Celebrate Challenged Children's Books

Happy Banned Books Week, folks!

It's that time of year where we fight censorship in our public libraries & schools with education, advocacy, and literary celebration. The American Library Association's chosen theme for 2025 is Censorship is so 1984—an apt comparison given the greater scrutiny & vitriol that the current federal government has towards education and the arts.

The Right to Read & the Threat to Intellectual Freedom

Banning books hurts ~E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E~

Rainbow DracuteersKaye Crawford

The grand majority of book challenges today aren't even issued by residents of the towns whose libraries receive submitted complaints; many such submissions for reconsideration are made by coordinated political pressure groups, several of which are known to associate with noted hate groups. To combat this growing trend of anti-intellectual fear-mongering & its crusade for censorship, many states are looking to enshrine the Right to Read in law. Both Connecticut and Rhode Island recently passed such legislation, and Massachusetts looks to protect its public bookshelves next.

When looking at the most popularly banned books across the United States, clear themes pop-up again and again: books with LGBTQIA+ characters, themes, or stories are routinely the target of book bans, alongside books that explore systemic racism, life experiences shared by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and cultural diversity.

Children's books and Young Adult literature tend to be the prime focus of book banners. Censorship crusaders overtly sexualize and dehumanize any representation of queerness, regardless of story content or reader demographic. Discussions of racial inequality or diversity is additionally deemed too mature or divisive to be read by any young person.

The reality is this: we live in a beautiful, complex world shared by multiplicities of people with infinite combinations of families, identities, and cultures. Our histories are intertwined with injustices that impact our lives to this day. Reading books featuring characters of marginalized identities or experiences not only promotes empathy in readers, but helps to offer sorely needed representation of under-served voices in minority communities.

To ban books is to violently silence diverse voices & experiences. To ban books is to deny the lived reality we find ourselves in. To ban books is to refuse reality & further condemn marginalized folks to the fringes of society.

Protect your right to read! Fight censorship, rebuke book bans, & support our local libraries and public schools.

Rainbow Dracuteers has drafted a list of lovely children's picture books that have routinely found themselves relegated to the banned or challenged shelves in various U.S. states. Each recommended book contains LGBTQIA+ content (sometimes explicitly, and other times incidentally) that was derided by far-right extremists and pro-censorship agitators. (And in the case of Milo Imagines the World, daring to address what it's like for a child to have an incarcerated parent.)

All picture book cover images can be clicked to purchase a copy at bookshop.org, an online retailer that financially supports independent bookstores.

For locals in the Greater Lowell area, I highly recommend checking out Lala Books for an excellent, local indie bookstore experience.

And of course, there's never a need to buy a book when libraries are here to serve! All recommended titles in this list are available at the Dracut Public Library or through the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (except for They, She, He easy as ABC, which is available through the Commonwealth Catalog). With a library card in hand, you can checkout any of these beautiful works of children's literature~

Checkout these Excellent
Banned Children's Books

Title: And Tango Makes Three

Authors: Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell

Illustrator: Henry Cole

Recommended reader age range: 4—8 years

Synopsis: 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 got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. (Based on a true story.)

Praise: "Cole's pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text...Those who share this with children will find themselves returning to it again and again...for the two irresistible birds at its center and for the celebration of patient, loving fathers who 'knew just what to do.'"
— Booklist, starred review

"A touching and delightful variation on a major theme."
— Maurice Sendak

"This wonderful story of devotion is heartwarming proof that Mother Nature knows best."
— Harvey Fierstein

Title: Bathe the Cat

Author: Alice B. McGinty

Illustrator: David Roberts

Recommended reader age range: 3—6 years

Synopsis: Cats + water: What could go wrong? This riotous romp of a picture book follows a frantic family as they try to get some chores done—with no help from the family cat, who keeps scrambling the list of chores to hilarious effect. Get ready for a rollicking read-aloud with a truly purrfect ending.

HILARIOUS READ-ALOUD: Word scrambles are a delight in this silly rhyming picture book! Kids will love the accessible rhyming text, and emerging readers will be able to anticipate words after repeated reads, making for an engaging and interactive read-aloud experience.

TWO DADS LEAD THE WAY: Dad and Papa are the heads of this large and loving biracial family, mirroring illustrator David Roberts' own orientation and providing picture book readers with a positive depiction of LGBTQ+ characters in a fun and funny family story.

Praise: "Clean-up time turns topsy-turvy when an interracial family’s mischievous cat jumbles up their to-do list in this sure-footed picture book. . . . Pencil and watercolor scenes by Roberts (The Cook and the King) emphasize the increasing goofiness of the family’s repeated efforts to get their mess under control, and light rhymes by McGinty (A Story for Small Bear) pair smartly with the amusing concept."
—Publishers Weekly

"Told in rhyming verse, McGinty’s silly yarn has charm to spare. Young readers will be tickled by the cat’s mischievous misdirects and the resulting pandemonium. Roberts’s pen and watercolor illustrations carry on the aesthetic tradition of Pat Hutchins and Judi Barrett, paying homage to the colors and fashions of the 70s. Each page is filled with well-conceived details that deserve close inspection. Preschoolers will be in stitches reading this modern revelry told through a vintage lens."
—School Library Journal

Title: From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea

Author: Kai Cheng Thom

Illustrators: Wai-yant Li & Kai Yun Ching

Recommended reader age range: 2—7 years

Synopsis: A magical gender variant child brings transformation and change to the world around them thanks to their mother's enduring love.

In the magical time between night and day, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky, a child is born in a little blue house on a hill. And Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can't decide what to be: a boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star? At school, though, they must endure inquisitive looks and difficult questions from the other children, and have trouble finding friends who will accept them for who they are. But they find comfort in the loving arms of their mother, who always offers them the same loving refrain: "whatever you dream of / i believe you can be / from the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea. "

In this captivating, beautifully imagined picture book about gender, identity, and the acceptance of the differences between us, Miu Lan faces many questions about who they are and who they may be. But one thing's for sure: no matter who this child becomes, their mother will love them just the same.

Praise: "This book's themes can resonate with any child who feels excluded (or excludes others) and can also open up conversations about nonbinary gender identities. A relevant tale of love and acceptance that can find a home in any children's collection."
-Kirkus Reviews

"It's important for youngsters questioning their gender to see themselves in literature, and for other kids to see and more or less accept that fluidity. More generally, Mui Lan is always changing, and that sounds like the way all kids should be."
-Montreal Review of Books

"Miu Lan's tale is a unique, magical take on differences in gender identity and accepting diversity."
-Resource Links

Title: I Am Jazz

Authors: Jessica Herthel & Jazz Jennings

Illustrator: Shelagh McNicholas

Recommended reader age range: 4+ years

Synopsis: The story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for trans kids everywhere.

From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz’s story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.

Praise: “This is an essential tool for parents and teachers to share with children whether those kids identify as trans or not. I wish I had had a book like this when I was a kid struggling with gender identity questions. I found it deeply moving in its simplicity and honesty.”
—Laverne Cox

“Jazz is a sensitive and courageous young woman. Her story is inspiring and important to read. By sharing her experiences and view she has added to our understanding and compassion for the transgender experience.”
—Barbara Walters

“A terrific and timely book that explains to kids what it means to be transgender and—more importantly—that reminds kids our similarities are much more important than our differences.”
—Jodi Picoult

Title: It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

Author: Theresa Thorn

Illustrator: Noah Grigni

Recommended reader age range: 4—8 years

Synopsis: Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art by Noah Gringni, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Praise: "This expansive, straightforward framing of gender emphasizes curiosity, joy, and positive self-expression . . . . Exceptional."
―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The spirit of free expression and creativity infuses every spread of this inclusive exploration."
―Publishers Weekly, starred review

"As the song has it, we’re living in a big, wide wonderful world. And this book is a welcome addition to it."
―Booklist, starred review

Title: Julián is a Mermaid

Author & Illustrator: Jessica Love

Recommended reader age range: 4—8 years

Synopsis: In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.

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.

Praise: "This is Jessica Love’s debut picture book, and every choice she makes — the spare text, a color palette both muted and lively, full-bleed pages that make even subway cars and apartment rooms feel as expansive as the ocean — imbues the story with charm, tenderness and humor…Alongside Julián, readers learn that anyone can be a mermaid: All it takes is love and acceptance, a little imagination and a big swishy tail."
—The New York Times Book Review

"This story, written and illustrated by Jessica Love, glows with warmth and acceptance, and is a favorite read before bed."
—NPR Books

Awards include: Stonewall Book Award; BolognaRagazzi Award, Opera Prima; and Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor

Title: Milo Imagines the World

Author: Matt de la Peña

Illustrator: Christian Robinson

Recommended reader age range: 3—8 years

Synopsis: Milo is on a long subway ride with h is older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There’s the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There’s the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there’s the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo–walking the same path, going to the exact same place–Milo realizes that you can’t really know anyone just by looking at them.

Praise: “Bright, fun, whimsical . . . An absolutely wonderful book for kids.”
—Good Morning America

“Exquisite . . . Ends with a heartfelt punch.”
—The TODAY Show

“In this rich, multilayered journey, the award-winning creators of Last Stop on Market Street celebrate a city’s kaleidoscope of scenes, offer a glimpse at a child’s experience with parental incarceration, and convey that child’s keen observations about his circumstances and surroundings. “
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A memorable, thought-provoking story poised to make a difference for many.”
—Kirkus, starred review

Title: Pink is for Boys

Author: Robb Pearlman

Illustrator: Eda Kaban

Recommended reader age range: 1—5 years

Synopsis: Pink is for boys . . . and girls . . . and everyone! This timely and beautiful picture book rethinks and reframes the stereotypical blue/pink gender binary and empowers kids and their grown-ups to express themselves in every color of the rainbow. Featuring a diverse group of relatable characters, Pink Is for Boys invites and encourages all children to enjoy colors in everything they love to do, whether it's racing cars and playing baseball, or loving unicorns and dressing up. Vibrant illustrations help children learn and identify the colors that surround them every day, from the orange of a popsicle, to the green of a grassy field, all the way up to the wonder of a multicolored rainbow.

Parents and kids will delight in Robb Pearlman's sweet, simple script, as well as its powerful message: life is not color-coded.

Praise: "[C]haracters are bundles of mischievous, untrammeled energy, with mouths wide open in expressions of infectious and very toothy joy."
―Publishers Weekly

"The message doesn't just drive but serves as the whole vehicle for this manifesto against linking gender with particular colors. As a component in a gender-centric storytime, this has a role."
― Booklist

"The book is persuasive: by the time young readers hear 'All the colors are for EVERYONE' at the end, that point should seem obvious."
―The Horn Book

Title: Prince & Knight

Author: Daniel Haack

Illustrator: Stevie Lewis

Recommended reader age range: 2—7 years

Synopsis: In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a brave knight come together to defeat a terrible monster and in the process find true love in a most unexpected place.

"Thank you," he told his parents.
"I appreciate that you tried,
but I'm looking for something special
in a partner by my side."

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far from here, there was a prince in line to take the throne, so his parents set out to find him a kind and worthy bride. The three of them traveled the land far and wide, but the prince didn't quite find what he was looking for in the princesses they met.

While they were away, a terrible dragon threatened their land, and all the soldiers fled. The prince rushed back to save his kingdom from the perilous beast and was met by a brave knight in a suit of brightly shining armor. Together they fought the dragon and discovered that special something the prince was looking for all along. This book is published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and acceptance.

Praise: "Victorious . . . the premier queer-friendly fairy tale."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An illuminating fairy tale for young readers to be able to see that not every prince would like to marry a princess."
—School Library Journal

"A colorful and entertaining tale exploring sexuality, acceptance, and young love." —Booklist

American Library Association 2019 Rainbow Book List Top Ten

Title: They, She, He easy as ABC

Authors & Illustrators: Maya Christina Gonzalez & Matthew Sg

Recommended reader age range: 3+ years

Synopsis: Inclusive pronouns are learned alongside the alphabet in this joyously illustrated take on the classic ABC book.

They, She, He easy as ABC shows that including everyone is all part of the dance. It's easy. It's fundamental. As the dance begins the kids proclaim, "No one left out and everyone free," in a sing-song rhyme about inclusion. This sets the stage for readers to meet 26 kids showing us their dance moves.

"Ari loves to arabesque. They hold their pose with ease.
Brody is a break dancer. Brody loves to freeze."

Fast-paced rhyming keeps the flow of text upbeat and rhythmic, and naturally models how to use a wide range of pronouns. There's no room for stereotypes on THIS dance floor with spirited imagery that keeps names, clothes, hair and behavior fresh and diverse. The combination creates a playful and effortless practice to expand ideas about gender while learning the alphabet and makes being inclusive as easy as A-B-C.

Praise: "A gorgeous and much-needed picture book about pronouns
and gender fluidity."
—School Library Journal

"The book They, She, He easy as ABC by Maya and Matthew Smith-Gonzalez provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss names, pronouns and gender expression, all of which can serve as a familiar starting point for kids and adults to expand their ideas about gender."
—HRC Foundation Welcoming Schools

Title: This Day in June

Author: Gayle E. Pitman, PhD

Illustrator: Kristyna Litten

Recommended reader age range: 4—8 years

Synopsis: This day in June . . . Parade starts soon . . . Rainbow arches . . .
Joyful marches!

In a wildly whimsical, validating, and exuberant reflection of the LGBTQ+ community, This Day in June welcomes readers to experience a pride celebration and share in a day when we are all united. Also included is a Note to Parents and Other Caregivers with information on how to talk to children about sexual orientation and gender identity in age-appropriate ways, as well as a Reading Guide chock-full of facts about LGBTQ+ history and culture.

Praise: “Intended for children ages four through eight--but absolutely a book every PFLAGer will want on their shelf--the book serves as an excellent tool for teaching respect, understanding, and affirmation of LGBTQ people.”
—PFLAG Voice blog

“This beautifully illustrated book is a great addition to a school or personal library to add diversity in a responsible manner without contributing to stereotypes about LGBT people.”
—School Library Journal

"Pitman, in her first book for children, salutes the LGBT parades that take place across the U.S. in June. Her couplets keep things marching steadily forward, but it’s Litten’s artwork that creates a sense of joyous excitement and showcases the diversity on display."
—Publishers Weekly

Awards include the 2015 Stonewall Book Award; Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award; & 2015 Notable Books for a Global Society Awards

Title: When Aidan Became a Brother

Author: Kyle Lukoff

Illustrator: Kaylani Juanita

Recommended reader age range: 4—8 years

Synopsis: When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl’s room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of life that didn’t fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life.

Then Mom and Dad announce that they’re going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning–from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does “making things right” actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.

When Aidan Became a Brother is a heartwarming book that will resonate with transgender children, reassure any child concerned about becoming an older sibling, and celebrate the many transitions a family can experience.

Praise: "A trans man himself, Lukoff writes with authority and a loving spirit. Juanita's cheerful digital illustrations are a nicely harmonious match with the text, expanding it in meaningful ways. Together, the text and pictures create a heartfelt celebration of love that will be an ideal selection for trans children and for any who are expecting a new sibling."
—Booklist

"Joyful and affirming, Aidan's story is the first of its kind among books for welcoming a new baby."
—Kirkus Reviews

"This is the best of what picture books can be, melding powerful storytelling with an awareness of what quality representation can do for readers."
—Alex Gino, author of Melissa and You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!

Awards include the 2020 Stonewall Book Award; Great Lakes Great Books Award Honor; Booklist Editor's Choice; & Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year

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