Read the Rainbow: An LGBTQ+ Reading List for Every Age

Read the Rainbow: An LGBTQ+ Reading List for Every Age

June is Pride month, but celebrating LGBTQ+ stories, history and community is something we do year-round. Looking for book suggestions? We have something for everybody.

Babies and Toddlers:

Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson

Through gentle rhymes and colorful photographs of adorable children, Pride Colors is a celebration of the deep unconditional love of a parent or caregiver for a young child. The profound message of this delightful board book is you are free to be whoever you choose to be; you’ll always be loved.

“A joyful, affirming, pride-filled read.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review choose to be; you’ll always be loved.


Kids:

A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan

Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. But everything changes one weekend when Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will be confined to a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, Pops becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.

“A marvelous book on many, many levels and deserves a wide readership.” —Mombian blog


Pre-Teens:

My Life as a Diamondby Jenny Manzer

Ten-year-old Caspar “Caz” Cadman loves baseball and has a great arm. He loves the sounds, the smells, the stats. When his family moves from Toronto to a suburb of Seattle, the first thing he does is try out for the local summer team, the Redburn Ravens. Even though Caz is thrilled when he makes the team, he worries because he has a big secret.

No one knows that back in Toronto, Caz used to live life as a girl named Cassandra. And it’s nobody’s business. Caz will tell his new friends when he’s ready. But when a player on a rival team starts snooping around, Caz’s past is revealed, and Caz worries it will be Toronto all over again. Will Caz’s teammates rally behind their star pitcher? Or will Caz be betrayed once more?

A heartwarming, funny, fast-paced story about the bravery it takes to live as your true self, no matter the cost.

“Provides young readers with an opportunity to see a community that is accepting of Caz and who he is—not who they think he should be.” —Quill & Quire


Teens:

Cub by Paul Coccia

In the gay community, a young, husky man is known as a “cub.” Seventeen-year-old Theo fits the definition perfectly, but he is very self-conscious about his body. So when his best friend signs him up for a cooking competition at Heat, the city’s newest trendy restaurant, Theo is nervous. He’s confident in his baking ability, and dreams of opening his own bakery one day, but he’s not a chef, and he hates being in the spotlight.

As Theo survives round after round, he gains the admiration of both the audience and the restaurant owner, a sexy celebrity chef known as KCC. When the owner makes it clear he is more interested in what Theo might do outside the kitchen, Theo has to decide how far he is willing to go to launch his career.

Theo’s shaky navigation is inspiring.” —Kirkus Reviews


Everyone:

Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Robin Stevenson

For LGBTQ+ people and their supporters, Pride events are an opportunity to honor the past, protest injustice, and celebrate a diverse and vibrant community. The high point of Pride, the Pride Parade, is spectacular and colorful. But there is a whole lot more to Pride than rainbow flags and amazing outfits. How did Pride come to be? And what does Pride mean to the people who celebrate it?

“This attractive work will be welcomed by readers searching for guidance and hope.” —Kirkus Reviews


Psst, we have more! Click here for a complete list of all our LGBTQ+ titles.

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