Pride Month Books to Read for Grades 3-12

It’s June, which means that time of year to read Pride month books! Pride month’s origin is in the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots that fought for LGBTQ+ liberation. Today, it’s a time for people who identify as queer to celebrate their unique identities in the spirit of confidence and self-acceptance. We can all learn from the intention of Pride month to be more proudly authentic in ourselves and tolerant of others.

A great way to celebrate Pride is to read and learn about LGBTQ+ stories, especially from authors who identify as queer. Reading opens your mind to new perspectives and helps you develop tolerance for others, which is what makes it such a great way to celebrate Pride. Here are some of the best books for Pride month reading across grades 3 through 12.

Children’s Books for Pride Month (3rd-5th Grade)

Many educators and parents find the idea of discussing LGBTQ+ issues with children a challenging task, but it doesn’t need to be!

Children see men & women in love, and they see that people often express themselves according to their gender. By teaching them that people can love people of the same gender romantically and that self-expression doesn’t need to be firmly connected with the gender a person is born with, adults can foster a positive learning environment of acceptance and tolerance.

Pride month books for children are an excellent way to introduce young readers to LGBT identities and help them feel proud of who they authentically are.

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead

Change can be scary for children, especially when it impacts their life at home. A heartwarming read about a family undergoing transformation, The List of Things That Will Not Change is an excellent book for young readers experiencing any sort of change in their family. When 8-year-old Bea’s parents divorce, the dramatic divide in her household is mended with affirmations that her parents will always love her and each other, even if they’re no longer together.

Two years later, Bea’s dad tells her that he’s soon to marry his boyfriend, Jesse—and she’s ecstatic. Not only because she loves being around Jesse, but because she’ll finally have a sister! Although she doesn’t know Jesse’s daughter, Sonia, she’s eager to become best friends. Facing major changes and surprises all around her as the wedding nears, Bea learns about authenticity, sympathy, and the importance of forgiving yourself when you make a mistake. Readers love the genuine characters and life lessons in this award-winning read!

George by Alex Gino

George lives her life by a different identity than how she feels inside, keeping her truth secret from the world around her. Appearing as a boy to her classmates and teachers, her hopes of auditioning Charlotte in her school’s theatrical adaptation of Charlotte’s Web are stifled when her teacher says that Charlotte can’t be played by a boy.

In George, our protagonist isn’t a boy trying to become a girl—she is a girl trying to be herself in a world that sees her as a boy. A heartwarming tale about self-acceptance, George illustrates how isolating being trans as a child can be and how much friendship and connection can improve kids’ lives. Readers say this book helped them learn the importance of being themselves and accepting others for who they truly are.

This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us by Various Authors

A major tenet of the LGBT Pride movement is inclusivity. Every person is unique, shaped by their distinct upbring and identity. This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us is a beloved anthology of queer stories from LGBTQ+ authors that celebrate individual uniqueness and tolerance!

The selection of stories is as diverse as their characters. From groups of friends exploring their self-expression as they go thrifting to a nonbinary person’s experience participating in gendered sports, this anthology has all sorts of colorful stories featuring compelling characters. Older elementary readers looking for heartwarming Pride month books will love This Is Our Rainbow!

Queer Middle Grade Books (6th-8th Grade)

Middle schoolers interested in learning more about LGBTQ+ issues and seeing characters who live as their authentic selves should pick up one of these Pride month books to read this June!

The stage of development children begin as they enter middle school is concerned with identity-development. Middle schoolers want to try different things and learn about the world around them on their quest to discover their authentic self. Reading books with LGBT themes isn’t to influence kids to identify one way or another; rather, it’s a way for preteens to build acceptance of themselves and others around them!

Starring Kitty by Keris Stainton

Starring Kitty is a warm, emotional read about a British student facing a serious illness in her family, navigating the troubles of high school with her two best friends, and developing her first crush—on a girl, no less. Kitty and her friends Hannah and Sunny participate in a film competition, taking her mind off things… but she’ll still have to choose whether to keep her romance with Dylan a secret or embody her authentic self.

A fun read about first love that is perfect for summer (particularly since much of it takes place on the beach), Starring Kitty is perfect for middle grade readers looking for a heartwarming, romantic read. Readers love the diverse cast of realistic characters and Kitty’s devotion to her family as her mother grapples with a chronic illness.

The Pants Project by Cat Clarke

Thousands of students across the world have gripes with their schools’ dress codes. Many preteens find their school uniforms uncomfortable or untrue to who they are, damaging their self-confidence. This is Liv’s struggle in The Pants Project—at a school where all girls must wear skirts while boys wear pants, he is forced to wear a skirt because his outward appearance is that of a girl. He wants to share his gender identity with the world around him, but he’s afraid of being outcast—especially when he already feels excluded by bullies and abandoned by his former best friend.

On a journey of self-acceptance, Liv and his friends work together to overturn the outdated dress code policy so that all students can express themselves within the school rules. He learns about the importance of staying truthful to yourself in a society that genders anything from colors to clothing. Every student will learn something from The Pants Project!

Cattywampus by Ash Van Otterloo

Lovers of fantasy about magic and mischief will devour Cattywumpus. Set in rural Appalachia in the town of Howler’s Hollow, it follows rebellious witches Delpha and Katybird, the children of rival families, each seeking the benefits of magic in a town that forbids it. In their fight over the old grimoire of Delpha’s family, they release a dangerous, powerful hex on the town.

This story, featuring LGBTQ+ representation and appreciation, follows the two witches as they work to fix their shared mistake and become friends in the process. Readers love watching their friendship blossom in this modern, folk-y fantasy world of the mysterious Appalachian landscape.

Pride Month Books for High Schoolers (9th-12th Grade)

If you’re a high schooler looking for Pride month books to read this June, try one of the following! These are higher-level reads than the books above, including informative LGBT books for teens and exciting, complex stories about people with different gender identities and sexual orientations.

The Stonewall Reader from the New York Public Library

One of the most informative entries in this colorful collection of Pride month books, The Stonewall Reader is one of the best non-fiction LGBT books out there. An anthology about the Stonewall uprising, this collection of essays, diaries, and articles about the pinnacle of the 1960’s movement for LGBTQ rights dives through stories of the many individuals who put their lives on hold—and at stake—to fight for their community.

From the iconic Marsha P. Johnson, the drag queen gay liberation activist who is often the face of the Stonewall riots, to Ernestine Eckstine, a lesser-known Black lesbian activist who was out and proud when it was dangerous to be, The Stonewall Reader guides readers through primary sources about some of the most courageous and influential figures of the time.

Unboxed by Non Pratt

A heartwarming story about memory and friendship, Unboxed follows four teens who reunite after months apart. Following the death of their friend, Millie, they come together to open a time capsule made when all five of them were together.

When it comes to LGBTQ+ books for young adults, Unboxed is a beloved read to many teens—both allies and members of the community. Under 150 pages in length, this short read is packed with characterization and nostalgia, and our protagonist shows just how big of an impact her friendship with Millie had on her acceptance of her own sexuality. An honest look at teen friendship, Unboxed is perfect for when you want an impactful story in a short sitting.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

A novel set in the 80’s and adorned with motifs of the classical era, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe follows the blossoming friendship (and potential romance) between two Mexican-American teenagers: Dante, a lover of poetry with an open perspective on life, and Ari, a closed-off teen dealing with family troubles at home.

These two fifteen-year-olds learn from one another and grow as a result—Dante teaches Ari about swimming and literature, and Ari learns to be more sincere and open. Readers love how these characters grow together and confront their families’ pasts on their path of self-discovery. (If you enjoy this story, there’s also a sequel!)

Flyboy by Kasey LeBlanc

An eccentric novel about the LGBTQ+ experience within conservative institutions, Flyboy follows secretly-trans teen Asher Sullivan as they are sent to Catholic school after an incident at school. During the day, he’s forced to wear “girl’s attire” and live under the control of strict nuns; at night, he escapes to the Midnight Circus in vivid dreams, where he can be his true self.

The Midnight Circus is made up of accepting colleagues, magnificent stunts, and a professional rivalry with trapezist Apollo—who mysteriously appears in his real life one day. Once Asher learns that his Midnight Circus might be real, he realizes it’s at stake—and so is he if he stays in the closet, untrue to who he really is. This book is esteemed as a contemporary YA classic for its emotional story, vibrant imagination, and depictions of realistic LGBTQ+ struggles.

Books to Read for Pride Month

Children’s Books for Pride Month (3rd-5th Grade)