Some of our services are closed or have different hours on the Melbourne Cup public holiday on Tuesday 5 November 2024.

Staff have compiled their favourite picture books that celebrate rainbow families and exploring your identity!

Celebrate creativity, curiosity, and kindness with Julian is a mermaid* by Jessica Love, Fred gets dressed by Peter Brown, and My shadow is pink by Scott Stuart.

These books are ideal for starting conversations with young children about self-expression and what it means to be true to yourself. Stories like The girl with two dads by Mel Elliott, Love makes a family by Sophie Beer and Frizzle & me by Ellie Royce depict families of all different family compositions. They teach children that every family is special and all that matters is love.

LGBTQIA+ Picture Books

A little bit different by Claire Alexander

Rosie the rhinoceros by Jimmy Barnes

Love makes a family by Sophie Beer

Why do I have two mums, asks Byron by Rachel Behn

Under the love umbrella by Davina Bell

Uncle Bobby’s wedding by Sarah S. Brannen

Daddy & Dada by Ryan Brockington and Isaac Webster

Fred gets dressed by Peter Brown

Pirate Jack gets dressed by Nancy Raines Day

The girl with two dads by Mel Elliot

Princess Kevin by Michael Escoffier

My own way by Joana Estrela

My two super mums by Bronny Fallens

Families by Jane Godwin and Yael Frankel

Who’s your real mum? by Bernadette Green

Who’s in my family? all about our families by Rosie H. Harris

Big bob, little bob by James Howe

The boy with flowers in his hair by Jarvis

I am Jazz by Jazz Jennings

Colour me by Ezekiel Kwaymullina

The pirate mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant

Julian is a mermaid* by Jessica Love

Julian at the wedding by J. Lowe

Wrestle by Charlotte Mars

They, she, he, easy as ABC by Maya and Matthew Gonzalez

My family and other families by Richard and Lewis Edwards Middleton

Heather has two mummies by Leslea Newman

A tale of two daddies by Vanita Oelschlager

This love by Isabel Otter

Be who you are by Todd Parr

The family book by Todd Parr

It’s okay to be different by Todd Parr

The spectacular suit by Kat Patrick

Pink is for boys by Robb Pearlman

Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival

Isla’s family tree by Katrina McKelvey and Prue Pittock

My 2 mums & me by Eleni Prineas and Kath Deighton

And tango makes three by Justin Richardson

Frizzle & me by Ellie Royce

Families can by Dan Saks

Stella brings the family* by Miriam Schiffer

Harriet gets carried away by Jessie Sima

Our family pledge by Emmaline Southwell

ABC Pride by Louie Stowell & Elly Barnes 

My shadow is pink by Scott Stuart

From the stars in the sky to the fish in the sea by Kai Cheng Thom

Peanut goes for gold by Jonathan Van Ness 

Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton

Our baby by Margaret Wild & Karen Blair

To reserve a book, click the title and use your membership number and PIN to place a reservation. Titles with an asterisk (*) are also available from our eBook collection.

Visit the Children’s Storytimes and Activities page for all our regular children’s programs. See our Literacy and reading resources for families page to find the best reading recommendations, literacy advice and programs for your child.

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