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Explore the books listed below and consider which would be a good addition to your current program materials and resources for children, families, and your staff. Although age guidelines are provided, many of the books for young children can be enjoyed by all ages.

Books for Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers & Young School-age

• A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
  A is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. (Review from NoveList K-8 Plus) 

• All I Want to be is Me by Phyllis Rothblatt
  “Eloquent and insightful! Finally an affirming voice speaks to children outside imposed gender categories.  All I Want To Be Is Me is about freedom, love and respect for all, and celebrating the search for one’s identity.” (Review from Edgardo Menvielle, MD, Co-director Outreach Program for Children with Gender-variant Behaviors and their Families, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC.) 

• Backwards Day by S. Bear Bergman
  For one day every year on the planet Tenalp, everything is backwards. Everything. So why didn't Andrea turn into a boy on Backwards Day this year? and why did she turn into a boy the very next day? (Review from NoveList K-8 Plus) 

• Be Who You Are by Jennifer Carr
  Nick's family supports him when he says he no longer wants to be called a boy or dress like a boy; "Always remember to be who you are Nick. Remember that we love you, and we are so proud of you." (Review from Google books) 

• Goblinheart by Brett Axel
  Using "fairy" and "goblin" in lieu of female and male, the author has created a timely symbolic fairy tale. A youngster named Julep, who lives in a forest tribe, insists on growing up to be a goblin rather than a fairy. The tribe learns to accept that Julep is a goblin at heart, eventually coming around to support the physical transition that must be made for Julep to live as a goblin (Review from Amazon editor) 

• I am Jazz by Jessica Herthel
  An autobiographical picture book describes trans-youth activist Jazz Jennings' story of embracing and asserting her transgender identity. Ultimately, Jazz’s self-acceptance, bolstered by her family's support and advocacy, acts as a beacon for readers, trans- and cisgender alike. An empowering, timely story with the power to help readers proclaim, in the words of Jazz’s parents, "We understand now." (Review an excerpt from Kirkus Reviews) 

• Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman
  This heartwarming story speaks to the unique challenges faced by boys who don’t identify with traditional gender roles. (Review from Google books) 

• King & King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
  You are cordially invited to join the merriest, most unexpected wedding of the year. King & King is a contemporary tale about finding true love and living happily ever after, sure to woo readers of any age. (Review from Google books) 

• Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino
  With warm, dreamy illustrations Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris’s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination. This is a sweetly told story about the courage and creativity it takes to be different. (Review from Google books) 

• My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis
  He's a Princess Boy. Inspired by the author's son, and by her own initial struggles to understand, this is a heart-warming book about unconditional love and one remarkable family. (Review from Google books) 

• Princess Smartypants by Babett Cole
  Not wishing to marry any of her royal suitors, Princess Smartypants devises difficult tasks at which they all fail, until the multitalented Prince Swashbuckle appears. (Review from Google books) 

• Pugdog by Andrea U’Ren
  When Mike discovers that his rough-and-tumble new puppy is a female, he tries to make her into a dainty dog. (Review from Google books) 

• Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
  Red's factory-applied label clearly says that he is red, but despite the best efforts of his teacher, fellow crayons and art supplies, and family members, he cannot seem to do anything right until a new friend offers a fresh perspective. (Review from Google books) 

• Ronald Humphrey is Wearing a What? by Eileen Kiernan-Johnson
  Roland Humphrey is a little boy who likes sparkly things and bright colors. He likes both sports and ballet, and doesn't understand why girls can like both but not boys. Will he bow to peer pressure, or follow his heart and be the authentic Roland Humphrey? (Review from Google books) 

• Rough, Tough Charley by Verta Kay
  Rhyming text tells how Charley became one of the best stagecoach drivers in the West, joined a men's club, and voted in a presidential election, all while disguising the fact that she was a woman. (Review from Google books) 

• When Kayla was Kyle by Amy Fabrikant
  When Kayla Was Kyle is a picture book children of all ages will want to read because it addresses the increasingly emerging ideas around Gender Diversity. Amy Fabrikant is a writer, literacy coach, and LGBTQ safe school consultant. (Review from Google books) 

• When Kathy is Keith by Wallace Wong
  A sensitive portrayal of a young girl who identifies as a boy. (Review from Google books)

• Who Are You? The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity by Brook Pessin-Whedbee
  This is a one-of-a-kind resource for understanding and celebrating the gender diversity that surrounds us. (Review from Google books) 

• 10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert
  Every night, Bailey dreams about magical dresses: dresses made of crystals and rainbows, dresses made of flowers, dresses made of windows. (Review from Google books) 

Older School-age

• Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: The Century-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights, with 21 Activities by Jerome Pohlen
  Part of the popular For Kids series, this book puts the historic struggle for LGBT equality into perspective. (Review from Google books) 

• Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Robin Stevenson
  The high point of Pride, the Pride Parade, is spectacular and colorful. But there is a whole lot more to Pride than rainbow flags and amazing outfits. How did Pride come to be? And what does Pride mean to the people who celebrate it? (Review from Google books) 

• Can I Tell You about Gender Diversity? A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals by CJ Atkinson
  With illustrations throughout, this is an ideal way to start conversations about gender diversity in the classroom or at home and suitable for those working in professional services and settings. (Review from Google books) 

• George by Alex Gino
  When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. (Review from Google books) 

• Parts and Hearts: A Kids (and Grown-Ups) Guide to Transgender Transition by Jenson J. Hillenbrand
  Parts and Hearts helps readers understand transgender transformation, both male to female and female to male. (Review from Google books)

Books for Adults

• The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals by Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper
  For any parent or professional entering this world for the first time, this book is indispensable. Beyond providing a necessary lifeboat for parents, it helps the professional develop empathy for those who are growing up transgender and the families that love them. (Review from Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) 

• Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children edited by Rachel Pepper
  The first collection to invite mothers of transgender and gender [expansive] children to tell their own stories. Often "transitioning" socially and emotionally alongside their children, parents have their own parallel process to work through, and few resources to depend on. Editor Rachel Pepper has gathered voices of women from all walks of life, with children ranging in age from six to sixty, to share their experiences. These mothers have learned how to advocate for their children and themselves. By speaking out here, they are blazing a brave trail for others to follow.  (Review from back cover, Cleis Press Inc.) 

• Gender Born, Gender Made by Diane Ehrensaft, PhD
  Offers parents, clinicians, and educators guidance on both the philosophical dilemmas and the practical, daily concerns of working with children who don't fit a "typical" gender mold. (Review from Google books) 

• Coming Around: Parenting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Kids by Anne Dohrenwend, PhD, ABPP
  Dohrenwend provides practical guidance for parents of gay, bisexual and transgender children, as well as an indispensable reference for therapists, clergy, educators and psychological self-help collections. (Review from Google books) 

• Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not by Joanne Herman
  Provides an introduction on what it means to be transgender. (Review from Google books) 

• Raising my Rainbow by Lori Duron
  Adventures in raising a fabulously gender creative son. (Review from Google books)