The LGBTQ-inclusive picture books published in 2024 have been exuberant, affirming, and informative. Here are some that stand out. (Author, illustrator, and publisher are listed after each title.)
In several warm and fun tales, the queerness is incidental. Ones with two-mom families include Just Us (Molly Beth Griffin, Anait Semirdzhyan, Charlesbridge), a comforting winter holiday story about embracing change; Leo and the Pink Marker (Mariyka Foster, Peachtree), inspired by — but diverging from — the classic Harold and the Purple Crayon, and The Girl Who Loves Bugs (Lily Murray, Jenny Løvlie, Peachtree), about the titular girl and a mishap at a family reunion.
For two-dad families, try Saturday Is Pancake Day (Bernadette Green, Daniel Gray-Barnett, Scribble), a hilarious story of luring a parent out of bed, and Princess Pru and the Switcheroo (Maureen Fergus, Danesh Mohiuddin, Owlkids), in which Princess Pru and her best friend Oggy the Ogre switch places, thinking life is better for the other.
For growing queer families, one title with particularly broad appeal is We’re Happy You’re Here (Julie Wilkins, Brady Sato, Orca), a celebration of the many special people who helped bring a child into a family, including queer and non-queer couples, solo parents, siblings, grandparents, gamete donors, surrogates and a variety of professionals.
Additionally, All Our Love (Kari-Lynn Winters, Scot Ritchie, North Winds) stars a girl with two dads writing a letter to her new baby brother, and Joyful Song: A Naming Story (Lesléa Newman, Susan Gal, Levine Querido), is the gorgeously illustrated story of a Jewish boy with two moms excited about the naming ceremony for his baby sister.
Two books affirm babies’ gender identity and expression: It’s a They (Lindsay Herriot, Orca), a board book in which siblings welcome a new baby without applying gender labels, and Who You Will Be (Taylor Rouanzion, Stacey Chomiak, Philomel), where two parents — who can be read as two women or a woman
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