Primary school age books which look at different family relationships, with a focus on same sex families.
ABC A Family Alphabet book
Have fun with the children, moms, dads, and pets in this delightful book that celebrates alternative families as it teaches young children the alphabet. Fun, colorful illustrations by Desiree Keane and Brian Rappa.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Two Lives Publishing ISBN: 0967446813
Asha's Mums
Asha, an African-Canadian girl whose lesbian mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of classmates, responds with clarity and assuredness that having two mums is no big deal--they are a family.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Women's Press (UK) ISBN: 0889611432
Best Best Colors
Nate has trouble deciding what his favorite colour is, but his two mammas help him realize that he does not have to have a best, best colour. (Bilingual: English and Spanish)
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Redleaf Press ISBN: 1884834698
Dad David, Baba Chris and ME
This brightly illustrated book for children aged 5-10 years old tells Ben’s story about his ordinary life. Ben was adopted by his gay parents – Dad David and Baba Chris – when he was four years old, and they live happily together in an ordinary house, on an ordinary street and do ordinary things.When Ben starts junior school his ordinary life is turned upside down. Some children begin to tease him because he lives with two dads. They try to hurt and upset him by calling him “gay”. Now Ben is worried that he is not so ordinary any more and he is anxious about being different. Baba Chris and Ben’s school teacher Miss Patel help Ben to understand that children live in all kinds of families and that what matters most is that children are loved and cared for.
Age Range: Key Stage 1/2
Published by British Association for Adoption and Fostering ISBN: 978 1 905664 89 4
Daddy’s Room Mate
A first title in a new line of books for children with homosexual parents , told in a straightforward manner. A young boy describes his father's relationship with his roommate, Frank (they "live together, work together, eat together, sleep together . . ."), and his own relationship with these men--shopping, gardening, and enjoying the zoo, beach, movies, etc. He believes that "being gay is just one more kind of love. And love is the best kind of happiness."
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Alyson Books ISBN: 1555831184
Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story
This is a delightful story of little girl with two mums as she learns how to be nice to her cat. Follow along as Emma gets in trouble trying to play with Meesha Kitty and cheer as she learns to treat him with care.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by TWOMOMBOOKS.com ISBN:1413416004
Felicia’s Favorite Story
It's bedtime and Felicia wants to hear her very favourite story--the story of how she was adopted. So Mama Linda and Mama Nessa tell Felicia how they flew off in a big silver airplane to meet her; how they loved her as soon as they saw her; and how they named her Felicia, a Spanish word that means "happy" because Felicia was such a happy baby and because having her in their family makes Mama Linda and Mama Nessa very, very happy.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Two Lives Publishing ISBN: 0967446856
Flying Free
A picture book for children of LGBT and diverse families. Flying Free is narrated by a firefly captured by a five-year-old girl named Violet. Violet plans to use the firefly as her very own nightlight. Her mommies go along with the idea, but the firefly refuses to live in a glass jar. After several attempts, the firefly devises the ultimate escape plan. . .what will her fate be? Flying Free is suitable for children age 2-6.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by BookSurge Publishing ISBN: 1594579725
Generous Jefferson Bartleby Jo
Generous Jefferson Bartleby Jones by Forman Brown, is a story told in rhyming verses about young Jeff and his two fathers. Jeff has a lot to feel good about because of the four days out of the week he spends with his dads, they always find exciting things to do like hiking, farming, horseback riding, or taking trips to the zoo. Jeff's best friends, Chad and Kim, don't feel as lucky as Jeff because they have only one dad each. Jeff generously loans out his dads, sometimes to Kim and other times to Chad. One day he loans both other dads out on the same day and is left alone.
Age Range: Key Stage 2
Published by Alyson Books ISBN-10: 1555831982
Going to Fair Day
The continuation of the story begun in My House about a 5-year-old girl and her two mums. The family go to a Fair Day and end up adopting a dog that wins the dog competition.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Learn to Include ISBN: 0958129010
Heather has two mommies
The first lesbian-themed children's book ever published—now in color—Lesléa Newman’s groundbreaking children’s book has an enduring message about acceptance and tolerance that will appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds: The most important thing about any family is that all the people in it love each other.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Alyson Books ISBN: 1593501366
How my family came to be
Reaches out to younger children with fun and expressive illustrations and also to older children with the explanation of how 2 dads went through the process of creating their family.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by New Family Press ISBN-10: 0974200808
In Our Mother’s House
The oldest of three adopted children recalls her childhood with mothers Marmee and Meema, as they raised their African American daughter, Asian American son, and Caucasian daughter in a lively, supportive neighborhood. Filled with recollections of family holidays, rituals, and special moments, each memory reveals loving insight.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by: Philomel Books ISBN: 039925076X
If I had a Hundred Mummies
A little girl imagines what it would be like to have 100 mummies, eventually deciding that she is happy with just the two she's got.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Onlywomen Press Ltd ISBN: 0906500915
Josh and Jaz have three mums
Josh and Jess are five-year-old twins who have been adopted by a lesbian couple. They are anxious when their school teacher asks them to produce a family tree. With their mums they produce a family tree that wins the admiration of their classmates.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by British Association for Adoption and Fostering ISBN-10: 1905664125
King and King and Family
Newlyweds King Lee and King Bertie on their journey into the noisy jungle. As they float down a river, wild animal families turn out to greet them but the royal travellers suspect something more significant awaits them in the trees. The illustrious pair soon discover that theres no adventure more wonderful than starting a family.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Tricycle Press ISBN: 1582461139
Koalas on Parade
This is book 4 in the Learn-to-Include series, suitable for reading to under 8's and for beginner readers from 6-8 years. In this book, the narrator's mums help her make a koala costume for her school's costume parade. When she finds out that her friend Hannah is also a koala, the two girls dance together in the parade and take home first prize!
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Learn to Include ISBN: 0958129037
Mama eat ant, yuck!
This book uses simple rhyming text to tell a funny story in the family life of one-year-old Emma, her Mama and Mommy, and her siblings. The large colorful illustrations enchant children as well as adults. The child-friendly title is repeated throughout the book, especially delightful for two-year-olds who love to shout out a beloved phrase and are proud of knowing the appropriate moments. Suitable for reading to children from newborns to 7-year-olds.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Hundredth Munchy Publications ISBN: 0965670023
Molly’s Family
When Molly draws a picture of her family for her kindergarten class, Tommy jeers at her that no one has two mommies. At first she is angry and hurt, but with the support of her teacher and her loving parents--Mommy (her birth mother) and Mama Lu (her adoptive mother)--she comes to accept her family. What helps her most is seeing many different kinds of families: Tanya has a mommy, a daddy, a grandma, and two brothers; Stephen has no father; Adam has no mother ("Daddy and me!"); some kids are adopted. Wooding's warm, soft-textured colored-pencil pictures show Molly in her lively classroom and in her happy, nurturing home.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux ISBN: 0374350027
Mum and Mom are Getting Married
This title is intended for ages 8 years & under. It is a celebration of love and family. When Rosie comes home to find her Mom dancing alone in the living room - on a school day - she knows something wonderful is about to happen. So when one of her two mothers announces, "Your Mum and I are getting married!" they can't wait to start planning the big day. Rosie has so many questions. Will she get to be a flower girl? Can she get a new dress? Will there be food and a fabulous wedding cake? At this party, friends, family and fun come together for a joyous celebration of love in a changing world.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Second Story Press ISBN: 1896764843
My house
A story about a five-year-old girl, her pets and her home. She has two dogs, a cat, and two mums. A great book for all children, but especially important as an educational tool for same-sex parented families. Ages 5-7.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Learn To Include ISBN: 0958129002
One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dads, Blue Dads
Two children - one with blue dads and one from a more traditional family - compare notes in this light hearted, easy-to-read book about parents who are different. In the end, of course, they discover that blue dads aren't really that different from other dads. Except for one thing.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Alyson Publications ISBN: 1555838480
Picnic in the Park
"Picnic in the Park" is a fully illustrated book for children which tells the story of Jason's birthday picnic and his guests. In so doing, it introduces children to a range of family structures, including two- and one-parent families; adoptive and foster families; gay and lesbian families; and step-families. It also shows a diverse range of adults and children. Using the device of a birthday picnic in the park, each page shows a new set of guests coming to the party; children can draw their own and friends' families on the pages at the back. Vividly illustrated, this book will provide family placement workers with an invaluable tool for introducing children to contemporary family structures in their preparation work with children prior to placement. Indeed, given the scope of the contents, this book could be used with any child in any setting to introduce them to modern-day family structures.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by British Association for Adoption & Fostering ISBN: 1905664087
Spacegirl Pukes
Young spacegirl is especially lucky to have two mothers and a very curious cat nearby when rocket troubles and nausea begin.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Onlywomen Press Ltd ISBN: 0906500877
The Daddy Machine
Two children with lesbian mothers wonder what it would be like to have a father, so they make themselves a daddy machine, turn it on, and a dad pops out. Then comes another, and another, and another ...
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Alyson Books ISBN: 1555838464
The Manu Series
Manu is a series of bilingual Spanish-English cardboard picture books dealing with situations from the daily life of Manu and his two mothers. Includes “Manu sets the table”, “Manu's bedtime” & “No, Manu!”. (Bilingual: English and Spanish)
Published by Topka (Spain). 2006
Age Range: Early Years
ISBN: 84-935239-2-5 / 84-935239-1-7 / 84-935239-0-9
Only available by ordering online from www.topka.es
The Rainbow Cubby House
The Rainbow Cubby House is about the narrator, her mums, her friend Jed and his dads building a cubby house in the backyard. This is book 3 in the Learn to Include easy-to-read series. It is suitable for reading to under 8's and for beginner readers from 6-8 years.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Learn to Include ISBN: 0958129029
The White Swan Express
This tender, ebullient picture book tracks a quartet of parents in North America and a quartet of baby girls in China as everyone prepares for the "special day" they meet. With its matter-of-fact mix of parents that include two married couples, a lesbian couple and a single mother, the book's understated message-that families come in all shapes and sizes, and are bound together by love-comes through loudly and clearly.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Clarion Books ISBN: 0618164537
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding
When her favorite uncle, Bobby, announces that he is getting married to his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe worries that he won’t have time for her anymore. The characters are all guinea pigs in human dress, and the sweet, double-page spreads in watercolor and graphite show the idyllic bond between the child and her uncle, as they walk together in the woods, row on the river, and more. In contrast are the scenes of her sadness and jealousy until she learns to have fun with both Bobby and Jamie together—even as they talk about their plans to raise their own kids. The climax is the joyful, exciting wedding—the couple in tuxedos, Chloe as the flower girl, and the big, extended family all together, smiling and teary
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Putnam Juvenile ISBN-10: 0399247122
Two Moms, The Zark and Me
A young child with two moms, a playful animal called a Zark, and the narrow-minded McFinks, all come together in this whimsical story that looks at just what a family is really all about.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by Alyson Books ISBN: 1555832369
While You Were Sleeping
While you Were Sleeping Lovingly describes two women learning that they will adopt a newborn baby boy. It speaks to the hearts of all who cherish children while validating non-traditional families of all sorts.
Age Range: Early Years
Published by: Burks Publishing ISBN: 1412028531
Who’s in a Family
Family is important. But who's in a family? This picture book provides the answer with a series of family snapshots that has no preconceptions about what makes a family. There are even snapshots from some of children's favourite animal families.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Tricycle Press ISBN: 188367266X
123 A Family Counting Book
Have fun with the kids, moms, dads and pets in this delightful book that celebrates alternative families as it teaches kids to count from one to twenty. All of the full color paintings depict families headed by gays and lesbians. Two dads read a bedtime story to their kids; two moms share popsicles with their kids on the porch; and several families gather around the campfire on a summer night.
Age Range: Key Stage 1
Published by Two Lives ISBN: 0967446805
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