Queer representation in children’s books beyond two moms or two dads

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to help educators provide a holistic view of the LGBTQ community by highlighting children’s books that include non-parental LGBTQ characters.

Design/methodology/approach

The author selected over 80 children’s books honored by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List. Twenty-two books were analyzed that contain examples of LGBTQ adults existing beyond the homonormative nuclear family, e.g. two same-sex parents raising children.

Findings

The author discusses various ways of living represented in these books, such as chosen families, extended families, romantic partnerships and singlehood.

Originality/value

With the increased number of high-quality LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books published in the past decade, this study provides the foundation for educators to select various texts that reveal diverse representations of LGBTQ individuals.

Citation

Olson, P.C. (2024), "Queer representation in children’s books beyond two moms or two dads", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-12-2023-0070