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This series includes The Witch Boy, The Hidden Witch, and The Midwinter Witch.

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The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

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The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

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It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

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It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

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In It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity, a diverse cast of characters is introduced and the book discusses their gender identities with readers. Readers will learn about the spectrum of gender identities and expression, and can refer to the text's glossary and resource list for further learning.

What makes this book awesome?:
This nonfiction book uses language that is child-friendly, includes a wide range of gender-based vocabulary terms, and even includes a glossary, a list of resources, and information about pronouns. It also features a very diverse set of characters including a transgender girl, her cisgender brother, a non-binary person, an agender person, gay and lesbian characters, boys who wear skirts, couples who identify as coming from different racial backgrounds, a person who uses a wheelchair, and people of color who come from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Theresa Thorn (illustrated by Noah Grigni)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: June 4, 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
Publishers Weekly (starred), Kirkus Reviews (starred), Booklist (starred), School Library Journal (starred)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://theresathorn.com/

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

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The book Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag goes into detail about the creation history and current usage of the Gay Pride Flag. We learn who made the flag, when it was made, why it was made, and see its usage and impact on today's world.

What makes this book awesome?:
This is the first picture book that tells readers about the history of the Gay Pride Flag. This true story will show readers the power and impact of this highly influential and iconographic flag.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Rob Sanders (illustrated by Steven Salerno)
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: April 10, 2018

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

BOOK AWARDS:
Junior Library Guild Selection, Rainbow List Choice: Picture Books (2019), CCBC Choices 2019 Choice: Historical People, Places, and Events (page 31), Logo Network added this book to its list of: 9 New LGBT Children's Books Every Kid Should Read

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Shelf Awareness (starred), Booklist, Publishers Weekly, The Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books (review no longer active on the website)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://www.robsanderswrites.com/pride

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Zenobia July is a novel about a transgender middle school student who discovers how empowering and fulfulling it is to live life as her true gender identity. Zenobia is a girl who recently moved in with her aunts. While she was growing up, her parents insisted that she was a boy, but now that she is at a new school, she gets the chance to be the girl she has always known herself to be. Zenobia grapples with how to present herself to others as she gets to know her new school and navigates friendships. When someone hacks into the school's website and posts harmful biased content on it, Zenobia uses her tech-savvy computer skills in an attempt to track down the person responsible.

What makes this book awesome?:
This book's diverse cast includes a female transgender character, a genderqueer person, an Asian transgender boy, a Black Muslim girl, two lesbian women, and a gay man who loves to perform in drag shows. The book will very likely feel relatable for transgender and other LGBTQIA+ folx. It serves as a representation of the transgender experience, which is valuable for LGBTQIA+ readers to see and for other readers to learn from.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Lisa Bunker
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (some websites list the publisher as Viking, Viking Children's, or Viking Press)
Publication Date: May 21, 2019

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Mystery,   Bildungsroman
Gender Perspective: The book is from the perspective of a female transgender person in middle school. The author is also a female transgender person.

BOOK AWARDS:
2020-2021 Golden Dome Nominee

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:

Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://www.lisabunker.net/zenobia-july

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Beetle is twelve-years old and is both a goblin and a witch. She lives in a town called 'Allows, is homeschooled, and has a best friend named Blob Ghost (who haunts the town's mall). When her friend Kat comes back to town, Beetle and Kat begin to develop a romantic relationship. Events get set into motion that endanger Blob Ghost. It's up to Beetle and her friends to work together to save Blob Ghost and the mall.

What makes this book awesome?:
This review written by Kirkus Reviews about this thrilling fantasy graphic novel says it all: "Diversity is a strength in this female-driven text, which features a tenderly portrayed LGBTQ love story between Kat and Beetle. Wise older women act as mentors, body diversity is casually positive, and Blob Ghost uses they/them pronouns throughout. . . . This inclusive fantasy adventure passes the Bechdel test with flying colors." The book's diversity and its positive representation and messages, combined with its exciting action sequences, make it a must-have on this list!

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author & Illustrator: Aliza Layne
Publisher: Atheneum (some websites list the publisher as Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Ghost story

BOOK AWARDS:
One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Middle Grade Books of the Year (2020), Stonewall Honor Book in Children’s and Young Adult Literature (2021)

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
Kirkus Reviews (starred), School Library Journal (starred), Booklist (starred), Publishers Weekly (starred)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://alizalayne.com/Beetle-and-the-Hollowbones

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In Julian Is A Mermaid, Julian sees some women riding on the subway who are dressed up like mermaids. He thinks these women look really cool and he wants to be like them. When he gets home he tries out the experience for himself and dresses up like a mermaid. His grandmother takes him out to a parade where he can show off his outfit.

What makes this book awesome?:
This picture book is a truly unique text in that features many detailed pictures and contains few words. This book style allows readers to absorb the text, feel their own feelings without being prompted to interpret the text in a particular way, and then create their own meanings. The story highlights a boys' desire to dress up and be like a mermaid, which promotes gender fluidity and the idea that play, clothing choices, and interests are non-gendered.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author & Illustrator: Jessica Love
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: April 23, 2018

Genre: Fiction

BOOK AWARDS:
Winner: Stonewall Book Award (2019) (Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award), Winner: Klaus Flugge Prize (2019), Logo Network added this book to its list of: 9 New LGBT Children's Books Every Kid Should Read

(Many more awards are listed on the author's website: Here)

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
School Library Journal (starred), Publishers Weekly (starred), Kirkus Reviews (starred), The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, Horn Books Reviews (starred)

BOOK READ ALOUD:

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love [READ ALOUD]

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://jesslove.format.com/julian-is-a-mermaid

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Papa, Daddy, & Riley

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Papa, Daddy, & Riley

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In the book Papa, Daddy, & Riley, Riley is a young girl who has two gay fathers. Another girl at her school asks her about her family and wonders which of her fathers is her "true" father. Riley is confused by this question because she feels that both of her fathers are her real dads. She talks to her family about this idea and they tell her that families are made up of people who love each other.

What makes this book awesome?:
This book shows readers an example of a family that is made up of one child and two gay fathers. It emphasizes that families exist because of love, not because of having a male and a female parent. It shows children and other readers how to communicate with your family members and peers when the subject of family is brought up and non-traditional family structures are questioned.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Seamus Kirst (illustrated by Devon Holzwarth)
Publisher: Magination Press
Publication Date: June 2, 2020

Genre: Realistic Fiction

BOOK AWARDS:
An ALA 2021 Rainbow Book List Selection (Picture Book: Fiction), An NCSS-CBC 2021 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (page 2)

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
Booklist (starred), Kirkus Reviews, Foreword Reviews, Publishers Weekly, No Time for Flashcards

BOOK READ ALOUD:

Magination Press Story Time - Seamus Kirst Reads Papa, Daddy & Riley

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Pink Is for Boys

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(*COMING SOON to our library*) Pink Is for Boys

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Pink Is for Boys is a brief picture book that clearly states that boys and girls* can like whatever colors or hobbies/interests they choose to! Every few pages, a different color is mentioned and various activities are shown that might have previously been considered gender specific (such as playing dress up, playing music and dancing, playing baseball, doing arts and crafts, running outside and exploring nature, racing cars, selling goods at a stand, having balloons and playing pretend, cuddling with stuffed animals, and playing with pets).

*Cautionary note: Although this book has diversity in terms of its characters' racial identities and abilities, it regularly mentions boys and girls, and does not use the word "everyone" until its final pages. Its literary structure repetitively mentions boys and girls, and it does not mention other gender identities, so in that regard it does promote a more binary view of gender identity and expression. After (or while) reading this text, a  conversation could be had with children/students about the existence of other gender identities.

What makes this book awesome?:
This story helps to erase the notion that colors and various activities/interests are gendered. It will teach readers that people with any gender identity can like whatever color or hobby/interest they choose to, which helps to break down gender barriers and stereotypes.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Robb Pearlman (illustrated by Eda Kaban)
Publisher: Running Press Book Publishers (some websites list the publisher as Running Press Kids)
Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Genre: Fiction

BOOK AWARDS:
Logo Network added this book to its list of: 9 New LGBT Children's Books Every Kid Should Read

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal

BOOK READ ALOUD:

"Pink is for Boys" by Robb Pearlman; Illust. by Eda Kaban (read by Sen. Nicole Poore, 12th District)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://www.robbpearlman.com/

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Rick is now in middle school and wants to figure out who he is because he feels like a part of his identity has been missing. He feels uncomfortable when the subject of dating gets brought up by his dad and he doesn't like when his best friend Jeff acts like a jerk. In an effort to figure out who he is and distance himself from Jeff, Rick explores new opportunities such as the Rainbow Spectrum club.

What makes this book awesome?:
This highly acclaimed companion novel to Alex Gino's first book George shows the importance of making good life choices (Rick is friends with a bully and realizes that this is not okay) and shows the joy you feel after finding your identity and being true to yourself. It is sure to capture the attention of middle grade audiences and will help them with their own identity exploration journeys.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author: Alex Gino
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (some websites list the publisher as Scholastic Press, but the Scholastic website uses Inc.)
Publication Date: April 21, 2020

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Bildungsroman
Gender Perspective: The book is from the perspective of a male middle school student. The author is a genderqueer person.

BOOK AWARDS:
One of Kirkus Reviews' Best Middle Grade Books of the Year (2020), One of University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education's Best Books for Young Readers (2020)

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:

Kirkus Reviews (starred), Booklist (starred), School Library Journal (starred), Publishers Weekly (starred), AudioFile

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
http://www.alexgino.com/books/rick/

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The graphic novel Snapdragon tells the story of a middle school girl named Snapdragon ("Snap") who gets to know the town's witch (Jacks). Snap agrees to help Jacks sell her roadkill skeletons online so that she will help Snap take care of some possums that she found. As Snap learns more about Jacks, she begins to realize that she might really have magical powers.

What makes this book awesome?:
This book is very highly acclaimed (it has a high number of positive reputable reviews and out of the ten books on this booklist it has received the second most award nominations--the book with the most awards and positive reviews is Julian Is a Mermaid)! Snapdragon has a diverse cast of characters: Snap's mother is Black, her female transgender friend Lulu is a person of color, and as Booklist states, "her figure designs, which show a wide variety of gender presentations, body shapes, skin tones, and hair types, nicely complement her characters’ personalities." Publishers Weekly mentions that the book's characters "represent a variety of ethnicities, sexualities, and gender expressions."

This book also has very positive and important messages for readers: Booklist argues that "themes of acceptance, particularly regarding gender and sexuality, permeate the story and are handled in a refreshing, matter-of-fact manner." School Library Journal Xpress adds, "Snap learns that often those who buck societal convention are marginalized, and her detailed, sprawling world includes several queer women of color, alongside parental figures who understand and nurture their children."

BOOK INFORMATION:
Author & Illustrator: Kat Leyh
Publisher: First Second
Publication Date: February 4, 2020

Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism
Gender Perspective: The protagonist is female, and transgender and other queer characters are represented. The author "identifies mostly as a woman but is happy when [she gets] called 'sir' by strangers" (Leyh). <<Quotation from her Twitter account

BOOK AWARDS:
2021-2022 Golden Dome Book Award Nominee, On Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year list (2020) (Middle Grade--one of 16 books in this category), On New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids 2020 list, On School Library Journal's Best Graphic Novels 2020 list, 2021 Eisner Award Nominee (Best Publication for Kids [ages 9-12]), On Parents Magazine's 10 Best Books for Teens of 2020 list

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
ALA's Rainbow Round Table: Rainbow Round Table Book and Media Reviews, Booklist (starred), Kirkus Reviews (starred), Publishers Weekly (starred), School Library Journal Xpress (starred), The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books (review no longer active on the website)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITES:
Twitter page, Tumblr page

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In this modern tale, two 12-year-old girls begin e-mailing one another after they discover that their single gay dads are in fact dating each other. Bett and Avery have very different personalities that don't mesh well (one of them is shy and full of phobias while the other is a reckless risk-taker). At first the girls are convinced that they will never get along and that they should break up their dads' relationship. As they get to know one another better, a friendship begins to bloom, but the girls' relationship meddling causes some unforeseen mishaps.

What makes this book awesome?:
The book positively portrays being raised by a single gay father--it shows how this family dynamic is just as normal as being raised by two straight parents--and it authentically shows what this experience would feel like. This story is told entirely through e-mails, letters, voicemail messages, and other recorded/written forms of communication. The unique format of this story, and the fact that there are so many perspectives represented throughout the book (including: two very different 12-year-old girls, their two gay dads, a grandmother, a mother, camp staff members, other campers, etc.), will entice readers who want to read stories that are set up differently from the norm.

BOOK INFORMATION:
Authors: Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: February 12, 2019

Genre: Realistic Fiction

BOOK AWARDS:
2020-2021 Golden Dome Nominee,
(As mentioned on Amazon and on one of the Authors' websites):
--A New York Time Editor's Choice
--A Junior Library Guild 2019 Selection
--An Amazon best book of the month for February 2019
--#3 on the Indie Next list for spring 2019 for Independent Booksellers
--A Publishers Weekly Most Anticipated Children's Book of 2019

PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS:
Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal (starred)

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
https://www.hollygoldbergsloan.com/to-nightowl-from-dogfish/