Librarian Ginny

LGBTQ+ Positive Chapter Books

Here’s part two of my LGBTQ+ positive booklist series! This booklist features chapter books for kids ages 7-12 years. If you missed the first post of picturebooks for ages 2-7 years, it can be found here.

LGBTQ+ Positive Picturebooks

Get ready because this is a long one! Plus, it’s a two-parter, as I’ve separated picturebooks (for 2-7 yr. olds) and books for older readers (7-12 year olds) into two different lists. Though there are classics such as Heather Has Two Mommies or Daddy’s Roomate, publishing has really done well lately with focusing on positive LGBTQ+ themes! Not to mention the additional themes of gender roles, identity, and self-acceptance! It’s so important for kids to self reflect and get the chance to see themselves in literature. I wish some of these books had existed when I was younger! Anyway, here are some of my absolute favorites!

ECRR: Talking!

For the next few weeks, I’m going to talk a bit about one of Every Child Ready to Read’s five daily practices and some examples of how to incorporate it into programming. This week’s practice is Talking. Children learn about language by listening to parents and adults talk and by joining in the conversation. Sounds super simple, right? It actually is! Let’s look at it a bit more in depth, though.

Let’s Talk About Racism and Bias Booklist

With everything going on and our current political climate, racism, prejudice, implicit bias, and microaggressions are more rampant than they’ve ever been. Or maybe that’s my privilege showing that I’m only noticing it more now. We’re all privileged in some way or another, so why not self-reflect and see if we can use those privileges to lift up voices that need to be heard?

The following booklist doesn’t contain titles about the civil rights movement or black history, though those are closely intertwined with what’s currently happening. It’s meant to contain a broader sense of the injustices and prejudices pertaining to race and differences among people. Here, you can find titles that deal with current events such as racism in America, Black Lives Matter, intolerance to immigrants, the U.S. border, etc. It’s my hope that these books can open discussion about race, racism, bias, etc with children 0-12 years of age. It’s never too young to start talking about this important topic.

Picturebooks to Promote Letter Knowledge

Before kids can begin to read, they need to build certain early literacy skills such as letter knowledge, print awareness, and symbolism. They have to know what the letter A looks like and sounds like. Essentially, they have to know that the letter stands for a sound. I put together this booklist of picturebooks that encourage and play with letter knowledge, whether it’s written notes, “examples” of preschool writing, books with lists, stories told through letters, or line tracing.

Storytime: Dance!

Dancing is such a fun and beneficial thing to do with preschoolers! They’re so creative with their movements and most are so happy to show you their moves! That’s why the storytime theme of dance is one of my favorites.

Books for Singing Booklist

Books that lend themselves to singing are a great storytime addition and helps build early literacy skills! Sometimes I’ll teach everyone the song before breaking into the book, but other times I’ll just let them catch on and join in when they’re comfortable. Some of these books are to old familiar tunes, some provide the necessary notes for the tunes inside, some provide nothing at all but with a little imagination, the reader can make up a tune!

Interactive Picturebooks Booklist

Not every story or storytime has to feature young children sitting perfectly still with their hands on their laps. In fact, I don’t think most storytimes should. I’m not talking chaotic shouts and kids running around, but I want kids to be excited to come to my programs and know they’re going to have fun and be treated like a person. So this booklist is dedicated to books that naturally build play and joy into the text. Books that ask for participation and engagement.

Storytime: Bunnies!

Spring time is always synonymous to Bunny Time in my mind! I adore the creatures and I know I’m not the only one! There’s also something about rabbits that I think kids really love. Maybe it’s the hopping? Probably the hopping. Anyway, This is what I recently did for a bunny storytime!

Wordless Picturebook Booklist

Wordless picturebooks are a fantastic way to stretch your child’s ability for narrative skills and engage in creative thought! Below is a list of some of my absolute favorite wordless picturebooks.