Preschool readers
It's never too early to start young readers off right! Board books for little ones often focus on colors, shapes, and animals, and what better way to brighten the baby in your life's world than with Pride-filled stories? Love Makes a Family from 2018 is an adorable first introduction to family diversity for the preschooler in your life, with simple language and cute illustrations by Sophie Beer.

Another early read for preschoolers is Daddy, Papa, and Me and Mommy, Mama, and Me, two stories that showcase the uniqueness of LGBTQ+ families. With easy-to-understand words, these 2009 board books by Lesléa Newman and Carol Thompson are a great way to have age-appropriate conversations about families with two mommies or two daddies.

Picture books for K-2nd graders
Children's literature about Queer and Trans identities has come a long way in the last 15 years. Today, there are a plethora of beautiful picture books about diverse families, gender identity, and first crushes.

Are you looking to add some diversity to the fairytale shelf? Why not pick up a copy of Prince and Knight, a delightful same-sex fairytale by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Originally published in 2021, this easy-to-read rhyming book tells the tale of a prince and knight who battle a dragon and fall in love along the way.

Another love story perfect for K-2nd graders is Love, Violet. This 2023 Stonewall Book Award winner, written by Charlotte Sullivan Wild and illustrated by Charlene Chua, tells the simple tale of a shy little girl who has to work up the courage to tell her crush how she feels.

Of course, elementary schoolers are never too young to talk about gender, something society has pushed on them since before they were born. Stories like Arlie Anderson's Neither and Scott Stuart's My Shadow Is Purple take more abstract approaches to gender identity, comparing the topic to mythical creatures and colorful auras. With few words and cute illustrations, both stories are an exemplary way to support and encourage gender expression outside the binary structure.

Reading stories with your child about diverse characters is a great way to form the early building blocks of empathy and acceptance. Many books about Transgender children exist to encourage LGBTQ+ kids to love themselves and their allies to show kindness to those around them. In Jack (Not Jackie), a 2009 picture book written by Erica Silverman and illustrated by Holly Hatam, the story is told by an older sister coming to terms with her Trans sibling. The book acknowledges that transition can be difficult for some young people to understand but ultimately shows that love for friends and family can transcend physical features.

Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is another Stonewall Book Award winner that depicts a child transgressing the boundaries of gender, although words like "Transgender" or "genderqueer" are not used in this whimsical and beautifully illustrated picture book. The tale focuses on Julian, a little boy who wants more than anything to be a mermaid. Featuring a cast of drag queen characters and a supportive parental figure, Julian Is a Mermaid shows that being yourself can be fabulous.

Early chapter books for 3rd-5th graders
Older elementary schoolers ready for chapter books can find stories about LGBTQ+ characters and families. Fans of Judy Blume's middle-school novels will get a kick out of The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher. Centering around average elementary school kids, this beginner chapter book by Dana Alison Levy depicts the fun and humorous antics of the Fletcher family, led by two patriarchs, as they navigate everyday life.

For fantasy lovers, Clarbel Ortega's 2022 series Witchlings provides fun adventures in a magical world full of witches. Centering on friendship and introducing budding romances between two female protagonists, Witchlings is the perfect book for Harry Potter and The Owl House fans.

One of the most banned books in the country is a beginner novel for 3rd through 5th graders: Melissa, a delightful tale about love, friendship, and individuality by Alex Gino. Featuring easy-to-understand language, it tells the story of a Trans girl in elementary school who, along with her best friend, finds her voice and the courage to be herself. Melissa can be checked out from any Seattle Public Library without a library card.

Fans of nonfiction will love Jamey Christoph's Stonewall: A Building, A Uprising, and a Revolution. This introduction to the Gay liberation movement, illustrated by Rob Sanders, introduces young readers to important historical figures with age-appropriate and easy-to-understand language.

Pink, Blue, and You by Mykaell Blais and Elise Gravel is another nonfiction book for younger readers looking to explore topics of gender and sexuality. This illustrated guide is a great way to approach conversations about identities safely and positively.

Middle-school novels
Middle schoolers can find connection, solidarity, and identity through literature during a time full of awkwardness, identity crises, and first crushes. Almost Flying by Jake Maia Arlow is a 2021 novel that follows a middle schooler on a fun summer road trip as she grapples with her first crush and what it means for her identity. The age-appropriate romance is full of humor and poignancy, focusing on love for others and oneself.

Another fun middle-school novel about self-discovery and newfound friendships is Greg Howard's Middle School's a Drag: You Better Werk. While the premise — a tween talent agent — is funny enough, the story holds a lot of heart at the center as protagonist Mikey Pruitt learns to accept his new friend, a 13-year-old drag queen, and his own budding sexuality.

Friendship is often a favorite topic for middle schoolers. Gayle Forman's beautiful and emotional novel Frankie and Bug is about platonic love, self-discovery, allyship, and a friendship sprouting in an unlikely place.

Fantasy lovers will get a kick out of Greg Howard's The Whispers. This fantastical novel, featuring a Gay protagonist on a magical adventure full of mystical wish-granting creatures, can get emotional and touches on parental loss, but it is a joyful tale about growing up.

Another fun mystery for middle-school readers is Zenobia July. This story of a Trans middle schooler at a brand-new school is perfect for anyone feeling anxious about the changes this time can bring. While the novel focuses on a low-stakes mystery, it also centers on the main character's attempts to make new friends and show the world the real her.

Obie Is Man Enough is another fun read featuring a Trans middle schooler. Following the experiences of the titular Obie, it centers on a Trans boy grappling with all the changes that come with coming out — new friends, a new swim team, a new look — while remaining the same person all along.

Graphic novels have grown in popularity over the last few years, and there are many options for middle-school readers. For anyone charmed by recent film adaptations of classics like Anne with an E and Gretta Gerwig's Little Women, there now comes a modern, illustrated take — in which the characters dare to be openly Queer. Kathleen Gros's 2020 novel Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of) tells the story of a modern-day Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they explore a year of school. While literature experts have debated Jo's sexuality in the original novels, this graphic-novel adaptation makes her explicitly Queer and even gives her a small romantic arc.

Gros's Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) takes a similar spin on L.M. Montgomery's classic tale with one catch — Anne is in love with Diana instead of Gilbert!

Young-adult novels for high schoolers
It isn't hard to find quality LGBTQ+ YA novels for high schoolers. There are many titles on the shelves of every indie bookstore in Seattle.

One of the best LGBTQ+ books of 2022 is Sonora Reyes's The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School. A story of family, friendship, and coming out, Reyes' debut novel is fun, funny, and at times heartbreaking. Readers should know that it doesn't shy away from topics such as parental rejection, suicide, and depression.

While new books are popping up everywhere, there's nothing like the classics. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a much-loved example. With a new sequel and a movie out, this new school year is the perfect time to dive into the adventures of best friends Ari and Dante as they explore the world around them in this beautifully written tale about the love between family, best friends, and community.

Fans of classics can't forget Alison Bechdel's graphic novel Fun Home. An emotional examination of her real childhood with her closeted father, this gorgeous story is a timeless piece of literature and a perfect introduction to graphic novels for anyone hesitant to try them.

Of course, the most talked about graphic novel of recent years is Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer. Like Fun Home, Gender Queer is an autobiographical narrative about a Queer kid coming of age. Though different from Bechdel in style, Kobabe's memoir has become an instant classic and serves as an introduction to topics of gender and sexuality. As a bonus, it also discusses Asexual identities, something many YA novels have yet to explore.

Fantasy fans should pick up a copy of Aiden Thomas's Cemetery Boys before Halloween. It focuses on Yadriel, a Transgender teenager excluded from his family's magical masculine traditions, who summons the ghost of Gay classmate Julian. Together, the two boys must solve Julian's murder while proving Yadriel's masculinity to his family. Full of twists, turns, and mystery, this story is perfect for YA readers who can't wait for the spooky season to begin!