Children's Books for Pride 2025

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Agna, Gwen

This affirming and inclusive photographic picture book offers a celebratory and informative look at kids and their wide-ranging gender identities. With the permission of their parents, the children were recorded and transcribed by authors Shelley Rotner and Gwen Agna as they were photographed.

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Becker, Erin

Told in alternating voices, soccer teammates and former friends Tory and Mel develop feelings for each other when they unknowingly meet anonymously online.

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Chan, Aaron

A young girl goes to all the places her brother Cody and his ex used to go in an attempt to collect the pieces of Cody's broken heart, as she learns how to support a loved one.

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Dale, Laura Kate

Nisha's monster follows her everywhere. It used to be small, but recently her monster has begun to grow. And as her monster gets bigger and bigger, Nisha feels more and more unlike herself. When people refer to her as a boy, or when she tries to hide her true gender identity, Nisha's dysphoria monster grows larger and larger. Until, one day, Nisha meets Jack - a trans man - who shows Nisha how she can shrink her dysphoria monster back down to size. This touching story is the perfect book for discussing gender dysphoria with children, explaining what it is and how they and their families can deal with it. It also includes an accompanying guide for parents with further information about gender dysphoria, terminology, and first-hand examples of the author's own experiences.

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Dåsnes, Nora

Tuva is starting seventh grade, and her checklist of goals includes: writing out a diary, getting a trendy look, building the best fort in the woods with her BFFs, and much more. But when she starts school, nothing is how she hoped it would be. Seventh grade has split her friends into rival factions: TEAM LINNEA and the girls who fall in love and TEAM BAO and the girls who NEVER fall in love. Linnea has a BOYFRIEND, Bao hates everything related to love. Worst of all, Linnea and Bao expect Tuva to choose a side!

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Feder, Tyler

Illustrations and easy-to-read, rhyming text celebrate bodies of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors, with different kinds of hair, eyes, spots, scars, and more.

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Grigni, Noah

Mama loves warm summers and eating cherries while stargazing with Baba and Kiddo. But on her bluest of days, she can't do the things that other mamas do. Persevering with love, no matter what phase Mama is in, this family weathers the ups and downs of a loved one's illness.

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Johnson, Leah

As twelve-year-old Ellie Engle navigates seventh grade and her changing relationship with her best friend, a freak accident occurs and gives Ellie the ability to bring things back to life through touch.

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Kirst, Seamus

A girl goes to her Daddy's family reunion and finds that every family is connected by love.

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LaCour, Nina

When her mother goes on a business trip, a little girl, who loves to sit between Mama and Mommy at the table, misses her a lot and feels empty until Mommy finally comes home, filling the void with love.

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Lobel, Arnold

Five further adventures of two best friends as they share cookies, plant a garden, and test their bravery.

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Lukoff, Kyle

When Annabelle learns that her father shares something big--and surprising--in common with her new nonbinary friend, she begins to see herself, and her family, in a whole new light.

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Mukwa, Cameron

Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them -- their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself -- for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way."

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Neal, Trinity

A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.

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Oshiro, Mark

Twelve-year-old Jasmine has been haunted by a ghost ever since her father passed away, and her new supernaturally inclined friends are determined to help her figure out why.

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Pancholy, Maulik

Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. But being a star on TV doesn't mean you have everything figured out behind the scenes. . . . When his mom temporarily moves them to the small town in Ohio where she grew up to take care of Nikhil's sick grandfather, Nikhil feels as out of orbit as his character. Nikhil's fame lands him the lead in the school musical, but he's terrified that everyone will realize he's a fraud once they find out he can't sing. And when a group of conservative parents start to protest, making it clear they're not happy with an openly gay TV star being in the starring role, Nikhil feels like his life would be easier if only he could be Raj Reddy full-time. Then Nikhil wakes up one morning and hears a crack in his voice, which means his job playing Raj will have to come to an end. Life on earth is way more complicated than life on television. And some mysteries--like new friendships or a sick grandparent or finding the courage to speak out about what's right--don't wrap up neatly between commercial breaks." 

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Pimienta, Jose

Ave must adjust to a new country, a new school, and a new family dynamic when their mom and younger brother move to Kansas while their father and older sister stay in Mexico during the parents' divorce.

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Richardson, Justin

At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

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Rouanzion, Taylor

New parents invite their baby to express themselves through whatever color feels right to them.

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Savage, Sarah

Benjamin educates his cousin on transitioning and gender identity.

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Taylor, Will

Jeremy is not excited about the prospect of spending the summer with his dad and his uncle in a seaside cabin in Oregon. It's the first summer after his parents' divorce, and he hasn't exactly been seeking alone time with his dad. He doesn't have a choice, though, so he goes . . . and on his first day takes a walk on the beach and finds himself intrigued by a boy his age running by. Eventually, he and Runner Boy (Evan) meet--and what starts out as friendship blooms into something neither boy is expecting . . . and also something both boys have been secretly hoping for.

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Tracy, Taylor

Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead, Natalie Lloyd, and Jasmine Warga, this beautiful novel in verse explores one girl's struggle to regain her magic after a hurricane forces her to move away from her beloved ocean that, she believes, has given her special powers.

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Wells, Allen R.

Join a queer family as they celebrate Black Pride in Washington, D.C. From painting posters to walking in a Pride Parade with neighbors to watching fireworks, this special day is packed with fun.

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Whitley, Jeremy

Meet Frankie, whose biggest challenge is finding the perfect outfit for the upcoming band concert. But then they save a friendly golden retriever from bullies--and suddenly find themself in a giant magical doghouse, with a funny-looking helmet, talking about a job offer with a group of dog superheroes called the Pawtheon. If Frankie can prove that they possess the six dog virtues of loyalty, kindness, honesty, justice, stubbornness, and smell, they will be named the Dog Knight and given the power to fight alongside they Pawtheon and save the world from the forces of chaos. Maybe there is more to Frankie than they thought?

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Wibowo, Jessica

Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn't belong. He hasn't since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship--their home--to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he's weird; he has a crush on his pen pal, who might not like him back; and his stepfamily doesn't seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can't even talk to his mom about how he's feeling because she's so busy. In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. And against all odds, the moon hears him and agrees to bring him home of the first day of the New Year. But as the promised day draws nearer, Indu finds friendship in unlikely places and discovers that home is more than where you come from. And when the moon calls again, Indu must decide: is he willing to give up what he's just found?

Summaries provided by DPL's catalog unless otherwise noted. Click on each title to view more information.

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