Affirming and Gender-Inclusive Books for Kids and Teens
Literature can be an incredibly powerful vehicle for facilitating change and fostering a strong and healthy sense of self. This book list features affirming and gender-inclusive book recommendations for kids and teens.
With the continued attacks on trans youth, we believe it’s more important than ever to nurture a community of readers who support all people for exactly who they are. We want every child to see themselves positively and accurately represented in the books they read, and for their identities and experiences to be normalized and affirmed. This book list includes characters who identify as transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, questioning, and more.
We hope that these books help children to feel both seen and loved, and open hearts and minds to embracing, supporting and fighting for people’s right to exist exactly as they are.
For complete book descriptions and to purchase and/or donate, visit our Bookshop page.
When Aiden Became a Big Brother by Kyle Lukoff (Author), Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)
My Rainbow by DeShanna & Trinity Neal (Authors), Art Twink (Illustrator)
The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick (Author), Hayley Wells (Illustrator)
Phoenix Goes to School by Michelle & Phoenix Finch (Authors), Sharon Davey (Illustrator)
I am Jazz by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel (Authors), Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator)
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: a Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn (Author), Noah Grigni (Illustrator)
What Are Your Words?: a Book About Pronouns by Katherine Locke (Author), Anne Passchier (Illustrator)
Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder (Author/Illustrator)
Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale (Author), Mika Song (Illustrator)
They, She, He as Easy as ABC by Maya Christina Gonzalez (Author), Matthew Sg (Illustrator)
My Maddy by Gayle E. Pitman (Author), Violet Tobacco (Illustrator)
Red: a Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall (Author/Illustrator)
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Chen Thom and Kai Yun Ching (Authors), Wai-Yant Li (Illustrator)
Call Me Max and Max and the Talent Show by Kyle Lukoff (Author), Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)
Neither by Airlie Anderson (Author/Illustrator)
Peanut Takes the Gold by Jonathan Van Ness (Author), Gillian Reid (Illustrator)
My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis (Author), Suzanne DiSimone (Illustrator)
Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman (Authors), Chris Case (Illustrator)
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Author/Illustrator)
The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya (Author), Rajni Perera (Illustrator)
Calvin by Vanessa Ford and Jr. Ford (Authors), Kayla Herren (Illustrator)
Born Ready: the True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Author), Jodie Patterson (Illustrator)
Fred Gets Dressed by Peter Brown (Author/Illustrator)
Teo’s Tutu by Maryann Jacob Macias (Author), Alea Marley (Illustrator)
The Gender Wheel by Maya Christina Gonzalez (Author/Illustrator)
Being You: a First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli (Authors), Passchier (Illustrator)
Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman (Author), Eda Kaban (Illustrator)
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff (Author)
Zenobia July by Lisa Bunker (Author)
Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart (Author)
Gracefully Grayson by Amy Polonsky (Author)
The Other Boy by M.G. Hennessey and Stfe. R. Monster (Authors)
The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (Author)
The Witchboy by Molly Knox Ostertag (Author)
George (In April 2022, this book will be republished with the new title, Melissa) by Alex Gino (Author)
Ana on the Edge by A.J. Sass (Author)
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar (Author)
Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass (Author)
Steven Universe: End of an Era by Chris McDonnell (Author)
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (Author)
Continuum by Chella Man (Author), Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrator)
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimmons (Author)
Pet by Awaeke Emezi (Author)
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (Author)
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon (Author), Ashley Lukashevsky (Illustrator)
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (Author)
Felix Ever After by Kacen Kallender (Author)
I Wish You All The Best by Mason Deaver (Author)
Stage Dreams by Melanie Gillman (Author)
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden (Author)
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon (Author)
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (Author)
The Brilliant Death by A,R. Carpetta (Author)
Stay Gold by Tobly McSmith (Author)
