Rabbit Hole Reads: Pride Month Book Picks for Board Books

Pride Month is the perfect time to fill your child’s early reading years with books that celebrate love, identity, and belonging. These thoughtfully selected board books are a great way to introduce even the youngest readers to inclusive stories that reflect the beautiful diversity of the world around them.

Every title below is available in board book format, making them ideal for tiny hands, rough learners, and daily storytimes. Whether you’re raising an LGBTQ+ family, want to raise inclusive kids, or both — these stories are joyful, gentle, and affirming.

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Book List

• Neither – Airlie Anderson
  Book Shop Allstora In a land of This and That, a creature called Neither doesn’t fit in. This gentle fable about belonging and inclusion affirms the beauty of being different — whether that’s in terms of gender, identity, or any other label.
• And Tango Makes Three – Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, illustrated by Henry Cole
  Book Shop Allstora Based on a true story, this sweet and accessible book tells the tale of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who raise a chick together. A perfect intro to same-gender families for little ones.
• We Are Little Feminists: Families – Archaa Shrivastav
  Book Shop Allstora This board book features real-life photos of diverse families, including LGBTQ+ parents, multiracial families, and more. Simple rhyming text affirms love, care, and connection in all forms.
• We Are the Rainbow! The Colors of Pride – Claire Winslow, illustrated by Riley Samels
  Book Shop Allstora Each color of the Pride flag is paired with a value and a diverse child showing it in action. A vibrant celebration of identity, community, and inclusion.
• The Pronoun Book – Chris Ayala-Kronos
  Book Shop Allstora With bright photos and simple, affirming text, this board book introduces a variety of pronouns (he, she, they, xe, ze, etc.) and encourages kids to respect and use the pronouns that feel right for each person.

✨ Need more conversation starters? Check out the First Conversations series by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison. For Pride Month, we recommend:

• Together: A First Conversation About Love

• Being You: A First Conversation About Gender

Discussions

These books open the door to conversations about family, identity, and respect. Keep it simple and honest. Use the language your child uses and follow their lead. Kids are naturally inclusive, these stories help keep that spark alive.

Talk About Identity & Self-Expression

• “Everyone is unique! What do you like about yourself?”
• “In Neither, some animals didn’t fit in. How can we help people feel welcome just the way they are?”
• “It’s okay to be a boy, a girl, both, or neither, what matters is being you!”

Explore Love & Family

• “What does a family mean to you?”
• “In And Tango Makes Three, who takes care of the baby penguin? Can families look different?”
• “Can two dads or two moms be a family too?”

Celebrate Pride & Inclusion

• “What colors do you see in the rainbow flag?”
• “Do you remember what the rainbow flag means?” (Pride, love, and inclusion)
• “What makes you feel proud of who you are?”

Name & Respect Pronouns

• “Everyone has a name and pronouns. Do you know yours?”
• “We use the pronouns someone tells us, just like we use their name. That’s being kind!”
• Connect with The Pronoun Book: “Can you say ‘they/them’ or ‘she/her’? How do we use these words?”

Activities

These simple, play-based activities are designed to help learners celebrate love, family, and being themselves. Through creativity, movement, and pretend play, little ones can begin to understand Pride month as a celebration of inclusion and identity. Keep it gentle, joyful, and follow your child’s lead. Every conversation, no matter how small, helps build a more loving world.

Rainbow Collage

• Provide paper, glue, and rainbow-colored scraps (magazines, fabric, tissue paper).
• Let kids glue freely while talking about the rainbow as a symbol of Pride and love.

Family Match Game

• Print or draw pictures of different family structures (two moms, single parent, grandparents, etc.).
• Let children match family members or make up their own family group.
• Say: “Families come in all shapes. What does your family look like?”
• More instructions and printable here

Story Basket: Love & Identity

• Gather dolls, stuffed animals, or figurines and read books like Neither or Being You.
• After reading, let kids use the toys to act out their own family or identity stories.
• Hint: If they/them pronouns are not natural for you or your child, give a doll or stuffed animal they/them pronouns so everyone can practice

Pride Parade Pretend Play

• Make rainbow flags with crayons and paper or use streamers.
• March around the house or yard celebrating with music.
• Say: “This is our celebration of love and being ourselves!”
• Also: Consider going to a local Pride event

Mirror Play: “Who Am I?”

• Let your child explore their reflection while you name and affirm their features.
• Say things like: “You are strong. You are creative. You are YOU!”

Actionable Step: Build an Inclusive Bookshelf

Start (or expand) your home or gift-giving library with board books that include LGBTQ+ families and diverse identities. Choose titles that feature two moms, two dads, gender-diverse characters, or inclusive family love. Share them with friends, baby showers, or community spaces like waiting rooms or playgroups.

Talk About It:
While reading, name the different kinds of families with joy and love. Use simple language like:

“This family has two daddies! All families are special.”

Optional Add-On:
Wrap up a board book as a gift and donate it to a local parenting group, mutual aid organization, or shelter supporting LGBTQ+ families.