Beyond the sexual messages of the books being inappropriate for children, there are also mental health concerns involved, Eckert said. Is the Sleeping Conservative Dragon Finally Waking Up? With many schools closed this fall, its time to set up a remote schoolwork area for kids thatll make learning a little easier. They were more or fewer strangers for the better part of their childhoods, but when Daniel strives to rescue a dog from euthanasia, and Ash falls in with the plot, too, they are irrevocably brought together both as friends and as fellow rejects from society. Gender theorist Kate Bornsteins genre-defying memoir explores nonbinary gender and rebukes a society that tries to force people to identify as either man or woman. The book works through the concepts of tomboys, butches, and drag kings, passing, and societys policing of gender. Conversion therapy never works, and Dylan just like many other victims of similar processes simply came out being even more determined to defy and to do the right thing for himself. Parenting Parenting Transgender Children: A Guide for Keeping Your Family Strong By Strong Family Alliance With a little help from her friends, George can step into her true gender and play the role of Charlotte in the class theatrical production of Charlotte's Web. Theyre looking for stories that are mirrors, but theyre also looking for windows that help them learn about other people, or other worlds and experiences, Treu said of the Tea Dragon series, which spans three titles. Silencing basic information prevents them from understanding their world, fictionalizes reality for all kidsand further erases those who are LGBTQ. In a follow-up book, Jamie and Bubbie, Jamie shows his grandmother how to respect people's pronouns. Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Science Fiction has often been a bit of a haven for novels that explore gender, and Left Hand of Darkness reigns supreme among them. Children are learning about gay marriage, preferred pronouns, and gender identity, thanks to woke childrens books. This celebration of the colors of the rainbow, featuring a diverse cast of characters, encourages kids to reject rigid gender norms and follow their passions. @Virginia_Allen5 We asked Champoux, as well as a dozen other queer librarians, educators, and booksellers, for their reading recommendations for kids of all ages. Audible is a great platform for listening to audiobooks because it offers a wide selection of books, including bestsellers and exclusive content. Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo ($12 at the time of publication), Also available at Unabridged Books (about $12 at the time of publication). We asked librarians and teachersall Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)to share books that theyve found can help kids understand race and racism. The books author, Malinda Lo, has written a number of beloved YA books with queer characters. How will she manage her new identity, and what will she do when the whole school finds out? A Maryland middle school encouraged students to read a book and complete assignments this summer that explored themes of gender transition, sexual identity, and cross-dressing. With Audible, you can listen to your favorite books on-the-go, whether you're commuting, working out, or doing household chores. I have a girl brain, but a boy body, the book I Am Jazz says. In 1993, my school district drew nationwide attention for removing and banning Annie on My Mindone of the first young adult novels about two girls who fall in loveat a time when I was beginning to struggle with my own identity. In this award-winning novel, written by a transgender author, Amanda Hardy is falling for a boy named Grant. Written in English and Spanish. Publication Date: 2017-10-17. Janet Mock is one of cultures most prominent trans activists, and the first black trans woman to direct an episode of television through her work on the series Pose. Sign up for bookish LGBTQ+ news and recommendations! Hurt, scarred, and damaged, but determined nonetheless. is a favorite of Lee Steube, YA librarian at the Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library in Pennsylvania. After being determined not feminine enough, Scholinski was sent into treatment which involved lessons in femininity performance. Its a true shame that people in our modern world still have to feel ashamed about themselves and their personal decisions all because other people decide that their tolerance or their abstaining from hate and violence, really is not worth the happiness of others. But none of the ladies the prince meets are right for him. Best friends Miel and Sam star in this magically real romance featuring painted moons, witches, and flowers that grow from human skin. Will the rest of the world see his truth? Remember to include the url or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. Things seemed to be picking up for a while or at least Ai hoped they were. But in reality, friend groups are much more complex. She describes the book as a playful set of stories about kids from various identities under the queer umbrella, written by some notable authors. Judge Likens Biden-Big Tech Censorship to Orwells 1984. Admins Answers on Free Speech Prove Him Right. Everyone, that is, except Neither. The ABCs of LGBT+ goes beyond the top-ranking Google search results that come up for generic questions and instead explain queer matters, and they relate to us as people in a truly heartfelt way that sets it aside from other books of its like. When we talk about gender identity, we are often faced with misunderstanding and societys feverish obsession with rigid categories: if a person isnt immediately identifiable as one thing or another, its like society doesnt know what to do and goes haywire. This book was definitely a spark for a wave of books geared towards young readers, and helps young people struggling with gender to feel seen and valid. Can a fifth-grade drama production allow them to show everyone their true selves? Based on a real story, this book is written by the mother of a transgender son. 15-year-old Kavali is having a great time at CropCamp until she is pressured to pick a gender in this dystopian sci-fi tale. Sycamore is an expert editor and a wonderful writer on her behalf, more than used to fearlessly and dauntlessly branching out into the literary world. Books have a way of sparking empathy, drawing readers into the lives of characters who may be different from themselves -- or different from other characters in the story. Her memoir details her experience transitioning with an intersectional focus: growing up both poor and black presents unique struggles, and Mocks narrative is full of trauma and heartbreak. The book is sweet and emotional at the same time as being practical and educational, raising awareness in a way that doesnt seem forced or even a large factor of the book. Kim Reynolds. The novels protagonist, Jess, is found dressing in her fathers clothes and is sent to a psychiatric ward by her parents. California's Department of Education urges kindergarten teachers to dispel gender stereotypes, laying groundwork "for acceptance, inclusiveness, and an anti . (shelved 21 times as gender-identity) avg rating 4.58 1,937 ratings published 2019. The author has also published a second book, Julin at the Wedding. One of the main characters, Sam, is trans, and struggles with the expectations that he will assume a feminine identity once he comes of age, after being raised as a boy as part of bacha posh, a Pakinstani & Afghan practice in which families without a son will raise the eldest daughter as masculine until they are of marrying age. Iowa teachers are now banned from raising gender identity or sexual orientation issues with children through the sixth grade. This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby (about $11 at the time of publication), Also available at Giovannis Room Bookstore ($17 at the time of publication), For similarly broad-sweeping representation, This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us is an all-inclusive anthology of fiction geared toward middle-grade readers, said Katharine Milon, manager of the long-running Giovannis Room Bookstore in Philadelphia. Aidan wants everything to be perfect for the baby's arrival but learns he already has all he needs to be a big brother. by Melanie Gillman In this rollicking queer western adventure, readers are in the saddle alongside Flor and Grace, a Latinx outlaw and a trans runaway, as they team up to thwart a Confederate plot in the New Mexico Territory. And on the two mens wedding day, the air filled with cheer and laughter, for the prince and his shining knight would live happily ever after., Complete with a gender wheel, Who Are You? is a kids guide to gender identity., The book begins by explaining that everyone has a sex assigned to them at birth, but [s]ometimes people get this confused with gender. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa teachers will be banned from raising gender identity or sexual orientation issues with children through the sixth grade under a bill signed into law by Iowa Gov. Enter the knight. Will you call him a name? Reading level: grades 6 and up, ages 12 and up. Cal (or Callie) is raised as female but later assumes a male identity and presentation, and also has sexual encounters with multiple genders. I want to note here that since the author now goes by Jack Halberstam and uses both masc and femme pronouns, though the book is still published under Judith. This book explores the construct of masculinity within society and gender performance, especially as it pertains to lesbians and trans individuals. Middle School The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater. The Audible app also has features like adjustable narration speed, a sleep timer, and the ability to create bookmarks, making it easy to customize your listening experience. Naomi Socher-Lerner, librarian at Parkway Central Childrens Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia, email interview, March 16, 2022, Sara Luce Look, co-owner of Charis Books & More, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Gretchen Treu, co-owner of A Room of Ones Own, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Audrey Kohler, senior bookseller at BookWoman, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Candise Branum, librarian at Gonzaga University, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Lee Steube, librarian at Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library in Pennsylvania, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Remy Timbrook, librarian at Oakland Public Library, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Kate Wilson, childrens book buyer at Unabridged Bookstore, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Emily Hersh, librarian at Navarro Early College High School, phone interview, March 17, 2022, Sarah Hollenbeck, co-owner of Women & Children First bookstore, phone interview, March 20, 2022, Katharine Milon, manager at Giovanni's Room Bookstore, phone interview, March 20, 2022, Nicole Champoux, head of school at Arbor Montessori school, email interview, March 29, 2022. "It's important for children to know that gender doesn't have to be rigid or very specific." Nowadays it seems that the false issues being raised with the subject are beyond number and that the actual steps that need to be taken are being lamented at every possible point. I am so grateful to have that kind of message in the world. Wilson agreed that the book portrays family support of a trans kid with empathy and depth. Genly Ai is two years into his envoy mission to Gethen, yet he still has to achieve his goal. Send an email to Virginia. Using sci-fi themes, Lizard Radio explores gender fluidity and the constraints that society places on those who dont fit within the binary of male/female. Weve had a lot of caregivers asking for books that explain these topics without being quite so binary or old-fashioned, so they dont make people feel bad about themselves when reading them. She praises The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families for its gender-inclusiveness in approaching big topics like puberty, hormones, pregnancy, and childbirthand briefly even miscarriage, abortion, birth control, and safer sex. By Laura Meckler June 3, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT Science Teacher Max Firke watches the closing panel at the end of the annual Pride Town Hall at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md., in May.. The stress and stigma of being a sexual orientation or gender identity minority can increase developmental risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, asexual, or intersex children and youth. 10. Reading level: grades 9 and up, ages 14 and up, Danny Tozer's run-in with the great Dreadnought leaves her with superpowersand the female body she's always known was hers. In this Japanese manga, we meet Shuichi and Yoshiro, who aren't comfortable with their gender. Use an online photo book service to help organize and make use of the thousands of digital photos you take each year. Audrey Kohler, senior bookseller at the feminist bookstore BookWoman in Austin, Texas, recommends both. A lesson and an exploration of what gender norms mean as a whole from an entirely different perspective than usual, Girl Mans Ups sense of uniqueness and variety is something to be truly appreciated and a quality that carries it remarkably high when it comes to rating queer books, especially those that tackle issues related to gender. Kristin Lattimer seems to have a picture-perfect teenage life. When Aidan Became a Brother is recommended by multiple queer librarians and booksellers for its heartwarming tale of a family navigating their sons emerging trans identity while they prepare to welcome a second child. Its follow up, Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation, is a collection of essays by other prominent trans and gender-nonconforming critics that offers a more intersectional perspective. The Power of Story: Diverse Books for All Readers. / Potentially triggering, this memoir explores the psychiatric diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder and its treatment in psychiatric hospitals during the 1980s. Terms and conditions apply. Austin, Texas, bookseller Audrey Kohler said its among their favorite books showcasing diverse family structures for young readers. With Both Can Be True. But many kids today are growing up with queer parents and other extended family members, as well as in communities with queer families and classmates. As an Amazon Associate, Queer In The World earns from qualifying purchases. Last Night at the Telegraph Club. The new law signed by Republican Gov. Sex assigned at birth and gender identity are two separate things. Ho'onani's story celebrates nonbinary gender identity and Hawai'ian culture. In this series of books by transgender writer Kyle Lukoff, Max affirms his identity and learns, alongside his friends, not to make assumptions about people based on their gender. A great resource for people who want to maximize their time and make the most out of their daily activities. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. by Malinda Lo. The population of Gethen can and is encouraged to change and choose their gender at will, allowing for infinite self-expression and redefinition. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, We love the Miele canister vacuum so much, were giving it awayenter now, Sign up for Wirecutters daily newsletter, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families, 14 Antiracist Books for Kids and Teens Recommended by BIPOC Teachers and Librarians, 7 Book Subscription Boxes We Love for Adults and Kids, The Memory-Jogging Joy of Making an Annual Photo Book of My Kids, How to Set Up a Remote Learning Space for Your Kids. This is definitely a story for people who feel like exploring their true selves might be unsafe, and who wish for a more accepting world. They take away all the boiling of the issue and the overcomplication and leave only the pure essence of the issue, allowing us to see exactly how trivial and foolish it is to further division and hate especially when it comes to educating children. In a follow-up title, Not Your Villain, transgender boy Bells takes center stage. The story depicts an array of queer and trans characters fighting for equality and justicebut also enjoying love and support from their families and communities. While the book doesnt explicitly focus on themes of being transgender, non-binary, or otherwise gender diverse, that is somewhat where it draws its point from. For late-elementary and early middle-school kids, theres a real need for explanatory nonfiction books that challenge some of our traditional thinking about bodies and gender, said Remy Timbrook, a librarian at the Oakland Public Library in Oakland, California. Dreadnought confronts new enemies and new truths in the follow-up title 'Sovereign: Nemesis Book 2.'. The books sequel shows Julin making delightful mischief at a lesbian wedding with a new friend named Marisol, a little girl whos equally authentic to herself. Emily Hersh, librarian at Navarro Early College High School in Austin, Texas, said graphic novels are huge with her schools large immigrant population because so many of the students are English-language learners, and the illustrations aid their understanding. 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Wade, These 25 States Aim to Protect Life, GOP Presidential Candidates Head to Iowa for Sen. Joni Ernsts Annual Roast and Ride, Deep policy understanding from over 100 experts. Some look like boys, others like girls, and some appear gender neutral. Its very much a question of what will you do when the revolution comeswill you use what privilege you have to help? Treu said. But there is something about Shane that even Josh doesn't know. But for those of us who grew up in eras when those books didnt existor in communities where they werent yet accessibleit can be hard to know where to start in choosing books for our own kids. Its not easy being a queer teen in 2022, and it was even less so in the 1950s, said Spokane, Washingtonbased librarian Candise Branum of her pick, Last Night at the Telegraph Club. By the time readers are young adults, their worlds have broadened to include a wide range of people and life experiences that inform their developing identities. But then we have All Boys Arent Blue. Then she discovers that she was born intersex. The beautiful thing about books is that not only do they help us understand the world around us, but they can also help us see ourselves better too. You can change pronouns from he to she or from she to he, you can use new ones like ze, or create your own like tree!, The book encourages children to explore pronouns and ultimately be called by what feels right to you.. What will the other kids say? Neither is not a bunny or a bird, but has characteristics of both. Skip to content Marketplace Listen Live This list, which is divided into books for 0-5 year-olds, elementary school students and middle schoolers, includes recommended informational picture books, as well as works of fiction and non-fiction that challenge gender norms and explore the wide spectrum of gender . Each essay in this collection confronts issues of fitting in, dealing with issues of presentation and combating societal expectations. Black, queer, and trans, Felix Love worries that he will never find his happily ever after. Gender expression is how an individual presents their gender to others through physical appearance and behaviorthis may include, but is not limited to, dress, voice, or movement. Branum praises the story for including a sense of hope and positivity absent from most queer pulp tales of the era. Will Neither find a place to fit in? Ho'onani doesn't feel like she is completely a girl (wahine) or a boy (kane). There always has to be a book about parenting on more non-fiction learning lists like these, and thats the place that Stuck in the Middle with You: A Memoir of Parenting in Three Genders fills brilliantly. Some work ends up reinforcing the very concepts they set out to attack through the way they explain their stories, and though this is mostly done unintentionally, it can still lead to feelings of being not enough or not fitting in when binary categories of gender are set in stone by both sides as though they are some fence to jump over. The modern history of our world is darkened at every corner by the pain of people who share his story almost to a tee. I would know. The books and lessons were developed by a district-led task force community members, parents and educators in response to the state's adoption of new Health Education standards. The push is to start young. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa teachers will be banned from raising gender identity and sexual orientation issues with students through grade six, and all books depicting sex acts will be removed from school libraries, under a bill signed into law by Republican Iowa Gov. Mock explores concepts of femininity and culture, while providing an honest look at the hardships she faced. Of course, Krissys social life changes significantly once her condition becomes known, something familiar to lots of queer/gender-nonconforming kids, but this allows her to make new friends and discover who she really is. Research shows that early exposure to sexual content is linked to poor mental health, risky sexual behavior, and even pornography addiction in adulthood. The 10 Best Books With Intersex Characters You Should Have Read Already By Now! What comes next for Ai is a journey through the countrys social system, religions, and how it handles gender as a social construct amazing insights that forever open his mind and unravel new secrets. Will she tell him everything about herself, including her former gender identity? That doesnt mean that it has any less of a profound composition or any less talent put into its editing and writing, however. Instead, Roy and Silo wound their necks around each other. Though there is trauma, Jess and her community fight for their rights and validity, all while navigating romance and relationships. Read LGBTQ-inclusive picture books and encourage discussions around respect and diversity. The adults around him were focused on one thing and one thing only forcing Dylan to be Daphne and making sure that he acted like a woman. It has such emotional intelligenceI cant recommend this one highly enough, they said. Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi ($15 at the time of publication), Also available at A Room of Ones Own (about $19 at the time of publication). It also deals with Alexs parents, who do not support her decision to present female, and the tension this brings into the family. Pen has always presented more masculine but faces more criticism as she grows older, both from her parents and from peers. Figure skating champion Ana-Marie Jin is not enthused about skating a princess-themed program. And his brother dances with my Princess Boy., His dad tells my Princess Boy how pretty he looks in a dress.. By day he is Prince Sebastian in search of a bride. The best books about gender identity Home Gender identity books The best books about gender identity Who picked these books? We learn about the scale of this and so much more through Scholinskis ironic sense of humor and admirable wit in even the darkest situations, and what a joyous though painful journey it is. One Florida school board . The books characters have a group of friends who are also on the queer spectrum, and its beautiful to see them interact so naturally and comfortably, like its not even a big deal that ones transgender or ones gay, Hersh said. Gender diverse is a term that addresses the . It is definitely a critique on the way culture expects people to fit into neat categories, but no one really does. People communicate their gender to others through gender expression. Its main character, Kivali, feels like she has to hide and fit in, but feels increasingly unable to do so. The memoir explores the way her transition changed Boylans relationships with friends, colleagues, and her wife, as well as her writing career. These books feature trans, nonbinary, and gender-creative characters confronting challenges that range from the supernatural to the painfully real. The stories cut across history and time to give a trans, queer perspective on well-known stories like Little Red Riding Hood and more. So many kids have encountered the rainbow equality flag, whether posted in the window of a local shop or flying from a neighbors porch. But any education about queerness or gender identity is purely secondary to each chapters plots. Usually when you find queer fiction, one identity is showcased per storyand I understand that as a teaching tool, Milon said. Packing together the best aspects of the rest of its kind, this masterpiece by Ash Hardell is a collection of tips, explanations, and insights into various things, labels, and identities that fall under the queer communitys roof. It didnt take long for Dylan Scholinski to work out that he was trans, but it only took a little longer until he was fifteen for the cruel, unfair consequences of simply trying to live his own life to catch up with him. Who will stand beside him if his secret is revealed? ISBN: 9780399554674 . Bodies Are Cool written and illustrated by Tyler Feder (about $13 at the time of publication), Also available at Charis Books & More ($18 at the time of publication), Bodies Are Cool is a body-positive picture book that takes a casual approach to queer representation. Gender-Affirming Surgery Leaves People Lonelier and Depressed, Study by Transgender Surgery Department Chairman Finds. Regardless of whether theyre actually trans, non-binary, or otherwise, gender non-confirming, all of our readers have surely heard more than their fair contact with transphobia or general gender stigma. For more book suggestions, check out the American Library Associations Stonewall Book Awards titles, which introduced a Children and Young Literature category in 2010. Similar laws have been approved in many states led by Republicans. A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara OLeary, illustrated by Qin Leng ($18 at the time of publication), Also available at Unabridged Bookstore ($18 at the time of publication), For a more straightforward depiction of family diversity, Naomi Socher-Lerner, childrens librarian at the Free Library of Philadelphia, said A Family Is a Family Is a Family is a bit on the nose, but very sweet. The picture book tells the story of a class of kids asked to share what makes their families special. Can she adjust to her new identity in time to save the world from a cyborg named Utopia? Mama's Nightingale. Gender-nonconforming folks are constantly othered and ostracized for not fitting in. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon (books). The book comes from publishing house Flamingo Rampant, a great source of picture and middle-grade books that center on LGBTQ identities, Steube said. Join the millions of people who benefit from The Daily Signals fair, accurate, trustworthy reporting with direct access to: Dont have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Jacob wants to wear a dress to school. These books feel more restricting than informative and educating, given that being queer and finding your sexuality is supposed to be liberating rather than confining. But the coming-out process isnt the narratives primary focus. Try a free 30-day trial from Audible today, and you'll get access to a selection of Audible Originals and audiobooks, along with a credit to purchase any title in their premium selection, regardless of price (including many of the books on this list!).