Having a conversation with your children about Pride month and the LGBTQIA+ Community can be tricky but necessary as they may learn about the LGBTQIA+ community through their friends or the media. They might start asking questions that might make you feel unprepared. Luckily, there are books out there for all ages that can help answer some of those questions. To start, here are six books you can read to your kids during pride month.
For ages 0-3
1. Families, Families, Families!
By Suzanne Lang
This sweet rhyming book mentions all kinds of families. Families with two mommies, families with two daddies, single-parent families, and more! It teaches children that all these types of families have one important thing in common; love.
2. Mommy, Mama, and Me
By Lesléa Newman
This easy and digestible rhyming book tells the story of a toddler spending the day with their mommies, from playing games and packing a snack to reading books and helping them cook. This book helps children understand that having two mommies isn’t much different from having a mommy and daddy.
For ages 3-5
3. Heather Has Two Mommies
By Lesléa Newman
When Heather’s classmates find out that she has two mommies, they are a bit confused, so the teacher asks the students to draw a picture of their families. They soon realize that not all families are the same. Some have two mommies or one daddy and so on. It sends the message that “the only important thing about a family is that everyone in it loves each other.”
4. What Makes a Baby
By Cory Silverberg
This book talks about how babies are made without mentioning the physical details. It explains that some people have eggs and some don’t, that it requires two grown-ups and that it can happen in different ways (adoptions, etc.). It is inclusive of all genders, orientations, and more! It teaches children that babies can be brought up in any household as long as there is love.
For ages 5-8
5. This Day in June
By Gayle E. Pitman
This Day in June is a great tool to help children experience a pride celebration where we are all united and teach them to respect the LGBTQIA+ community. It includes facts about LGBTQIA+ history and culture, as well as tips and information on how to talk to your children about sexual orientation and gender identity in a way that they’ll be able to comprehend.
6. The Great Big Book of Families
By Mary Hoffman
The Great Big Book of Families shows children how different families can be all around the world and how diverse they are. It teaches them that the word ‘family’ doesn’t have a set definition and that they might all look different but that that’s okay!
