8 Boys Books for Pride Month
Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
By Jonathon Reed
To recognize the start of Pride Month, I wanted to feature a list of high-quality LGBTQ+ children’s books for parents to read with their young ones or teachers to include in their classroom.
I ended up featuring books in which the main character is assigned male. I chose to do that—despite the pervasive lack of female representation in children’s literature and its accompanying myth about boys’ reluctance to read female characters—in order to share books that offer representation for boys (and trans girls) who don’t fit into our society’s cis- and heteronormative boxes.
It matters that children are able to place themselves in the shoes of characters who reflect their identities and experiences—not side characters, that is, and not just characters with whom they just feel empathy. It matters even more so for young people whose feelings put them at odds with systems of homophobia and transphobia.
So here’s a short list of books for a spectrum of boys—for pride, and Pride.
Jacob’s New Dress
By Sarah and Ian Hoffman
“With creativity, imagination, and resilience Jacob teaches us there are many ways to be a boy.” — Melissa Atkins Wardy
At some point in my childhood, I would have gotten tired of Sarah Hoffman’s idealistic approach to gender-based bullying—but at an earlier point, this book would have provided much-needed affirmation and self-love. Check out My Princess Boy for a non-white story.
Julián Is a Mermaid
By Jessica Love
“A celebration of all children who want to do things differently than the parental figures in their lives—and a love letter to the grownups who deeply understand them.” — Gothamist
Winner of last year’s Stonewall Book Award. A tender and captivating glimpse of gender non-conformity and urban community, this book reminds me of Saturday Church, but without the heartbreak.
Prince & Knight
By Daniel Haack
“A colourful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love. An appealing story for parents and children alike.” — Booklist
My best friend and I have always talked about jamming the heteronormativity of traditional fairytales. Simultaneously on the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List Top 10 and the Office for Intellectual Freedom’s Top 10 Most Challenged Books.
The Best at It
By Maulik Pancholy
“The protagonist’s devastatingly honest voice pulls readers deeply into a fast-paced journey riddled with heartbreakingly authentic moments of anxiety, confusion, and triumph.” — Kirkus
One of this year’s Stonewall Honor Books, and one of the most heartfelt and most authentic explorations of middle school mental health, relationships and sexuality I’ve read in a long time. Check out its Educators’ Guide.
The Whispers
By Greg Howard
“This taut, moving tale delves beyond loss into issues of sexuality, conformity and self-acceptance…a masterful exploration into the power of storytelling.” — The New York Times
An exceptionally unique story that carries grief, determination and imagination in a narrative about coming of age and coming to terms. Deserves all the praise it gets.
So Hard to Say
By Alex Sánchez
“Deftly presents the portrait of a boy teetering on the brink of reinvention who must grapple against his own fears that he might be gay.” — New York Public Library
Winner of the Lambda Literary Award in 2004. An early hallmark of a magnificent LGBTQ+ writer whose new gay teen superhero graphic novel, You Brought Me the Ocean, is coming out this week.
Gracefully Grayson
By Ami Polonsky
“A kind and earnest look at a young transgender adolescent’s experience, portrayed with gentleness and respect.” — Kirkus
As a close supporter and mentor of transgender youth, this story found its way deep into my heart. I cried multiple times. Even looking at the cover makes me emotional.
How to be Remy Cameron
By Julian Winters
“Remy’s self-awareness and growing sense of a true identity are dealt with extremely authentically. Be true to you. It’s a concise and strong message.” — Trish Talks Texts
An impactful examination of the way high schoolers navigate multiple identities and the labels that come with them. A scene with the dad also made me tear up and text all my friends.
P.S. Racial diversity is as big of an issue in children’s literature as gender and sexual diversity, which is why I made an effort to represent a variety of young people in this list. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, however, Indigenous youth are among the most underrepresented, so I also wanted to mention Adam Garnet Jones’ Fire Song, which has a gay Anishinaabe teen as its main character.
ICYMI This Week
(I’ve spent more of this week on Twitter than in academic articles or gender-focused circles and my ICYMI unashamedly reflects that.)
A thread about Black boys and police violence (Twitter)
A little boy starting the Black Lives Matter chants in Atlanta (Twitter)
“Protect innocent Black boys the way you protect guilty white boys” (Twitter)
Written by Next Gen Men Program Manager Jonathon Reed as part of Learnings & Unlearnings, a weekly newsletter reflecting on our experiences working with boys and young men. Subscribe to get Learnings & Unlearnings delivered to your email inbox.
As part of our NGM value of Curiosity, we regularly set goals to encourage ourselves to make time for reading. Read with us at NGM Library.