top of page
Search

Indies GO ALL IN: 6 Children’s Books Celebrating Pride Month

Rainbow Pride graphic with six book covers and text BOOKLIST FOR JUNE: 6 Books Celebrating Pride Month

Happy Pride Month! This June we are celebrating stories about being boldly beautifully yourself. For this month's booklist for our indies project for the National Year of Reading, we've gathered books that celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities, self-expression, love and belonging.


Our May booklist celebrated mothers and grandmothers from all kinds of families. This month, we are joined by Owlet Press, Pop’n’Olly, Wacky Bee, Scallywag Press, and Old Barn Books.


All the recommended titles are available for purchase here or in the links below! Stay tuned for next month's booklist!


1. My Mummies Built a Treehouse

Book cover with three children in a pink treehouse in a bright green tree; title My Mummies Built a Treehouse.

Written by: Gareth Peter

Illustrated by: Izzy Evans

Published by: Lantana Publishing

Reading age: 2-5


Building a treehouse is a big project. But when your mummies are there to help you, there's nothing that can stop you!


When one boy sets out to build the treehouse of his dreams, there’s so much to consider – from finding the perfect tree to drawing up the plans.


There are certainly challenges along the way, and a lot of spilt paint! But one thing is for sure – he won’t go far wrong with his two mummies to support him.


2. Cinder & Ella

Cinder & Ella book cover with two smiling girls riding a blue horse, tiled floral border, castle, oranges, and writer names.

Written by: Barbara Slade

Illustrated by: Lucia Soto

Published by: Owlet Press

Buy this book: Cinder & Ella


A FRESH REIMAGINING OF A CLASSIC TALE, WITH A LONG-AWAITED TWIST.

 

This inspiring LGBT love story truly celebrates feminism, strength and justice.

 

While Cinder dreams of a girl with eyes the colour of the sea, Princess Ella longs for something she cannot yet imagine. When the two girls meet, their hearts are filled with joy, but what will happen when the clock strikes midnight?

 

With one family being a source of encouragement, the other determined to crush all attempts at happiness, the odds are firmly stacked against our heroes. Yet with the power of love and strength, hope prevails. The result is a richly purposeful and inspirational, tale where girl meets girl and love faces adversity. Will Cinder and Ella find their happily ever after?


3. The Bear who had Nothing to Wear 

Book cover of a smiling brown bear on a yellow background holding a sign reading The Bear Who Had Nothing to Wear.

Written by: Jeanne Willis

Illustrated by: Brian Fitzgerald

Published by: Scallywag Press

Reading age: 3+


Albie arrived wearing NOTHING but fur,he could have been either a Him or Her…Most teddy bears let their owner decide,but Albie would not, for a bear has its pride.


But each outfit that Albie purchases - from fairy to pirate, from cowboy to elegant city gent - proves unsuitable in some way, and by the end of the week his bedroom is heaped with discarded clothes. How will he dress in order to feel like himself?


4. What Does LGBT+ Mean? A Guide for Young People (And Grown-Ups)

Book cover on purple background: What Does LGBT+ Mean? A guide for young people, with cartoon kids waving pride flags.

Written by: Olly Pike, Mel Lane & James Canning

Published by: Pop’n’Olly

Buy this book: What Does LGBT+ Mean?


What Does LGBT+ Mean? A Guide for Young People (And Grow-Ups) is Pop'n'Olly's first non-fiction book, aimed at upper KS2 & lower KS3 students (or anyone who needs a bit of education around the topic of LGBT+). This will be an incredibly useful book for teachers and educators.

 

This book explores identity, assigned sex, gender, love, sexuality, discrimination, privilege, allyship, pride and more. Some of the chapters can already be watched as animated videos at youtube.com/popnolly. 


5. Pink!

Book cover of Pink! with a pink penguin leaping in a snowy sky, featuring the text What’s a penguin to think when he wakes up and Pink!

Written by: Lynne Rickards

Illustrated by: Margaret Chamberlain

Published by: Wacky Bee

Buy this book: Pink!

Reading age: 3+


Patrick wakes up one morning to find he’s turned pink overnight. But boys can’t be pink! Rejected by his friends, poor Patrick runs away in search of new pink playmates. He crosses oceans where he finds some pink flamingos – but will he ever fit in with them? Patrick soon learns that friendship is never black and white, but that real friends will accept you just as you are.


6. On The Edge: Sea, Surf and impossible Dreams

Book cover for Nicola Garrard’s On the Edge, with a seagull on a beach inside a yellow keyhole on a dark background.

Written by: Nicola Garrard

Published by: Old Barn Books


What happens when the summer ends?

Rhys lives in a small town on the Devon coast, where seasonal work dries up as winter storms hit, housing is hard to come by and livelihoods are threatened by distant bureaucrats. Life is much harder for Rhys and his two younger brothers than tourists can possibly know.

It is only when surfing that Rhys finds solace in the beauty around him: the crashing waves, towering cliffs and sandy beaches. But when that solace is taken, his tinder-dry rage is soon ignited. Determined to defend his family from a life blighted by social neglect and poverty, Rhys is drawn to Dodo, a radical political activist involved in anti-capitalist activism with his girlfriend. Before long, Rhys' actions spiral out of control, with dire consequences for himself and those he loves.



Whether you're looking for a joyful read-aloud to celebrate Pride Month with the little ones, a quietly powerful story to press into the hands of a teen who's never quite felt like they fit in, or a bold and beautiful gift for a family of every shape and colour, our indie publishers have you covered. 


Explore more of our indie booklists here!


bottom of page