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Want Great LGBTQIA+ Literature? Look No Further!

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Want Great LGBTQIA+ Literature? Look No Further!

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Check out the Full List of the Lambda Literacy Award Winners for more!

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Check out the Dolly Gray Award Winners for more!

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Review: "More soapy goodness from the rainbow boys from Rainbow High (2003). This time Kyle, Jason and Nelson go on a road trip together. Jason, whose coming out and subsequent loss of college scholarship drew national attention in the last episode, is asked to speak at the opening ceremonies of Harry Hay High School in Los Angeles. This necessitates a trip across the country. Jason is sort of bisexual, but he loves his less uptight and totally gay boyfriend Kyle. The two think the trip will be a perfect time for them to get in some alone time before Kyle heads off to college, but they need Nelson's (Kyle's pink-haired best friend) car. It turns out to be a three-man trip with many pitfalls. They encounter Radical Faeries, Britney Spears look-alike transgendered boys, Hetero-flexible girls, long-term committed homosexual couples . . . and a little homophobia as they travel from landmark to landmark across the country. There are more after-school-special moments here than in the previous volumes, but fans of the trilogy will adore this final installment. A little sex might make this a not-for-everyone experience, but it's a perfect feel-good read for gay teens."
- Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Young gay men, Homosexuality, Interpersonal relations, Automobile travel, Vacations

Recommended Age Range: 14+

Check Out the Author's Discussion Questions Here!

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Review: "Queer couple Ray and Bron spend their weekly hangouts with Ray's six-year-old niece Nessie running carefree through the woods and singing nonsense songs with abandon. Whenever they return Nessie to her mother—Ray's seemingly disapproving sister Amanda—the couple's relationship turns fraught and tense. When Bron leaves Ray to reunite with her devoutly religious, emotionally repressed family, Ray is devastated at being abandoned by the one person with whom she felt capable of experiencing true intimacy. With nowhere else to turn, she begins spending more time with Amanda and discovers that her own struggles have made her ignorant of the pressure her sister experiences as a single mother. Meanwhile, Bron, who's frustrated by her mother's refusal to accept her sexuality or engage in a conversation about her history of mental illness, ponders an uncertain future. VERDICT Lai presents a tender and emotionally raw examination of three women struggling to form and maintain their identities within and outside of their immediate family, illustrated in a loosely expressive style that conveys both bombastic catharsis and silent anguish with aplomb."  -Tom Batten, Library Journal, 2021

Subjects: Children, Couples, Families, Identity, Interpersonal relations, Nieces, Siblings, Women/women relations, LGBTQIA+

Recommended Age Range: 18+

Check Out an Interview with the Author Here!

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Review: "Superman had kryptonite, and Thom, the teenaged basketball star and son of the now-retired Major Might, tries hard to keep his own Achilles heel—being gay—under the radar. His powers of healing seem to bring him nothing but bad press, however, especially when he decides to go out for a superhero-like boot camp headed up by  the League, the sworn protectors of Moore's  Metropolis-like city. At first, Thom seemingly botches every one of his team's missions, but when a series of hero -murders threaten world destruction, a cigarette-smoking, foul-mouthed seer assures him that soon enough his strength, powers and sexuality will play a role in saving humankind. Despite the near-ridiculous superhero theme running through this first novel, the interpersonal relationships between Thom and his likable, equally tortured compadres keep the plot's feet on the ground. Capes, X-ray vision, tights and cheesy superhero spoofs run amuck. Despite a few half-hearted attempts at realism, the book reads like a complicated yet quick-moving adult novel. Disappointingly, Moore doesn't dig deeper into Thom's newly found gay world past his coming out, and no doubt readers will be curious as to how he survives in his new skin." -Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Young Adult, LGBT, Fantasy, Fiction, Superheroes, Queer, Gay, Science, Fiction, Romance, M/M Romance

Recommended Age Range: 14+

Awards & Honor's: Gaylactic Spectrum Award Nominee, Best Novel (2008), Lambda Literary Award, LGBT Children’s/Young Adult (2007), The Inky Awards Nominee, Silver Inky (2008).

Check Out and Interview with Perry Moore Here!

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Review: "After coming out to his family as transgender, a biracial (half Black, half White) boy thrives. A young, brown-skinned child who presents as a girl has always felt like a boy inside and wants to be called Calvin. Admitting this openly is scary, but with loving parental support, the child begins to express his true self. He, his mother, and his father spend the summer at his grandparents' house, a vacation that turns out to be "the best ever." The family have fun visiting a comic-book convention and a waterpark where Calvin gets to wear trunks for the first time and makes a friend with whom he proudly shares his new name. Before school reopens, Calvin's family helps him shop for boy clothing, and his grandfather cuts off his hair. Calvin worries his classmates won't accept him, but his friends and teachers readily validate his gender expression, bolstering his confidence and joy. This transition story depicts a community cultivating an affirming environment in which a child can flourish. The first-person narration reveals Calvin's inner fears, but his identity and transition never cause external conflict, a welcome departure from the problem-focused storylines of other coming-out picture books written by cisgender adults. However, the text emphasizes that Calvin's gender is in his heart and brain, perpetuating a problematic narrative that divorces transgender people from their bodies. Harren's warm, expressive illustrations communicate much of the emotion in the story and are populated with diverse background characters who have various body sizes, skin colors, hair textures, and disabilities. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A valuable model of intentional, compassionate response to gender expansive kids and their needs." -Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Transgender children, Transgender people, First day of school, Schools

Recommended Age Range: 4-8 years

Listen and Follow Along to a Read Aloud of Calvin Here!

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Review: "She was born Chawa Zloczewer into a Jewish family in Poland, then immigrated to the U.S. in 1912. In her new country, she assumed a Waspy name, Eve Adams, and made friends with various anarchists, socialists, and bohemians, including Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, and Ben Reitman, who was known as Chicago's "King of the Hobos." She operated gay-and-lesbian friendly venues in both Chicago and New York (the Grey Cottage on East Chestnut Street was billed as Chicago's Greenwich Village Tea Room). If that wasn't enough, Adams went even further by publishing a book called Lesbian Love, a bold thing to do that caught the attention of J. Edgar Hoover and the Bureau of Investigation, forerunner of the FBI. This eventually led to her arrest for publishing an obscene book. Worse, she was also accused of a "homosexual advance" toward an undercover female police officer. Ultimately, Adams was deported back to Europe during WWII and perished in Auschwitz. It is a haunting tale sympathetically told by Katz. This is an impressive feat of research as well as a fascinating and important story about an unsung and, until now, invisible figure in gay history. As a bonus, Adams' 72-page Lesbian Love is included." - Booklist Reviews 2021

Subjects: Adams, Eve 1891-approximately 1943, Lesbians, Jewish women, Poland

Recommended Age Range: 18+

Watch Jonathan Katz's Review and Discussion of the Book Here!

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Review: "Two women on the run from their pasts travel across west Texas. Eighteen-year-old Bea runs away from home without a plan except escaping—until she crosses paths with 27-year-old Lou at a gas station on the way out of town. They share the same need to get away from all the people they know. Together, they embark on a road trip to Lou's great-aunt's house in San Angelo and then to return a lost cat to a mysterious town called West. However, the dark and foreboding Office of Road Inquiry pursues them in search of the cat in their possession. Walden (On a Sunbeam, 2018, etc.) crafts a story rich in metaphor about two gay women on a journey through trauma and grief. The unpredictable, shifting landscape in which lakes appear and roads change course encapsulates the treacherous and nonlinear path of healing. Complex panel layouts in dark tones and moody reds often bleed together, and stretches of silent art fit the heaviness of the tone. Background characters whose eyes are hidden add to the rising sense of anxiety throughout the story. I n the midst of this intense atmosphere, Lou and Bea develop a moving bond and deep trust that allow Bea to open up to Lou. The resolution offers hope that both characters will continue to heal. Characters appear to be white. A tsunami of emotions—sharp and heavy." - Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Runaway teenagers, Automobile travel, Female friendship, Texas

Recommended Age Range: 14+

Awards/Honor's: 2020 Eisner Award Winner, Best Graphic Album, Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of 2019, National Public Radio (NPR) Best Book of 2019, O Magazine Best LGBTQ Book of 2019, The Comics Beat's Best Comics of 2019, Lambda Literary Award Finalist, Harvey Award nominee, Best Book of the Year

Check Out the Book Trailer Here!

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Title: Rainbow Road
Author: Alex Sanchez
Publisher: Simon & Schuster‎
Copyright Date: 2005

Summary: "Jason Carrillo came out to his basketball team senior year & lost his university scholarship. Now, with graduation behind him & summer ending, he’s asked to speak at the opening of a gay & lesbian high school across the country. But after spending years in the closet & losing his scholarship dream, what message can he offer?
Kyle Meeks is getting ready to go to Princeton in the fall & trying to see as much as possible of his boyfriend Jason before they have to separate. When Jason tells him about his speaking invitation, Kyle jumps at the chance to drive across country with him. Yet he can’t help worrying: Will their romance survive two weeks crammed together in a car?

Nelson Glassman is happy his best friend Kyle has found love with Jason. Now he’s looking for his own true love and hopes he might find his soul mate during the road trip. But will being the “third wheel” in a trio ruin his friendships with Kyle and Jason?
During an eye-opening postgraduation summer road trip, each of the three very different boys also embarks on a personal journey across a landscape of love, sexuality, homophobia, &, above all, friendship." -Simon & Schuster

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Title: Stone Fruit
Author: Lee Lai
Publisher: ‎Fantagraphics
Copyright Date: 2021

Summary: "Bron and Ray are a queer couple who enjoy their role as the fun weirdo aunties to Ray's niece, six-year-old Nessie. Their playdates are little oases of wildness, joy, and ease in all three of their lives, which ping-pong between familial tensions and deep-seeded personal stumbling blocks. As their emotional intimacy erodes, Ray and Bron isolate from each other and attempt to repair their broken family ties — Ray with her overworked, resentful single-mother sister and Bron with her religious teenage sister who doesn't fully grasp the complexities of gender identity. Taking a leap of faith, each opens up and learns they have more in common with their siblings than they ever knew.

At turns joyful and heartbreaking, Stone Fruit reveals through intimately naturalistic dialog and blue-hued watercolor how painful it can be to truly become vulnerable to your loved ones — and how fulfilling it is to be finally understood for who you are." - Fantagraphics 2021

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Title: Hero
Author: Perry Moore
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Copyright Date: 2007

Summary: "The last thing in the world Thom Creed wants is to add to his father's pain, so he keeps secrets. Like that he has special powers. And that he's been asked to join the League - the very organization of superheroes that spurned his dad. But the most painful secret of all is one Thom can barely face himself: he's gay.
But becoming a member of the League opens up a new world to Thom. There, he connects with a misfit group of aspiring heroes, including Scarlett, who can control fire but not her anger; Typhoid Larry, who can make anyone sick with his touch; and Ruth, a wise old broad who can see the future. Like Thom, these heroes have things to hide; but they will have to learn to trust one another when they uncover a deadly conspiracy within the League.
To survive, Thom will face challenges he never imagined. To find happiness, he'll have to come to terms with his father's past and discover the kind of hero he really wants to be." - Goodreads

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Summary of Calvin:

"In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time.

Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer: "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away.

Inspired by the authors' own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message: all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed."

-G.P. Putnam's Sons

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Title: Are you listening?
Author: Tillie Walden
Publisher: First Second Publisher
Copyright Date: 2019

Summary: "Bea is on the run. And then, she runs into Lou.
This chance encounter sends them on a journey through West Texas, where strange things follow them wherever they go. The landscape morphs into an unsettling world, a mysterious cat joins them, and they are haunted by a group of threatening men. To stay safe, Bea and Lou must trust each other as they are driven to confront buried truths. The two women share their stories of loss and heartbreak—and a startling revelation about sexual assault—culminating in an exquisite example of human connection.
This magical realistic adventure from the celebrated comics creator of Spinning and On a Sunbeam will stay with readers long after the final gorgeously illustrated page." - First Second Publishers

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Title: The Daring Life and Dangerous Times of Eve Adams
Author: Jonathan Ned Katz
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Copyright Date: 2021

Summary: "Born Chawa Zloczewer into a Jewish family in Poland, Eve Adams emigrated to the United States in 1912,took a new name, befriended anarchists, sold radical publications, and ran lesbian-and-gay-friendly speakeasies in Chicago and New York. Then, in 1925, Adams risked all to write and publish a book titled Lesbian Love.

Adams’s bold activism caught the attention of the young J. Edgar Hoover and the US Bureau of Investigation, leading to her surveillance and arrest. Adams was convicted of publishing an obscene book and of attempted sex with a policewoman sent to entrap her.

Adams was jailed and then deported back to Europe, and ultimately murdered by Nazis in Auschwitz. In The Daring Life and Dangerous Times of Eve Adams, acclaimed historian Jonathan Ned Katz has recovered the extraordinary story of an early, daring activist.  - Chicago Review Press

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Looking for Books with Disabled Characters? Try These Books Out!

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Looking for Books with Disabled Characters? Try These Books Out!

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Review:
"Mother and daughter co-authors write about the experience of having an autistic child in the family. Callie, Charlie's twin sister, talks directly to readers, telling them how she and her brother are alike and about the fundamental differences that led her mother to seek medical advice for Charlie. Callie very plainly talks about the joys and frustrations of having Charlie for a brother and emotionally reveals the many ways Charlie has of showing his family the "I love yous" that his autism tries to lock inside. Most evident is the pride Callie has in Charlie. She clearly sees him as a person, with personality and interests, who is smart and caring. "If you ever get to meet my brother, you'll feel lucky to be his friend." Endnotes from the authors tell more of the Peete family story. Evans's mixed-media artwork employs a lot of texture, adding patterning and interest to the simple, uncluttered design. Full-bleed illustrations and up-close views of the characters make this a great choice for group sharing. A seldom-seen perspective on autism delivered concisely and with empathy."                             - Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Children's writings, American, Autism, Twins, Siblings

What is Autism?

Click here to follow along to a read aloud of My Brother Charlie

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Review: "An endearing and enduring picture book about sibling love. On the very first page, Toby tells readers about his older sister. "My big sister Clemmie is my best friend.  She can't walk, talk, move around much...cook macaroni, pilot a plane, juggle or do algebra. I don't know why she doesn't do these things. Just because." With the many books about disabilities that are already on the shelves, it is refreshing to find a book where the narrator is the younger sibling. However, Clemmie's wheelchair plays only a minor role in this story. The wide-set eyes of Toby and Clemmie (and each creature on the page) reveal a deep concern and appreciation for each other. The list of quirky things about both children, whether it's eating crayons or having enormous hair, are accompanied by the refrain that emphasizes that the reasons why don't really matter: just because. The double-page spreads burst forth in vibrant colors and energetic streaks and swirls. Clemmie, whose name, like the refrain, is always in the same distinctive faux-handwritten type, remains (mostly) serene and still. Full of unconditional love, this is a must-have title in today's world of false perfection." - Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Siblings, Children with disabilities

Check Out the Just Because Read Aloud Here!

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Review: "Resilient Heidi is the daughter of mentally deficient So B. It, but it's really neighbor Bernadette who raises her. Piling on the difficulties, Bernadette is agoraphobic and though managing to reach out to So B. and Heidi without leaving her house, Dette is unable to do anything like normal living. Heidi is homeschooled by Bernadette and finds her unusual life to be satisfactory except for curiosity about her mother's past, as evidenced by "soof," her favorite of Mama's 23 words that also function as chapter titles. Determined to investigate the past, Heidi follows a few convenient clues to lead her on a cross-country bus journey from Reno, Nevada, to Liberty, New York. Some of the details, such as Heidi's lucky streak, are not terribly credible, but the heart of the search for home and history is one that readers will find compelling. Most of the people Heidi meets on her trip gradually take on fullness and depth, but this was never intended to be literal or realistic. Three stars on the soggy-hanky index." - Kirkus Reviews

Subjects: Identity (Philosophical concept), Mothers and daughters, Mental illness

What is Agoraphobia?

Check Out So B. It's Book Trailer Here!

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Review:
"A story about honorable living in the autistic-narrator genre that sets the bar high. Rose has a diagnosis of Asperger's, and her world of comforting homonyms, rules and prime numbers is repeatedly challenged by social interactions of which she has no innate understanding. Newbery Honor author Martin crafts a skillful tale that engages readers' sympathy for everyone portrayed in the story, even Rose's garage-mechanic, hard-drinking single father. He has given Rose a stray dog he found after an evening of drinking at the local bar, and Rose names her Rain. Through touching and funny scenes at school—where Rose has an aide but is in a regular classroom—and discomfiting scenes at home, readers come to understand how Rose's close relationship to Rain anchors her. But Rain goes missing during a storm, and when, with the help of her sympathetic uncle, Rose finds her dog weeks later, she is told that Rain was microchipped and actually belongs to someone else. Since following rules is vital to Rose, she must find Rain's original owners and give her dog back. Martin has penned a riveting, seamless narrative in which each word sings and each scene counts. There is no fluff here, just sophisticated, emotionally honest storytelling." -Kirkus Reviews 2014

Subjects: Children with autism spectrum disorders, Autism spectrum disorders in children, Pets, Dogs, Floods, Single fathers, Homonyms

What is Autism?

Listen to Rain Reign Here!

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Title: Just Because
Author & Illustrator: Rebecca Elliott
Publisher: Lion Children's Publishing
Copyright Date: 2011

Summary: ""A younger brother describes all the fun he has with the big sister he loves so much just because. He is enthusiastic about just how loving and special she is, and delights in telling us about all the fun things they do together. Only as his tale unfolds does the reader begin to realize that his sister has special needs and by then the reader just accepts, as he does, all the wonderful things about her. Teachers and librarians will appreciate this book for its sincere and convincing treatment of children with special needs, while parents will use this book to encourage sibling friendship and to read with children who are beginning to ask why a particular child they know is "different"." - Lion Children's Publishing

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Title: So B. It
Author: Sarah Weeks
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Copyright Date: 2004

Summary: "Now a major motion picture!

From acclaimed author Sarah Weeks comes a touching coming-of-age story about a young girl who goes on a cross-country journey to discover the truth about her parents. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me and Ali Benjamin's The Thing About Jellyfish.

She doesn't know when her birthday is or who her father is. In fact, everything about Heidi and her mentally disabled mother's past is a mystery. When a strange word in her mother's vocabulary begins to haunt her, Heidi sets out on a cross-country journey in search of the secrets of her past.

Far away from home, pieces of her puzzling history come together. But it isn't until she learns to accept not knowing that Heidi truly arrives." - HarperCollinsPublishers

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Title: Rain Reign
Author: Ann M. Martin
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Copyright Date: 2014

Summary: "A New York Times Bestseller!
Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She's thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone understands Rose's obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different – not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.
When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose's father shouldn't have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.
Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story, brilliantly told from Rose's point of view."         -Feiwel and Friends

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Title: My Brother Charlie
Author(s): Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete with Denene Millner
Illustrator: Shane Evans
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright Date: 2010

Summary: "Callie is very proud of her brother Charlie. He’s good at so many things -- swimming, playing the piano, running fast. And Charlie has a special way with animals, especially their dog, Harriett. But sometimes Charlie gets very quiet. His words get locked inside him, and he seems far away. Then, when Callie and Charlie start to play, Charlie is back to laughing, holding hands, having fun. Charlie is like any other boy – and he has autism. In this story, told from a sister’s point of view, we meet a family whose oldest son teaches them important lessons about togetherness, hope, tolerance, and love. Holly Robinson Peete, bestselling author, actress, and national autism spokesperson, has paired with her daughter, Ryan, to co-author this uplifting book based on their own personal experiences with Holly’s son and Ryan’s brother, RJ, who has autism."        - Scholastic Press

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Review:
"In Panteleakos' debut, a nonverbal, autistic astronomy enthusiast counts down to the space shuttle Challenger's launch—and her runaway sister's return—in January 1986. Twelve-year-old Nova Vezina hates deviating from routine, which makes moving from 11 foster homes in seven years challenging. But each new school's verdict is the same: "Cannot read. Cannot speak. Severely mentally retarded." A "thinker, not a talker," Nova can't explain that her big sister, Bridget, taught her the alphabet and read her novels, such as Peter Pan. Bridget disappeared after they ran from their last home, but she'd promised they'd watch the Challenger's launch together. As Nova counts down the remaining 10 days, third-person chapters alternate with Nova's printed letters to Bridget ("scribbles" to everyone else), which grow uneasy as Bridget doesn't appear. Interspersed flashbacks reveal the sisters' turbulent past and sensitively illustrate the uncertainty of foster care. The author p oetically immerses readers in Nova's mind as Nova endures "the constant scratching of sounds that [invade] her brain," befriends fellow special education classmates, and struggles to be understood by both well-meaning and patronizing adults. Bursting with worry, joy, empathy, humor, and even mischief, Nova is endearingly nuanced. The countdown's multiple conclusions dovetail in an ending Nova might call "Crayola Pine Green": a mixture of conflicting emotions that will linger long after the last page. An author's note provides background on autism and the Challenger disaster. Nova and Bridget are ethnically ambiguous; Nova's foster mother is light-skinned, her foster father dark-skinned, and her foster sister biracial. Stellar."                             -Kirkus Reviews

Subjects:

Definition of autism (link)

Definition of Non-Verbal (link)

Book Trailer (link)

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Title: Planet Earth is Blue
Author: Nicole Panteleakos
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Copyright Date: 2019

Summary: "Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger--it's the first time a teacher is going into space, and kids across America will watch the event on live TV in their classrooms. Nova and her big sister, Bridget, share a love of astronomy and the space program. They planned to watch the launch together. But Bridget has disappeared, and Nova is in a new foster home.

While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can't express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova's new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget. But every day, she's counting down to the launch, and to the moment when she'll see Bridget again. Because Bridget said, "No matter what, I'll be there. I promise.""                               - Wendy Lamb Books

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Review: "Refreshingly, Elsie’s disability is seamlessly presented as simply another aspect of family life; for instance, as Elsie’s sisters slurp up noodles with chopsticks, Daddy matter-of-factly gives Elsie a “push” of liquid food through a feeding tube. Pops of rhyme or alliteration add pep to the straightforward text: “Inside, daughters dashed. Ponytails bounced. Dresses flounced.” Inspired by the author’s daughter, who has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, Elsie is delightfully expressive. Elsie’s italicized thoughts convey her worry and excitement; she “can’t wait to see [her] dress spin.” Her face, bearing characteristic features of the disorder, radiates emotion. She frowns forlornly at fat snowflakes and beams with infectious joy as her sisters help her “[find] her groove.” Whether she’s pointing to pictures in her communication book or anxiously indicating her missing hair bow, her family is warmly attentive. As she swings and sways in her father’s arms, her forehead against his, their love is palpable; Chen’s illustrations fairly glow with affection. Elsie and her family are cued as East Asian. A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability"
- (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2021).

Subjects: Diversity & Multicultural, Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings, Disabilities & Special Needs, Family / Parents, Performing Arts / Dance

Click here to watch and listen to a read aloud of the book!

What is Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome?

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Title: Dancing with Daddy
Author: Anitra Rowe Schulte
Illustrator: Ziyue Chen
Publisher: Two Lions New York
Copyright Date: 2021

Summary: "Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true."  -Two Lions

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Author: J.R. and Vanessa Ford
Illustrator: Kayla Harren
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Copyright Date: 2021

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"The Everyday Diversity project is a tool to help librarians find storytime books that predominantly feature People of Color and Native Americans as main characters in contemporary everyday life. Representation matters. No one should feel like an outsider at storytime."

Everyday Diversity

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"The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood."

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

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 Looking for Diverse Literature? Check Out These Sites!

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 Looking for Diverse Literature? Check Out These Sites!

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"For over 30 years, Lambda Literary has championed LGBTQ books and authors. We believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer literature is fundamental to the preservation of our culture, and that LGBTQ lives are affirmed when our stories are written, published, and read.

Lambda Literary nurtures and advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve our legacies, and affirm the value of our stories and our lives."

Lambda Literature

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BCALA and GNCRT Collaboration: Black Lives Matter, Black Literature Matters

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BCALA and GNCRT Collaboration: Black Lives Matter, Black Literature Matters

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"As the next iteration of our ongoing collaboration between the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), and the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table of the American Library Association (GNCRT), we are launching an updated version of our Black Lives Matter comics reading list with a focus on Black Literature. Black Lives Matter, Black Literature Matters.

This list of 50 comics titles for Juvenile, Teen (YA), and Adult audiences is centered on Black creators, Black stories, and Black histories for all ages."

BCALA and GNCRT Collaboration: Black Lives Matter, Black Literature Matters

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Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award List

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Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award List

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"The Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award recognizes authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, and Down syndrome.

Every even year, the award is presented to an author and illustrator (if appropriate) of a children's picture book, an intermediate, and/or a young adult book that includes appropriate portrayals of individuals with developmental disabilities."

The Dolly Gray Awards

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"We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people."

We Need Diverse Books

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"The general meaning refers to literature which embraces many cultures and where culture itself is an integral part of the story. Such a definition has implications beyond its dictionary-type appearance. For example, if we use “multicultural” as a shorthand for works about people of color, then we continue, even if only unconsciously, to place this community into the category of “other.” Thus, we continue with the old paradigm of “literature” (white/European) and “multicultural literature.” Such usage assumes that white/European is the universal culture, because it is simply “literature,” while all other literature come with a special cultural designation. Multicultural literature should embrace all literature."
- Barbara B. Brown, Ph.D.
African Studies Center, Boston University

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Why is Multicultural Literature so Important?

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Why is Multicultural Literature so Important?

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Check Out These Articles and Personal Experiences to Delve into Why Diverse Literature is Needed!

Multicultural Literacy: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
By: Rudine Sims Bishop
"When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part" (Bishop 1990).

Why We Need Diverse Books
By: Mary Ellen Flannery
"Mirrors are important. So are windows. With so many schools still racially segregated(…) it’s hard for children of different races to connect and care about each other. Often white students don’t have windows into the racism that their peers face—and if they don’t see it, they can’t help stop it" (Flannery 2020).

The Importance of a Diverse Classroom Library
By: Jerry Blintt
"With the state of the world today, reading diverse literature can help us push for changes that go beyond the classroom. Multicultural literature and a diverse classroom library, even at an elementary level, reflects the stories and narratives of those whose voices have not traditionally been heard.

Most of all, creating a diverse classroom library for students’ growth can make readers of today the leaders of tomorrow" (Blintt 2020).

#WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign (Video)
"Though more than half of schoolchildren are minorities--people of color, LGBTQIA, and/or people with disabilities--the fact remains that too few of these children see reflections of themselves in the books they read. Books are more than mirrors-- they’re windows as well. The more kids read, the more they understand not just themselves, but the Story of Us All."

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 Looking for Diverse Literature? Check Out These Sites!

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 Looking for Diverse Literature? Check Out These Sites!