Picture books to celebrate LGBTQ+ families

Ari discovers a piece of pink confetti under her sofa one day, and it sparks memories of celebrations and joy in her life – from going to Pride parades with her uncle to the birth of her sister. This sweet picture book shows children all the precious moments life can bring, and celebrates love in all its forms.

Big groom one and big groom two invite you to a giant GIANT wedding! This beautifully illustrated new picture book is a delightfully whimsical celebration of love. In addition to the rhyming main story, there are lots of fun details to explore using flaps, which allow you to fling open the doors of the church, and discover the details of the invitation and the menu – gold-buttered honeybread with cactus-flower jam anyone?

Thomas the teddy has a secret, and is scared of sharing with best friend, Errol. When the secret gets so big that even the swings can't lift the mood, Teddy knows it's time to tell Errol the truth: she'd rather be a girl teddy than a boy teddy. This sensitive tale explores transgender issues in a way that most children can relate to. The narrative focuses on unconditional friendship and acceptance – life doesn't change for the worse when Teddy shares a secret and this is a great message for families to take away from the book.

Following ten families as they embark on their daily routines we discover that differences do exist: some families walk to school, others take the bus; each family has their own way of sharing a meal or spending time together. But the one thing that unites everyone is the love that they share for each other. This is a versatile book that can be shared in so many ways; follow the rhyme and read from start to finish or dip in and out and follow the lives of a family that engages your little one.

'Norman had always been normal – perfectly normal. Until one day... he grew a pair of wings.' And so poor Norman's life is turned upside down. He carries the weight of his big secret around with him, hidden beneath the cover of his big yellow jacket. But one day he realises it's time to show the world who he really is, revealing his beautiful wings to his parents and friends. This stunning book celebrates diversity in all its glory and is a great place to start conversations with young children about what difference might look like to them.

Worm and Worm love each other and are all set to get married. But wait! Who's going to wear the dress? And who's going to wear the tuxedo? This sweet story about two creatures in love is ideal for helping little ones make sense of LGBT relationships. Gender is not the pressing matter of the day here – what matters most is that you are in love. And despite Cricket's insistence on things being done like they always have been, our pair of lovestruck worms defy the traditions of marriage and do their own thing. This simple book is brought to life with some delightful garden bugs and a smattering of pink confetti.

It's baking day! A dad and his daughter set to work choosing the perfect ingredients and mix, shake, and whisk away in the kitchen. There's a little bit of mess but mostly an atmosphere of celebratory happiness fills the room. But who is the cake for? Not mum. Or gran. Or the girl's wee brother. It's for another male character who arrives with delight to see the finished masterpiece. There's no implicit suggestion that he's the partner of the dad in the story – but then there doesn't need to be. What matters most is that children see a range of situations featuring characters in loving relationships.

Julian is in awe of the glamorous women dressed as mermaids that he glimpses on his journey home from the pool with grandma. But surely he couldn't be a mermaid himself – what would grandma think? This award-winning title is beautiful on every level. The narrative is sparse yet powerful, and there's a dreamy, carnival spirit in the illustrations that light up every page. Julian transforms from little boy to shining mermaid and finally his dream is realised. This uplifting story is about embracing our inner selves and being accepted and loved for whoever we want to be.

​Sophy Henn’s brilliant book celebrates the diversity of families throughout the animal kingdom, with vibrant artwork and carefully curated facts. Did you know that sometimes two male cheetahs will adopt a lost cub, or that every so often female albatrosses team up and raise chicks, and stay together for life? Showing how different and varied a family setup can be, this fantastic picture book gently teaches children about inclusion and the many ways we love each other.

'A wedding is a party for love' explains Julian in this, vibrant, celebratory story. There are not many picture books featuring same-sex weddings around, but what's refreshing to see in this one is that the LGBTQ+ element is not integral to the story. This is a book about playfulness, imagination, friendship...and a dog with very muddy footprints! A magical tale to share with children of any age.

Little people sometimes need the reassurance that they're loved. When they're feeling afraid, sad, lost or anxious, knowing that there's a parent or carer there to scoop them up and show them unconditional love lies at the heart of this beautiful, soothing story. With a stylish colour palette and illustrations depicting a range of family units, this is just the book to cuddle up and share at bedtime, or when emotions are running high.

Poor Billy wishes his family were a little more ordinary. His two mums – Mama and Mummy – are a bold, shanty-singing duo longing for adventure on the high seas! They're thrilled when the opportunity arises to set sail with their son on a class trip to the seaside… but an embarrassed young Billy isn’t so sure. With its beautiful pencil drawings and hipster colour palette, this is a stylish, swashbuckling adventure like no other and it is a valuable addition to any LGBTQ reading list for little ones.

This rip-roaring picture book brings to life a chaotic family day, as two dads and their three children try to get their chores done… But their mischievous cat keeps getting in the way. With bright illustrations which give the whole book a lovely warm feeling and featuring all the mayhem and joys of family life, wee ones will love to come back to it again and again.