Picture books that celebrate LGBT families
It's so important that little ones grow up and see their type of family set-up reflected in the books you share with them. Sadly, for many same-sex parents and carers, these kind of picture books can be tricky to find.
Well, look no further: we've pulled together a list of our favourite children's books that show – and celebrate – diverse families. They're also brilliant, fun reads that you'll really love sharing with your child.
Perfect for babies all the way up to aged five.
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The Best Mum
Author: Penny Harrison Illustrator: Sharon Davey
Publisher: New Frontier Publishing
Interest age: 3-5
Funny and silly with lots of brilliant detail in the illustrations by Sharon Davey, this is a celebration of all different kinds of mums and a reminder that they love us.
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Uncle Bobby's Wedding
Author: Sarah S Brannen & Lucia Soto
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Interest age: 4-7
This huggable treat of a book is a gorgeous and heartfelt celebration of weddings, as Chloe learns that just because her Uncle Bobby is marrying his boyfriend, it doesn't mean he'll love her any less.
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The Girl With Two Dads
Author: Meg Elliott
Publisher: Farshore
Interest age: 3-5
Elliott’s bright picture book featuring the friendship between two girls is a great representation of a family with two dads and how, of course, having two dads is exactly the same as having a mum and dad, especially when it comes to rules, mealtimes and all the usual parent-y things.
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Who's Your Real Mum?
Author: Bernadette Green Illustrator: Anna Zobel
Publisher: Scribble
Interest age: 4-5
This warm, imaginative picture book has a clear message that, with same sex parents, both mums or dads are childrens’ “real” parents, and in fact parenting is about so much more than biology.
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The Pirate Mums
Author: Jodie Lancet-Grant Illustrator: Lydia Corry
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 4-5
This brilliantly fun story about a day out gone awry - and two seriously committed pirate mums - is a lovely book to read aloud, with a heart-warming message.
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And Tango Makes Three
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Illustrator: Henry Cole
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+Roy and Silo are two boy penguins who live in the zoo in New York's Central Park. This is a really delightful story and the message behind it is subtle. It's a true story, and you can learn more about it in a note at the end.
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Baby's First Words
Author: Tessa Strickland and Kate DePalma Illustrator: Christiane Engel
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Interest age: 0-3
Designed by a child development expert so it supports the way babies naturally learn language, this book is full of warm colours and down-to-earth glimpses of family life. There are over 100 words to learn in this sturdy board book.
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Made By Raffi
Author: Craig Pomranz Illustrator: Margaret Chamberlain
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 5+A delightful and gently revolutionary picture book that challenges our absurd notions about what constitutes 'normal' or 'appropriate'.
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Everywhere Babies
Author: Susan Meyers Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Publisher: Red Wagon Books
Interest age: 0-3
This gorgeous board book follows all sorts of babies – 'small babies, tall babies, winter and spring babies' – over the course of a year. It's a true celebration of babies and the joy and giggles they bring – and also highlights the diversity of everyday family life.
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Mommy, Mama and Me
Author: Leslea Newman Illustrator: Carol Thompson
Publisher: Tricycle Press
Interest age: 0-3
Reading age: N/AWhat a treat: a warm and adorably illustrated board book about a loving family which just happens to have two mums in it. There's a fun, upbeat universality to it: the packing of lunches, the trip to the playground, the baking of cakes and the end-of-the-day bath.
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The Family Book
Author: Todd Parr
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5-8A joyous picture book about the importance of family and all the strength it can give you, this celebrates family in all its wonderful, diverse glory. The message is subtle, but a crucial one: every family is special and the only thing that matters is love.
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The Great Big Book of Families
Author: Mary Hoffman Illustrator: Ros Asquith
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 7+The Great Big Book of Families is about the diversity of families. The simple message is that every family is unique and special and that there is no such thing as 'normal' or 'abnormal'. Books simply don’t get much more inclusive than this.
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Under the Love Umbrella
Author: Davina Bell Illustrator: Allison Colpoys
Publisher: Scribble
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+Bright, expressive and featuring joyfully diverse illustration throughout, Under the Love Umbrella provides poetic reassurance that whatever happens, children will be protected and loved.
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We Are Family
Author: Patricia Hegarty Illustrator: Ryan Wheatcroft
Publisher: Caterpillar Books
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 5+On each double-page spread of this vibrant, lovely book, families show the different ways they experience a variety of common experiences to us all. Overall, the great thing about families, whatever their makeup, is that they help us through the difficult times.
