There’s nothing like snuggling with your child in bed at night and breaking out a book to read together. Reading, after all, helps them to expand their language skills and makes their imaginations soar. But instead of turning to the same old books on the bookshelf, why not take some pride as a parent and read a book that could have a very positive impact on your child and underscore the values of acceptance and kindness towards everyone? These 10 children’s books to read for Pride month can make all the difference in helping your child become a more compassionate kiddo.
Pride is celebrated during the month of June, so there’s no better time to help beginning readers learn how to read—and understand how important inclusivity is. The messages in the books below all underscore how critical it is to love yourself exactly for who you are, that love doesn’t have to look a certain way, and that being unique is totally awesome, too. Kids can learn that no two families look the same and that having two mommies or two daddies is really no different from any sort of traditional marriage that they might be used to.
So peruse these 10 children’s books to read for Pride month—and you’ll find that you’re a whole lot prouder of your kiddo for being such an awesome individual.
Our Rainbow
In Our Rainbow, little learners can find out what the various colors on the rainbow flag mean. Not only is it a great way to ensure they know their reds from their oranges, but they’ll start an understanding of why they’re important and ultimately appreciate others for their individuality.
Julian Is A Mermaid
When Julian sees three beautiful women on the subway with his abuela, he begins to daydream about what it would be like to be a mermaid. The book deals with gender noncomformity in a gentle, kind way, especially when Julian speaks to his beloved abuela about who he really is inside.
I Am Jazz
Written by transgender advocate Jazz Jennings, I Am Jazz tells the story of how Jazz knew she was a girl since she was little—and not a boy. The book teaches that being transgender isn’t something shocking—it just might be that sometimes people are born with a body part that doesn’t match with who they are inside.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
Why is the rainbow flag so synonymous with Pride? Your child will find out in Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag. While it’s based on a true story (including Milk’s ultimate assassination), the book really delves into what Milk and designer Gilbert Baker did to pave the way for LGBTQ+ rights.
Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
Kids will love the colorful collection of rainbow flags on the cover of Rainbow: A First Book of Pride, but they’ll also appreciate the message about celebrating diversity. The book also discusses what each color in the rainbow flag means, and how having a family’s support can make all the difference in the world.
Worm Loves Worm
When two worms fall madly in love, they do what any ol’ worm would do—they want to get married. But since they’re, well, worms, everyone wants to know who will wear the wedding dress? Who is the blushing bride, and who is the groom? Readers will find out that it doesn’t really matter, because in the end, it’s love that wins.
Jack (Not Jackie)
Gross things like mud and bugs are just for boys, right? Wrong. In Jack (Not Jackie), Susan sees her baby sister doing things that she had assumed only boys did—even wearing their dad’s duds. But as she soon realizes, it’s important for her sister to be herself and that family acceptance is so, so important as children discover who they truly are.
This Day In June
By far, Pride parades are the best part of the month-long festivities. This Day In June takes readers on a wild ride through a Pride celebration to show just how joyous and important it is to honor everyone’s journey, no matter different it might be from your own. The book also contains information in a Note to Parents and Caregivers section that explains how to talk to kids about things like sexual orientation and gender identity.
Maiden & Princess
In a twist on the typical fairy tale, a fair maiden goes to a handsome prince’s royal ball. It’s there that she falls in love—not with the prince, but with a princess whom she truly connects with. The maiden is also a bit of a badass; she’s not just a warrior, but she’s an astronomer, too, roles that had previously been male-dominated.
Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution
The police raid at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969 (and the subsequent riot that ensued) is what many consider to be the birthplace for the LGBTQ+ community’s civil rights. For kiddos who can’t get enough of history, Stonewall will help them to understand just what it took for the community to fight for equal rights.
Pride month is a great time to teach your child about the freedoms that they might take for granted, and help them to realize that really, love is love.