Children's literature

A guide to children's literature including resources at the State Library and elsewhere

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex (LGBTI) Books

Publication of LGBTI books for young adults began in the 1970s and according to researcher L. Anne Clyde (2004) picture books appeared in the 1980s

To find LGBTI children's books held by the Library, search our catalogue combining one of the phrases:

children's literature, children's fiction or juvenile fiction

with any of the following terms or phrases:

bisexual, homosexuality, intersex, lesbian, transgender, transsexual, queer, gender identity, or  sex change then click Search.

It is important to try a number of these terms to capture keywords in the notes about a book plus authorised subject headings used when books are catalogued

Some examples include:

A recent picture book 10,000 dresses (2008) by Marcus Ewert and illustrated by Rex Ray

An early text for young readers translated from the Danish is Jenny lives with Eric and Martin (1983) by Susanne Bosche

Crossing lines (2011) by Paul Volponi is a book for older readers

Australian LGBTI children's literature

Australian children's books

  • Bedtime for Baby Teddy (2002) by Tamara Arc-Decker, illustrated by Jenni Boettcher is a picture book about children of gay parents
  • Me mum's a queer (1994) by Catherine Johns is a book for younger readers about lesbian mothers
  • F2M: the boy within (2010) by Hazel Edwards and Ryan Kennedy is transgender young adult fiction
  • Fables queer and familiar (2014) by Margaret Merrilees, illustrated by Chia Moan is humorous and affectionate crossover fiction about the lives of two lesbian grandmothers

Literary criticism eresources and databases

Literary criticism print resources

Overseas LGBTI children's literature

Overseas children's books

Literary criticism eresources and databases

Print resources

Awards

The Lambda Literary awards identify and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender books published worldwide and make annual awards for the best in a number of genres including young adult, graphic novels and science fiction.

The 2018 winner of the young adult category is Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender.

Australian LGBTI texts

Overseas LGBTI texts