Pride Month is almost here, and now’s the perfect time to refresh your book displays, lesson plans, and library collections with inclusive reads! This Librarian Prep Post features a curated list of new LGBTQ+ titles that celebrate identity, foster empathy, and uplift every reader.
Read on and get your library Pride Month-ready!
Jacob Stories
Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 3
Jacob, the star of one of the most banned books of the last decade, and his teacher and classmates explore what identity means in stories that question and answer common assumptions.
Homophobia, 2nd Edition: Deal with it and turn aggression into allyship
From the Series Lorimer Deal With It
Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 9
This interactive and highly visual new edition of Homophobia: Deal with it helps kids determine what is—and what isn’t—homophobia and what they can do to make their schools, homes, and communities safer and more inclusive for everyone.
Either Way: The Story of a Gay Kid
Interest Level: Grade 7 – Grade 9
Cael wants to know who he is more than anything. With the help of a trusted teacher, a new friend, and his favorite book, Cael comes out as gay, comfortable with who he is and confident that it’s okay.
Evelyn Hooker and the Fairy Project
From the Series Extraordinary Women in Psychology
Interest Level: Grade 7 – Grade 9
This evocative biography tells the story of Evelyn Hooker, the extraordinary woman behind the research, advocacy, and allyship that led to the removal of the “Homosexuality” diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
From Silence to Solidarity: The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
From the Series Spotlight on Social Justice
Interest Level: Grade 6 – Grade 12
LGBTQ+ communities have made much progress toward achieving equal rights, but many members have and continue to face legal, social, and cultural challenges. From past to present, learn about the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in North America.
Lorimer Real Love
Interest Level: Grade 9 – Grade 12
These high/low YA romance novels focus on realistic teen relationships. Stories feature diverse characters, settings, and themes relevant to today’s teens including LGBTQIA+ and cross-cultural romance, body image, dating, and sexuality.
Sometimes the Girl
Interest Level: Grade 9 – Grade 12
When eighteen-year-old Holiday, an aspiring writer, gets a short-term job sorting through the attic of an acclaimed elderly author, the author’s secrets change how Holi views art and life.
Keep Building Your Collection
Expand your pride month picks with even more great reads at lernerbooks.com. You can also check out our past Pride Month blog posts for even more book recommendations and inspiration for your library or classroom.