The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya; Rajni Perera (Illustrator)In rhyming text, a young Hindu boy asks his mother about the dot, or bindi, that she wears above her nose on her forehead. She describes why she wears it, and offers the boy his own yellow bindi that watches over him, reminds him he is special and beautiful, and helps him be true.
The Family Book by Todd Parr (Illustrator)Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what.
Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima (Illustrator)When Harriet, who loves costumes, wears her penguin costume while shopping with her two dads for her birthday party, she is literally carried away by a waddle of penguins there buying ice. They take Harriet with them in hot-air balloons back to their snow-covered home. Now she must hatch a plan to get back to the store in the city.
Hurricane Child by Kheryn CallenderOn the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, twelve-year-old Caroline is known for her bad luck because she was born during a hurricane. A new student from Barbados named Kalinda arrives and becomes Caroline's only friend--and her first crush. As Caroline works through her feelings for Kalinda, the two set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother and are followed by a mysterious spirit.
It Feels Good to Be Yourself by Theresa Thorn; Noah Grigni (Illustrator)This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Illustrator)Sparse text and colorful illustrations tell the story of a young boy named Julián who dreams of being a mermaid after seeing three women on a subway with mermaid-like gowns. He dresses up at home and his supportive abuela then takes him to a parade of similar people dressed like him.
The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison LevyRelates the adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make their way through a school year, Kindergarten through sixth grade, and deal with a grumpy new neighbor.
Neither by Airlie AndersonBecause Neither, a green creature that looks like both a chicken and a rabbit, is unlike both the blue rabbits and the yellow birds of the Land of This and That, he is excluded from their games and sent away. Neither sets out find a new place--the Land of All--where all kinds of creatures are welcome.
Perfectly Norman by Tom PercivalA young boy named Norman has always been a perfectly normal child until one day he sprouted a pair of wings. Nervous about what others might say, he hides his wings under a coat which makes him miserable. Until one day, he's tired of hiding them and he lets everyone see him for who he really is--a normal boy with an extraordinary pair of wings.
Princess Princess Ever After by K. O'NeillWhen Princess Amira rescues kind-hearted Princess Sadie from her tower prison, the two adventure across the kingdom and discover they bring out the best in each other. When a jealous sorceress threatens Sadie, the two must use all their know-how, bravery, and kindness to figure out what "happily ever after" means for them.
Red by Michael Hall (Illustrator)Red's factory-applied label says that he is red, but despite the efforts of his teacher, fellow crayons, and family members, he only seems to draw blue objects. While others think Red is lazy or broken or not very bright, a new friend offers Red a fresh perspective and he discovers what he's really good at--drawing blue jeans, bluebirds, and blueberries!
Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino; Isabelle Malenfant (Illustrator)A little boy named Morris is teased and excluded when he wears a tangerine dress during dress-up time at school. He stays home from school, but after having a vivid dream, he paints a picture of it and brings it to school. His picture inspires an imaginative playtime that draws others in and helps Morris--in his tangerine dress--make new friends.
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca SteadDespite her parents' divorce, her father's coming out as gay, and his plans to marry his boyfriend, ten-year-old Bea is reassured by her parents' unconditional love, excited about getting a stepsister, and haunted by something she did last summer at her father's lake house.
When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff; Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)As a transgender child named Aidan prepares for his new baby sibling to be born, he worries about making sure everything is perfect. But he realizes that even if he's making some mistakes in getting ready for the baby, his most important job is to be a loving big brother.