, (Two Dads)
    • Families Can, Dan Saks, 2021, (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Interracial Family, Two Dads, Two Moms) [Single Parent Families, Divorced Families, Blended Families, Immigrant Families, Intergenerational Families]
    • Heather Has Two Mommies, Lesléa Newman, 1989, (Two Moms)
    • Julian is a Mermaid, Jessica Love, 2018, (BIPOC Family/Main Character), [Latine, Drag Queens, Pride Festival, Grandparents, Gender Identity]
    • Love is Wild, Katy Tanis, 2021, [Diversity in wildlife with subtle LGBTQ+ themes.]
    • Love Makes a Family, Sophie Beer, 2018, (Interracial Family, Two Dads, Two Moms)
    • Mommy & Mama & Me in the Middle, Nina Lacour, 2022, (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Interracial Family, Two Moms) [Parent away on trip/missing each other.]
    • My Moms Love Me, Anna Membrino, 2022, (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Two Moms)
    • Snowkid, Jessie Sima, 2025, [This book has a lot of subtle trans pride— the flag colors are the main colors of the book, the main characters goes through a journey of self discovery to figure out what fits and uses they/them pronouns throughout.]
    • When Aiden Became a Brother, Kyle Lukoff, 2019, (BIPOC Family/Main Character) [Transgender Child]
    • Who You Will Be, Taylor Rouanzion, 2024, (Two Moms) [Gender Creative Parenting]
    • Whoever You Are: A Baby Book on Love & Gender, Josephie Wai Lin, 2022, (BIPOC Family/Main Character), [Self-Acceptance]
    • You Began as a Wish, Kim Bergman, 2019, (Transgender Parents, Two Dads, Two Moms) [Sperm, Egg Donation, Surrogacy]

  • Early Elementary Books (Ages 6-8)

    • Call me Gray, Andrew and Bells Larsen, 2025, [This book is about a transgender kid written by a transgender author with their dad. ]
    • Chloe and the Fireflies , Chris Clarkson, 2024 (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Foster Care, Interracial Family, Two Dads)
    • Little Bee:The Buzz About the Party*, Danny Neville, 2026, (Two Dads) [Surrogacy, Egg Donation]
    • Love Lives Here*, Andi Ellis-Smith, 2025, (Adoption, Foster Care, Interracial Family, Two Dads, Two Moms)
    • My Parents Won’t Stop Talking!, Emma Hunsinger and Tillie Walden, 2022, (Interracial Family, Two Moms)
    • My Shadow is Pink, Scott Stuart, 2020, [Gender Non-Conforming Identity]
    • Papa, Daddy, and Riley, Seamus Kirst, 2020, (BIPOC Family/Main Character, Interracial Family, Two Dads) [Surrogacy]
    • RJ and the Ticking Clock*, Ian Duncan, 2025, (Two Dads) [Anxiety, Father’s Day, Family Diversity, School and Classrooms]
    • What Makes a Baby, Cory Silverberg, 2013 (Transgender Parents, Two Moms, Two Dads) [Conception, Gestation, Non-Sexual Descriptions, Baby Making]
    • Zak's Safari: A Story about Donor-Conceived Kids of Two-Mom Families, Christy Tyner, 2014, (Two-Moms)

  • Upper Elementary Books (Ages 9-11)

    Recommendations Needed

  • Middle School Books (Ages 9-12)

    • Different Kinds of Fruit, Kyle Lukoff, 2022, (Transgender Parents)
    • The Doughnut Club, Kristina Rahim, 2025 (Two Dads, Two Moms) [Donor Siblings, Half-Siblings, Diblings]

  • Teen & Young Adult Books (Ages 13+)

    Recommendations Needed

  • Parent & Caregiver Books

    • And Baby Makes More: Known Donors, Queer Parents, and Our Unexpected Families, Chloe Brushwood Rose, 2009 (Transgender Parents, Two Dads, Two Moms)
    • The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads, Eric Rosswood, 2017, (Two Dads)

My Donor Story - Blueprints Collection 


The Blueprints Collection allows parents to customize a book to best represent their family. Parents can choose the Family Type (Mom & Dad, Single Dad, Single Mom, Two Dads, Two Moms), the Main Character's Gender (Girl, Boy), and Conception Type (Sperm Donor, Donor Embryo, Egg Donor, Double Donor, Surrogate, IVF/IUI, ICI).


Click here to learn more about the Blueprints Collection from My Donor Story.