Picture Books for Tamariki
2025 curated booklist
Grandad’s Pride
Harry Woodgate
Milly can’t wait to spend a summer at Grandad’s cottage by the sea, and is even more excited when she discovers Grandad and Gramps’ Pride flag in the attic. Grandad insists he’s too old to go to the London celebrations, especially now Gramps isn’t around any more, but Milly has an idea to get the local community together and bring Pride to Grandad
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay, diverse genders, diverse sexualities
Content Warnings: Character Death
ISBN: 9781499814613
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Tōku Whānau Rerehua / My Beautiful Family
Rauhina Cooper
How was school today, Huia’ her mum asked. ‘It was okay … but our news topic is our family.’
Huia feels too shy to talk about her family to her classmates because she has two mums. Will her friends laugh at her and tease her?
Over the next days, she learns that some whānau have a step-parent, some have one parent, and some children are adopted. There are all sorts of families! So when her turn comes to show her family photo, she doesn’t have to be shy.
Written in te reo Māori and translated into English (te reo appears first on the pages), Rauhina Cooper’s story is beautifully illustrated by award-winning illustrator Izzy White.
Category: NZ Author, Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay, lesbian, takatāpui
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781760508753
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Rere Atu Taku Poi! Let My Poi Fly!
Tangaroa Paul
“Hihiko ana te whānau o te kura I te mutunga o te poi. Koia nei te tuakiri tūturu o Rangi
The crowd erupted into cheers when the poi ended. Rangi felt amazing. He felt he belonged. He felt he was being his true self.”
Ka nui te aroha o Rangi ki te kapa haka, heoi, ko te poi tana tino kaingākau – ahakoa ngā kōrero a ngā hoa ā-kura, mā ngā kōtiro anake te poi. Tērā pōhēhē tērā! Ka māuiui te kaitātaki wahine i mua i te tū o te kapa ki te pō whakangahau, ka riro mai ko Rangi ki te kawe i taua tūranga. Ka pēhea ngā tauira me te hunga mātakitaki ki tēnā.
Rangi loves doing haka but performing poi is his favourite — even though his classmates say it’s just for girls. When the lead poi performer falls sick before a school performance, Rangi has to take her place. How will the other students and audience react — Surely a boy can’t lead the poi?’
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Diverse gender identities, takatāpui
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781990042485
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
You Need to Chill!
Juno Dawson
When Bill can’t be found at school one day, the imaginations of the other children run wild. Is he on vacation? Is he lost in the park? Has he been eaten by a shark? It’s up to Bill’s sister to explain that everyone needs to chill.
Juno Dawson’s debut LGBTQ children’s book is a witty and fun-filled rhyming story about family, identity, and acceptance. Bold, joyful, and warm-hearted, this inclusive children’s book’s message shines through on every page.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Diverse genders
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781728275529
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It
Lil Miss Hot Mess
Strike a pose. Blow a kiss. Mouth the words. A sing-along picture book inviting for audience participating and encouraging kids to embrace the playfulness of drag and dressing up, written by a founding member of Drag Story Hour.
If you’re a drag queen and you know it, let it show by winking, shaking your bum, laughing real big, twirling around, and more! Join a cast of fabulous drag queens as you sing along to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” in this playful celebration of expressing your brightest and boldest self. A perfect companion to The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish written by Lil Miss Hot Mess, a Drag Story Hour member and outspoken drag activist.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Diverse genders, diverse sexualities
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9780762475339
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Grandad’s Camper
Harry Woodgate
A child who enjoys Grandad’s stories of his travels and adventures with his husband Gramps persuades him to fix up their old camper and take another trip, in honor of Gramps
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay
Content Warnings: Character Death
ISBN: 9781499811933
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Things in the Sea are Touching Me
Linda Jane Keegan
You’ll squawk, screech, yelp… and laugh out loud at the surprises for all on this funny-sunny family day at the beach.
When a small child goes to the seaside with her Mum and Ma, she is unprepared for ‘things’ floating in the water. Ma explains what each one is and that it is nothing to be afraid of… then gets a big fright herself when Mum grabs her ankle!
Category: NZ Author, Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Lesbian
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781775435709
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Uncle Bobby’s Wedding
Sarah S. Brannen
Chloe loves, loves, LOVES her special uncle Bobby. So when she learns that Uncle Bobby is going to be getting married to his boyfriend Jamie she’s not at all pleased. What if Uncle Bobby doesn’t have time to play with Chloe anymore? But after spending a fun-filled day with Bobby and Jamie, she soon realises she’s not losing an uncle, but gaining a whole new one
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781444960945
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
I’m Not a Girl
Jessica Verdi & Maddox Lyons
Nobody seems to understand that Hannah is not a girl.
His parents ask why he won’t wear the cute outfits they pick out. His friend thinks he must be a tomboy. His teacher insists he should be proud to be a girl.
But a birthday wish, a new word, and a stroke of courage might be just what Hannah needs to finally show the world who he really is.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Transgender
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9780374310684
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
My Shadow is Purple
Scott Stuart
A heart-warming and inspiring book about being true to yourself, by best-selling children’s book creator Scott Stuart. This story considers gender beyond binary in a vibrant spectrum of colour.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Non-binary, diverse gender identities
Content Warnings: Discrimination
ISBN: 9781922503824
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
And Tango Makes Three
Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell
And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family.
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book, Non-fiction
Representation: Gay
Content Warnings: no warnings apply
ISBN: 9781481448840
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Harriet Gets Carried Away
Jessie Sima
Harriet loves costumes. She wears them to the dentist, to the supermarket, and most importantly, to her super-special dress-up birthday party. Her dads have decorated everything for the party and Harriet has her most favorite costume all picked out for the big day. There’s just one thing missing—party hats!
But when Harriet dons her special penguin errand-running costume and sets out to find the perfect ones, she finds something else instead—real penguins! Harriet gets carried away with the flock. She may look like a penguin, but she’s not so sure she belongs in the arctic. Can Harriet manage her way back to her dad’s (and the party hats!) in time for her special day?
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9781481469111
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived
Daniel Errico
Knights, dragons, and princesses are the things all good fairytales are made of, but what happens when the tale has an LGBTQ ending? Follow Cedric on his journey from his days on a humble pumpkin farm to the adventures that lead him to become a full-fledged knight. Once a knight, discover how he uses his cleverness and courage to vanquish a fire-breathing dragon and rescue a beautiful prince and princess. It is only then does Sir Cedric face his most difficult challenge. Will he follow his heart, and prove that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose for yourself how your fairytale ends?
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Gay
Content Warnings: No warnings apply
ISBN: 9780764356902
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)
Julián Is a Mermaid
Jessica Love
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?
Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.
Category: Children, Children’s Picture Book
Representation: Diverse gender identities
Content Warnings: Racism
ISBN: 9781406386424
Find it in your local library (WorldCat)