Description

This article is from the Children's Books FAQ, by Hilary Morrison, morrison@evol1.mbl.edu with numerous contributions by others.

Children Books: Books That Teach Tolerance: A-R

Following titles suggested by Kate G.; book descriptions are
copyright Lambda Rising Bookstore:

LAMBDA RISING BOOKSTORES
Every Gay & Lesbian Book in Print - Videos, Music, & Gifts, Too
FREE Mail Order Catalog - Out-of-Print Book Search Service
E-mail address: lambdarising@his.com

Alden, Joan:Boy's Best Friend (Will, a seven year old asthma
sufferer, wants nothing at all for his birthday if he can't have a
dog. He sees his birthday come and almost go without a gift. But
at the last hour, Will's two moms present him with a dog who will
make a difference by being different.)

American Friends Service Committee:Bridges of Respect: Creating
Support for Lesbian and Gay Youth ("This guide is presented as an
invitation to adults who work with youth to recognize the needs of
a neglected, largely invisible population of lesbian and gay young
people. It includes a discussion of the special struggles and
strengths of these youth and an extensive listing of resources-
print and audiovisual materials as well as organizations,
programs, and projects-that will be useful to educators, health
care and social service providers and youth advocates." QUOTE from
theIntroduction)

Bargar, Gary W.:What Happened to Mr. Forster? (Louis is trying to
make his sixth-grade year a success, and is being helped by a new
teacher, Jack Forster. But parents are suspicious of the bachelor
teacher, and he disappears suddenly. Why?)

Bosche, Susan:Jenny Lives With Eric and Martin (The first English-
language book ever to explain the gay lifestyle to young readers.
Through photos and brief text, this book tells the story of a
weekend in the life of a young girl who lives with a gay male
couple-her father and his lover. Ages 6-9.)

Brown, Forman:Generous Jefferson Bartleby Jones (Jefferson
considers himself lucky to have two dads, because one of them is
always free to have fun with him on the weekends. He generously
loans out one dad, then the other-- and suddenly discovers himself
home alone for the first time.)

Elwin, Rosamund and Michele Paulse:Asha's Mums (Asha's two lesbian
mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of
classmates. Asha responds that having two mums is not a big deal.
They are family.)

Herdt, Gilbert (Ed.):Gay and Lesbian Youth (This book describes
the unique experiences of gay and lesbian youth in the growing-up
process. The changes in youth in the United States is compared and
contrasted with those changes elsewhere to better understand the
identities, situation, and relationships of homosexual teens in
many societies. Gay teenagers and their parents will better
understand the similarities of the problems facing young people
today. This book will help all readers understand the unique and
emotion-filled world of gay and bisexual youth going through the
coming-out process.)

Heron, Ann and Meredith Maran:How Would You Feel If Your Dad Was
Gay? (Jasmine, Michael, and Noah are all regular kids except for
one thing: they have gay parents. This book, written by two
lesbian mothers with help from their sons, will be a lifeline for
all young people who have to face the issues and concerns of
having gay parents.)

Ireland, Timothy:Who Lies Inside (This is Martin's story: "...The
stranger seemed to have wriggled under my skin, or had grown
inside me all my eighteen years, only now for some reason that
stranger was not content to stay in the shadows but wanted to step
out into the light and be seen." Winner of the Other Award, 1984.)

Jenness, Aylette:Families: A Celebration of Diversity, Commitment,
and Love (Seventeen children and their parents openly discuss the
challenges and benefits of contemporary family life today.
Includes interviews with children of gay and lesbian parents.)

Johnson-Calvo, Sarita:Beach Party with Alexis (Alexis and her two
moms decide to have a cookout on the beach and invite all of
Alexis' multi-cultural friends.)

Kerr, M.E.:Night Kites (Nicki, a fan of MTV and a Madonna
imitator, seems at first just like other girls until things begin
to unravel on the night of a Bruce Springsteen concert. How people
hide, betray, accept, and love is sensitively explored in this
moving new novel.)

Martin, Kenneth:Aubade (When it was first published in 1957, this
novel created a storm of controversy with its frank revelations
about adolescent homosexual feelings and influenced many major
figures of the time. Written in the first person by a sixteen-year
-old Irish boy, it deals uncompromisingly with the early
homosexaul love affair of a young man. With a new introduction by
the author.

Michals, Duane:Upside Down, Inside Out and Backwards (80 pages of
pictures and stories by artist Duane Michaels. This is a book of
comic surprises and foolish follies, of rhymes and tattle tales
and missing teeth, of secrets and mistakes and let's pretend for
children.)

Newman, Leslea and Annette Hegel:Saturday Is Pattyday (The trials
and tribulations of a little girl as she tries to understand and
come to terms with the end of her two mothers' relationship. A
sensitive portrayal of a child dealing a difficult situation.)

Newman, Leslea:Belinda's Bouquet (Daniel's best friend, Belinda,
is cruelly teased for being fat until one of Daniel's mothers
takes them both into the garden. There, she gently explains that
flowers, like people, take many forms. Each has its own needs, and
its own beauty.)

Newman, Leslea:Heather Has Two Mommies (In story form, we learn of
a new kind of family structure that is really ordinary in its
daily living and caring relationships. Line drawings and simple
language tell of Heather growing to preschool age and beinning to
question why she has two mommies instead of a daddy and a mommy).;
Gloria Goes To Gay Pride (Gay Pride Day is fun for Gloria, and for
her two mothers.) [Both also recommended by Sharon A.]

Nones, Eric Jon:Caleb's Friend (The endearing story of a young boy
who meets a young merman his own age. The two boys have an
intense and close relationship and Caleb learns the price of
saving one's life when the half boy half fish must return to the
sea in order to live. It is a little mermaid tale for boys.)

 

Continue to:

• prev: Children Books: Explaining Different Holidays
• Index
• next: Children Books: Books That Teach Tolerance: S-Z

Share and Enjoy

Tags

children, child, kid, books, poetry, reading, picture books, recommendation