Compiled by Shannon Schinagl, Children's Librarian, King County Library System
Children’s Picture Books Addressing
the Topic of Homosexuality
Fiction
DeHaan, Linda. King and King. 2000.
Presented as a fairy tale, this book begins with a Queen deciding that her son, the Prince, needs to get married. Princesses come from far and wide, and the Prince is not interested in any of them. The last princess is accompanied by her brother, another prince, and the two princes fall in love, marry, and become King and King!
DeHaan, Linda. King & King & Family. 2004.
A sequel to 2000’s King and King, this continuation follows King Lee and King Bertie on their honeymoon in the jungle, where they see many wonderful things! When they get home, they find a little jungle girl who has stowed away in their suitcase. They decide to adopt her.
Garden, Nancy. Molly’s Family. 2004.
A book about a young girl, Molly, who deals with teasing by her friends that “you can’t have two mommies!” Open House Night at school is coming up. Molly draws a picture of her family – herself, Mommy, Mama Lu – to put on the wall. Other children see it and, after discussing different kinds of families, decide that you cannot have a mommy and a mama. Molly’s parents and teacher get her to see things differently.
Newman, Leslea. Felicia’s Favorite Story. 2002.
This is the story of a lesbian couple who adopt a Guatemalan baby.
Parr, Todd. The Family Book. 2003.
This is a book that celebrates all kinds of families, including families with two moms or two dads.
Simon, Norma. All Families Are Special. 2003.
This is another book that celebrates all kinds of families. In this story, a teacher asks her students to tell about their families. One of the children, Hannah, tells of her two mommies.
Willhoite, Michael. Daddy’s Roommate. 1990.
A book about a young boy with a gay father. The father and his boyfriend are depicted doing all sorts of daily activities together: eating, shaving, working, etc. The young boy is also depicted doing activites with his father and/or the boyfriend: going to ballgames, catching bugs, etc.
Willhoite, Michael. Daddy’s Wedding. 1996.
In this sequel to Daddy’s Roommate, Nick’s father gets married to the boyfriend we are introduced to in the first book. This book highlights Nick’s important part in the wedding ceremony and the wedding ceremony itself.
Non-Fiction
Newman, Leslea. Heather Has Two Mommies. 1989.
This story is about two women who fall in love, their decision to have a child together, and that child’s early life.
Greenberg, Keith Elliot. Zack’s Story. 1996.
This book is written in the first person by an 11-year-old boy named Zack. Zack’s parent were married, but divorced. After the divorce, Zack’s mother discovered that she’s a lesbian, and her girlfriend now lives with them. Zack describes what it’s like to have parents who are lesbians and the struggles he has encountered.