We love Drag Storytime / Drag Story Hour! For one, drag is a beautiful art form, and the practice of men dressing up as women on stage dates back to ancient Greece – literally the dawn of western civilisation. In fact, women only started acting on stage in the 1600s. That’s right, Juliet from Romeo and Juliet was played by a DUDE.

All the people flapping about drag queens reading to children are forgetting that being in drag doesn’t even necessarily mean that person is gay! But as they’re making out that being gay around children is such a big deal, we figured we’d roll with it and go all out.

Similarly, books being read out during Drag Story Hour don’t  have to have LGBTQ+ themes. The reading of any great children’s book can be vastly improved by a bright, positive, and charismatic drag queen! Why not start with Mother Goose, as a nod to the traditional British “panto” show by the same name in London, starring Ian McKellen (Gandalf, Magneto) in full drag? Seriously, some people really need to chill out. There are worse things in the world than men dressing fabulously.

Of course, you may as well use the opportunity or an excuse of a Drag Story Hour event to teach kids that it’s OK to be who they are, and that it’s also OK to be openminded, tolerant, and supportive of others. That’s why we’ve collected these 10 great children’s books below, that all have LGBTQ+ themes. We hope it will help make these great books more accessible to those who most need to hear their message. Top tip: you can order these to read at home, even if you live somewhere intolerant and dark. So here’s our list of 13 Children’s Books with LGBTQ+ Themes – Perfect for Drag Story Hour!

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

The heart-warming true story about two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo who create a non-traditional family and raise a baby penguin together. Love, same-sex “marriage” (can penguins get married?), and penguins – what’s not to love?

See on AmazonSee on Bookshop.org

2. Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian

A picture book that celebrates the love between two worms who want to get married, regardless of what other bugs say. Does it matter who wears the dress? This book will teach kids that all that really matters is love.

See on AmazonSee on Bookshop.org

3. Melissa (previously published as George) by Alex Gino

A middle-grade novel about a young transgender girl who, with the help of her best friend, fights for the right to play the lead in her school’s production of “Charlotte’s Web”.  Although aimed at, and perfectly suitable for kids 9-12, this sweet, yet thought-provoking novel is also suitable for young adults, and even adults.

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4. I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings

A picture book based on the true story of Jazz Jennings, a transgender activist and spokesperson for transkids everywhere, who shares her journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

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5. Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

A charming picture book about a young boy who dreams of becoming a mermaid, who learns that being yourself is the most beautiful thing of all. We love the pretty illustrations and the incredibly positive message.

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6. Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack

A super-cute twist on the familiar fairy tale trope: a picture book about a prince who falls in love with a knight and together they fight a dragon and live happily ever after. Suitable for ages 2-8, it’s the perfect book for non-traditional families, or simply to get kids used to the fact that not all happy families are the same.

If you already know this one, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a follow up book as well!

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7. The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

A sweet and beautiful graphic novel about a young girl who learns about the art of tea-making from a group of magical tea dragons and the diverse characters who care for them. Includes gay and non-binary characters (as well as cis characters). Suitable for ages 7 and up.

This is part of a series of books, so you can also buy the box set.

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8. This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman

A picture book celebrating LGBTQ+ pride parades and the joyous sense of community they inspire. This is an excellent tool for teaching respect, acceptance, and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Also wonderful for kids who have LGBTQ+ people in their lives.

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9. The Sissy Duckling by Harvey Fierstein

Based on the HBO animated series, this classic book teaches kids that it’s OK to be different, and that presenting a softer side doesn’t actually mean you’re weak. While offering a valuable lesson for all kids, not just queer kids, the positive message will definitely appeal to children who are criticised by others for not being “butch enough”.

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10. The Pants Project by Cat Clarke

A middle-grade novel suitable for ages 9 and up. It tells the story of a transgender boy who fights to be able to wear pants to school, rather than the skirt required by the dress code.

See on AmazonSee on Bookshop.org

11. Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

A now classic picture book about a blue crayon mistakenly labelled as red and his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Offering obvious appeal to trans and non-binary children, this book is also great for teaching kids about the importance of being true to themselves. It also encourages them to find the courage to do so. We love the colourful illustrations and the empowering message!

See on AmazonSee on Bookshop.org

12. Little People, Big Dreams: Prince by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

This book and the following book are from the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, a wonderful series of picture books that makes famous inspirational personalities accessible to young readers. This book is about Prince, and while not an LGBTQ+ book specifically, it does talk about Prince’s genderbending and love for music and dance. If you’re looking for an inspirational role model for kids who may need encouragement to be themselves, this wonderfully illustrated book is as cute as it gets.

13. Little People, Big Dreams: David Bowie

Like the above book, this beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the life of a positive role model (at least as far as the book is concerned!) for kids who don’t fit into the gender binary. A great way for kids to learn about Bowie, which is especially neat if they already like his music (or, let’s face it, if you do!).

We’re always keen to find more books to add to our lists, so if you know of any great children’s books that are great for drag story hour or simply have LGBTQ+ themes, do let us know in the comments!

More Book Suggestions:

10 books for children that feature a redheaded child 10 Children’s Books Featuring Muslim Characters 10 Children’s Books with Jewish themes and protagonists 10 Novels with Strong Social Justice Themes