Everyone is different and unique. Books can help adults and children identify with characters about their differences or their family's differences. As a mom to a daughter that prefers hockey, skateboarding, lego, and who's favorite color is blue, it's important to me to nurture her nature and not push society's traditional gender roles, especially within the Latino culture. Here's a list of LGBTQ and diversity books that may help your child see differences in other children, themselves, or their family and best of all, includes Spanish titles.
1. When We Love Someone We Sing to Them: Cuando Amamos Cantamos
Geared for the older child, this book is about a boy who loves another boy and wants to serenade him. I love that it breaks stereotypes and shows a loving and supportive male parent relationship with the young boy, something so needed in the Latino culture.
Concept:
- WINNER--2019 International Latino Book Award (Best Children's Picture Book in English)
- WINNER--2019 International Latino Book Award (Best First Book-Children & Youth-Bilingual)
- 2019 American Library Association "Rainbow Book List" Selection
A reclamation of the Mexican serenata tradition, follow the story of a young boy who asks his father if there is a song for a boy who loves a boy. Como reapropiación de la serenata Mexicana, Cuando Amamos Cantamos cuenta la historia de un niño que le pide a su padre que canten una canción para un niño que ama a otro niño.
When We Love Someone We Sing to Them reframes a treasured cultural tradition to include LGBTQ experience. In this book, we learn about the Mexican tradition of singing to family and loved ones through one boy who naturally assumes the tradition includes him and his experience.
Book Info:
Page Number: 40 Pages
Type of Books: Hardcover
Language: English, Spanish
Reading Ages: 7 to 10 years old
2. Antonio's Card/ La tarjeta de Antonio
This story is about a boy with 2 moms, his mother and her life partner, and how he's faced with a challenge at school. I love the realness of this book and how it shows a non traditional Latino family represented.
Concept:
Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether or how to express his connection to both of the special women in his life. Rigoberto González's bilingual story about a nontraditional family resonates with all children who have been faced with speaking up for themselves or for the people they love. Cecilia Concepción Álvarez's paintings bring the tale to life in tender, richly hued detail.
Book Info:
Page Number: 32 pages
Type of Books: Hardcover, Paperback
Language: English, Spanish
Reading Ages: 7 to 10 years old
3. Julián Is a Mermaid or the Spanish version Sirenas
A wonderful and simple bilingual book that celebrates a little boy's individuality and love for mermaids and something special his abuela does in response. Available in Spanglish or Spanish.
Concept:
In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
Book Info:
Page Number: 40 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Paperback, Audiobook, Hardcover, Audio CD
Language: English
Reading Ages: 4 to 8 years old
SPANISH
4. It's OK to be Different or Está Bien Ser Diferente
A good book to be added for your Kindle library that helps kids learn about the different ways that they can be different and encourages them to show kindness.
Concept:
Every Child is Unique! Whether they are big or small, short or tall, like to swim, dance, sing or bike. Perhaps they have a special need or are from a different ethnic background. Maybe they wear glasses or talk differently. The truth is that all children are different and their individuality should be celebrated, not shunned. And this inspiring and brightly illustrated rhyming picture book does just that.
By highlighting the ways kids are different from one another it helps children to accept themselves and others as the beautifully unique individuals that they are. It's OK to be Different encourages kids to be kind and befriend those who are different from themselves, showing young children that they don't have to look alike or enjoy doing the same activities to be kind to one another.
Book Info:
Page Number: 28 pages
Type of Books: Kindle
Language: English
Reading Ages: 2 to 6 years oll
5. Pink Is for Boys
This is a super simple book with a lot of power. It teaches about colors but challenges the gender stereotype that blue is for boys and pink is for girls, teaching kids that colors are for everyone. A must have book in every young family's home library.
Concept:
An empowering and educational picture book that proves colors are for everyone, regardless of gender.
Pink is for boys . . . and girls . . . and everyone! This timely and beautiful picture book rethinks and reframes the stereotypical blue/pink gender binary and empowers kids-and their grown-ups-to express themselves in every color of the rainbow. Featuring a diverse group of relatable characters, Pink Is for Boys invites and encourages girls and boys to enjoy what they love to do, whether it's racing cars and playing baseball, or loving unicorns and dressing up. Vibrant illustrations help children learn and identify the myriad colors that surround them every day, from the orange of a popsicle, to the green of a grassy field, all the way up to the wonder of a multicolored rainbow.
Parents and kids will delight in Robb Pearlman's sweet, simple script, as well as its powerful message: life is not color-coded.
Book Info:
Page Number: 40 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Hardcover, Boardbook
Language: English
Reading Ages: 4 to 8 years old
6. Roxy the Last Unisaurus Rex
This is a really cute book about being different and sometimes not fitting in with the crowd. In subtle ways it challenges traditional gender roles..."And this runway ready prance and this sparkle?...It's all from my dad." Love that.
Concept:
Instagram superstar and New York Times bestselling author of Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes Eva Chen embarks on an all-new picture book venture of jurassic proportions, vibrantly brought to life by Matthew Rivera's rainbow watercolors.
Dinosaurs are awesome. Unicorns are, too. So what happens when you combine the best parts of each?
Roxy the Last Unisaurus Rex!
Join Roxy in all her sassy, steak-loving, glittery glory as she learns about the importance of staying true to yourself, celebrating your differences, and finding friends who love you for who you are.
Book Info:
Page Number: 32 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover
Language: English
Reading Ages: 4 to 6 years old
7. A Day of Pride: A children's book that Celebrates Diversity, Equality and Tolerance!
A wonderful book that teaches kids about celebrating pride. Though a scary witch character does appear in the book, it quickly teaches that even naysayers can change their mind.
Concept:
A Day of Pride is a rhymed book celebrating love and pride, and teaching the importance of acceptance and tolerance. It encourages children of all kind to be proud of themselves and accepting of others—exactly as they are. Invite your kid to an empowering and exciting journey on a magical day where everyone has a place.
It is a colorful day of celebration. Soon, the streets will be filled with people of all kinds, who will march in the festive Pride Parade. Miss Rainbow is ready to paint the city with her hues and colors, to fill every corner with love and pride. When the Witch of Shame appears, she threatens to ruin the great party.
Book Info:
Page Number: 36 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Board book
Language: English
Reading Ages: NA
8. The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families
Geared for the older child, his is a great book to have to sit and read with your child to get the sex, genders, and bodies conversation without it turning into something awkward. Definitely on my to buy list for when my daughter is older.
Concept:
An illustrated LGBTQ+ inclusive kid's guide to sex, gender and relationships education that includes children and families of all genders and sexual orientations, covering puberty, hormones, consent, sex, pregnancy and safety.
Book Info:
Page Number: 96 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Hardcover
Language: English
Reading Ages: 7 to 12 years old
9. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag
A great book to teach kids the origins of the rainbow flag and what it really stands for and who Harvey Milk was. Also a great book for human rights history.
Description:
★ An Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year selection
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rainbow Pride Flag with the very first picture book to tell its remarkable and inspiring history!
In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today's world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders's stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno's evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable - and untold - story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.
Book Info:
Page Number: 48 pages
Type of Books: Kindle, Hardcover
Language: English
Reading Ages: 5 to 8 years old
10. Fiona Flamingo
This book is so much more than about colors, it's about feelings, bullying, and being different. We were gifted this book and it's one of my daughter's favorites. It teaches that sometimes people (or flamingoes in this case) can be mean when you are different and can make you feel excluded, but that there is more beauty in showing your true colors and self.
Follow Fiona through her color-changing, feather-filled day as she learns to accept not only being a different color from the rest of her flamingo flock, but also that it's okay to be scared, angry, and sad at times.
Our first book recommended by teachers and doctors to help children understand and manage their feelings.
Book Info:
Language : English
Paperback : 56 pages
Reading age : 1 - 9 years
There you have it, some of our favorite books to celebrate pride and diversity in English and Spanish. No matter what your family make is or how unique your child is, teaching our little ones that despite our differences we can treat every human being with kindness is at the very core showing our love.
If you're looking more even more bilingual books on diversity check out our Best Children's Diversity Books in English and Spanish
Looking to foster a strong connection to your Latino roots and empower your child through bilingualism? Explore my comprehensive bilingual parenting course, Confident Bilingual Parenting: How to Raise a Bilingual Spanish Child Your Way. Gain valuable insights, practical strategies, and access to a private community, ensuring you have all the tools you need to nurture your child's language development and cultural awareness from an early age. It includes the Bilingual Resources Directory full of toys, books, media recommendations, and yes discounts.
You can also delve into my easy-to-read and visual book, Nobody Told Me This About Raising a Bilingual Child, which not only serves as a practical guide but also makes a thoughtful baby shower gift.
For more insights and inspiration, consider tuning in to The Latina Mom Legacy Podcast, where I empower parents raising bilingual kids through engaging case studies, expert interviews, and my personal words of wisdom.
No matter which path you choose, rest assured that I'm here to support your bilingual parenting journey in every way.
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