So the list is growing. I probably should be spending a little more time critiquing the children's books that I don't like, but reading the good ones is so much more fun! I feel like I spent my entire childhood engulfed in the bad ones, and that my time is better spent highlighting the ones I am excited to share with my kids, and with you!
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman Illustrated by Diana Souza
In 1989 when Heather and her mommies first appeared in a children's book, they were bashing down a big ol' door. This book was really the first kids book that showed gay or lesbian parents.
The 10th anniversary reprinting of the book streamlines the story that was, at times, wordy and offered unnecessary information, such as how Heather was conceived.
Thanks, in large part, to this book, there is a growing crop of kids books that offer gay and lesbian characters including:
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell
In Our Mother's House by Patricia Polacco
Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen
The Family Book by Todd Parr
All Kinds of Families! by Mary Ann Hoberman
Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story by Kaitlyn Taylor Considine
King and King and Family by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
and
King and King by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland
Generally stories that glorify royalty are not on the top of my favorites list, but this one is one of my favorites books, in spite of that. It has beautiful collaged illustrations layered with quirky drawings. The story tells about a prince who is being coerced into marriage by his overbearing mother. The queen lines up a parade of princesses for the prince to choose from, and he does not like any... until he experiences love at first sight with one of the princesses brothers. And they wed, and live happily ever after. (Until the follow up book where they adopt a baby, and then continue to live happily ever after.)
I think my favorite thing about this book is how the fact that the prince falls in love with another prince and not a princess is not made a big deal of. He finds someone that he loves, and the queen and the kingdom are happy and celebrate with him.
It is a love story and the gender of the lovers is never called into question!
Old MacDonald had a Woodshop by Lisa Shulman Illustrated by Ashley Wolff
The character of Old MacDonald in this version of the story is a female. She works in her woodshop, building a very special project with the help of her friends. Instead of the animals on the farm, the story details the tools she is using for her project, which, it turns out, is a toy farm!
I love the reworking of a well known children's rhyme to make the protagonist a woman, especially because she is doing a job that is often thought of as male work.
Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne Illustrated by Giselle Potter
Another retelling of a classic children's story where the protagonist has been changed to a female.
An empowering version of the tale, Kate defeats the Giant and she and her mother go to live in the castle with the giants wife.
The retelling of classic fairy tales with the main characters gender changed has become a popular theme. Though I am generally more interested in stories with more contemporary themes I like the idea of the reworked fairy tale. It is hard to get through childhood without coming across tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Pied Piper, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Three Billy Goats Gruff... and so many others. I love to see these tales and their characters adapted to reflect stronger female characters, and more progressive ideology.
Are there more that you know of?
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