Out on the Shelves: Rainbow Families

The books in this list all feature rainbow families of all shapes and sizes. There are families with two mums, or two dads, or two grandads instead of a grandad and a grandma. There are books that discuss different kinds of families, stories that show the awkwardness in welcoming someone you love back home after they’ve been away, stories that show a day at the beach or a family wedding or the arrival of a new baby or the special time spent with grandparents, and even one that shows the frustration felt when your parents just won’t stop talking to the neighbour when you’re on the way to the park.

Updated June 30, 2024
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Uncle Bobby's wedding
Brannen, Sarah S.
Paper Book
Chloe's favorite uncle is getting married, and she's not happy about it. But after a magical day with Uncle Bobby and his boyfriend, Jamie, Chloe realizes she's not losing an uncle, but gaining one. Selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best picture books of 2020 and by the American...
Mama and mummy and me in the middle
LaCour, Nina
Paper Book
Daddy & Dada
Brockington, Ryan
Paper Book
Hi, I'm Rumi. Some of my friends have one mom and one dad. Some have one mom or one dad. I have two dads. Daddy and Dada. Daddy sings songs with me. Dada reads me stories. Every family is different. And that's pretty cool. This sweet,...
My daddies!
Peter, Gareth
Paper Book
A funny, heartfelt picture-book celebrating same-sex parents and shared story time, perfect for introducing children to the different kinds of family in the world today. Set off on a series of incredible adventures with an adorable family as the stories they read burst into...
And Tango makes three
Richardson, Justin
CD
The heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family is narrated by award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris in this book and CD package. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the...
A plan for Pops
Smith, Heather
Paper Book
"A positive and realistic representation of both a wheelchair user and an elderly, interracial gay male couple." --Kirkus Reviews "A beautiful and uplifting book." --School Library Journal Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They...
When Aidan became a brother
Lukoff, Kyle
Paper Book
Stonewall Book Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA) This sweet and groundbreaking picture book, winner of the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, celebrates the changes in a transgender boy's life, from his initial coming-out to becoming a big brother. When Aidan was born...

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