This week is Childrens Book Week. Celebrated every year, it acts as a way to encourage and inspire children to read.
As a same sex family we often keep an eye out for story books that have a same sex family in it, or a special message. Ones that just happen to have two mums or two dads in it as part of the story, instead of ones that specifically educate or explain same sex families.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Mummy, Mama, and Me / Daddy, Papa, and Me.
One of our first LGBT books, this simple board style book details in a few pages what Mama Does, and what Mummy does.
It doesn’t explain LGBT families, but instead makes them like any other family. Really simple and a good starting point for your collection.
The Different Dragon
Another wonderful book that doesn’t “defend” or “explain” same sex families. It’s just a story about a boy at bedtime who just happens to have two mummies.
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes.
Not a specific LGBT book, but it does teach about equality and how everyone is different but equal at the same time.
The artwork is gorgeous, and I like how the book flows.
Spacegirl Pukes
Spacegirl is just about to leave on another mission when she falls sick.
Her mummies (she has two) also fall sick as well as the cat and rocket she’s meant to fly into space with.
Tango Makes Three
This story is about two male penguins that live together in a zoo in New York. The story details their journey into fatherhood.
Probably one of my favourite LGBT books as it’s based on a true story!
If I Had a Hundred Mummies
This story is about a little girl who talks about what it would be like to have a hundred mummies. Would they all be bossy? Would it be like having a hundred hugs?
In the end, she decided she’s happy just having the two.
Elmer
Elmer is like no other elephant, and that’s ok! When Elmer tries to be someone he’s not, people are sad.
I love love love Elmer and whenever I read it it reminds me of Pride.
The Family Book.
One of the few books we have that actually teach about alternative families directly.
It’s boldly illustrated and a really simple book to explain alternative families.
What are your LGBT book recommendations? How are you celebrating #ChildrensBookWeek?
We love Elmer the elephant! I think it’s really important for children to learn about LGBT families but also about equality as a whole. My eldest has been invited to a birthday party at the weekend and the boys are doing survival and the girls are doing nature art. They’re four. It has made us a bit cross that they’ve been pigeon holed by gender by parents at such a young age. I think freedom to choose who you are is such a wide issue that everyone would do well to learn from some of these books you have mentioned.
Nat.x
Ooh these are fab suggestions, I was saying the other day we need to keep an eye out for LGBT/same-sex books so I will add these to our wishlist! 🙂
Lyndsay | Fizzy Peaches Travel & Lifestyle Blog