6 of the Best LGBTQ Picture Books of the Century (So Far)

Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ representation are two highlights of the advancements in kidlit this century, but there is still a long way to go. As far as I can tell, this was the first picture book with a Two-Spirit main character, and it’s written by Two-Spirit authors. Peyton used to love dancing at pow wows, but has become uncomfortable wearing the traditional dress. Her family recognize this struggle and come together to prepare a gift to show Peyton that she’s accepted and to teach her about what being Two-Spirit means. Nine years after 47,000 Beads was published, there are still very few Two-Spirit children’s books, but this one is a gem. —Danika Ellis

Roy and Silo were two real penguins at the Central Park Zoo who loved one another and who, together, raised an egg. That is the entire premise of this work of nonfiction, and that has been enough to garner two decades of controversy. Penguins, like people and numerous other species on Earth, are sometimes gay. Tango celebrates this, and in an era where books like this one and others that uplift the myriad ways of being are rampantly banned and censored, books like these matter not only for the messages they send. They’re important because they’re documents of history–and they’re stories that inspire wonder and joy in readers of all ages. —Kelly Jensen

Alice McGinty and David Roberts created this hilarious picture book in 2022, and I have used it in many a storytime since. It’s focused on two dads, their mixed-race kids, and a wily cat who does not want a bath and will stop it by any means necessary, such as scrambling the family’s chore list. The rhyming text uses repetition and rhythm to great effect, and the cat’s magnetic fridge word-jumbling will have readers laughing. The vivid art is full of charming details like the child in a dinosaur suit and the LGBTQ+ flag fridge magnets. By presenting a loving queer family without comment, their family structure is normalized for a young audience. —Rachel Rosenberg

This rhyming picture book (or board book!) features adorable illustrations of babies in everyday life: playing, sleeping, crawling, and eating. It’s a perfect readaloud story, especially because babies love looking at other babies. What made this 2001 children’s book stand out, though, is the diverse range of families depicted, including illustrations of two-mom and two-dad families. At the time it was published, this was rare, especially in a book that wasn’t entirely focused on LGBTQ families. The illustration of two exhausted moms, falling asleep with a hand still reaching for the crib, is a personal favorite. —Danika Ellis

While riding the subway with his abuela one day, Julián sees three beautiful women dressed as mermaids. At home, he dreams of dressing up just like them, so he fashions a mermaid tail from a curtain and a headdress from a potted plant. He feels fabulous in his costume, but what will abuela think of his look? This frequently banned, Stonewall Award-winning picture book’s message of self-love and defiance of gender stereotypes is paired with gorgeous watercolor illustrations on brown paper, some soft and muted, some bright and vivid. It’s a work of art. —Vanessa Diaz

I’m always looking for more picture books about body positivity, and this one stands out. It’s perfect for young kids, with very little text per page and eye-catching, colorful illustrations. The question “What is lovely?” is answered by so many features of different bodies. On one page, a pair of hairy legs in high heels is accompanied by the text “fancy,” and someone using a prosthetic leg while playing soccer is “sporty.” There are bodies of different shapes, shades, and sizes; disabled bodies and queer bodies. And the message throughout is that what makes us different should be celebrated, not shamed: “we are all lovely.” —Danika Ellis