Building an LGBT-Inclusive Family Library

Hey that family is like mine! 

Titles You are Familiar With? Do your kids see themselves reflected in some

of the books they read? What do you have at home for your kids? What do you read to your kids at different

ages? Does your public or school library have any

LGBT parent books? Did you read any books with an LGBT theme

when you were a kid or teen? Do you remember when the first books with

LGBT parents were published?

Today’s Session Exemplary books Books you might not want to use Handouts Watch for stereotyping of people in

illustrations and language Speak up any time to offer your thoughts

Heather Has Two Mommies Newman 1989

Heather Has Two Mommies Newman 1989

Amazon Reviews My daughter likes this book, she seems to get it. And its

given her permission to talk about having two mommies.

I am a lesbian mother of three, and my children love this book! It makes them feel good to know that there are other kids like them, and to see it in print really validates their lives.

Hey, I'm a lesbian mom myself. I have two great kids. I was given this book as a gift. What a horrible book. Difficult to read, full of 1970s impossible to comprehend propaganda. Almost seems like the crazy right-wing wrote it, there is so much to object to.

Just because a book is written by us about us does not make it a good quality book.

About the anniversary edition: A round of applause for Leslea Newman who

realized that her book needed a revision for the 10th Anniversary Edition. She focused on the true message of the book, that the "most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love each other." She simplified the writing to better fit preschool audiences, but most importantly, removed the sections about how Mama Jane and Mama Kate got together and then conceived Heather. These were the sections that kept it out of preschools and other settings, in spite of the great message.

Daddy’s Roommate Willhoite 1991

A Tale of Two Daddies Oelschlager 2010

School Librarian – Tale of Two Daddies “One of my second grade girls LOVED A Tale of

Two Daddies when we got it for the library.  She and her two dads read it over and over!  After the little girl checked it out, I ran it by my principal, the district library coordinator, and two school board members.  All were fine with it.

The look on the little girl's face, when I showed her the book,  was priceless!”

Board Books Newman 2009

Amazon Reviews This book is the most wonderful book for two-mom

family. It isn't preachy, nor does it point out that there's anything different about having two moms. This is a book that my son can read and recognize his family.

I love that she can see something which resembles her own family life in print.

Tricycle Press, Newman, and Thompson should all be highly commended for creating the first board-books representing same-sex families in a non-didactic way.

We read about all sorts of families, but it is nice to read a book that mirrors our own.

This is the two-dads children's book against which our family measures all others.

In Our Mothers' House Polacco 2009

In Our Mothers' House Polacco 2009

In Our Mothers' House Polacco 2009

And Tango Makes Three Richardson and Parnell 2005

Banned Books List - ALA 2010 #1. And Tango Makes Three, Reasons:

homosexuality 2009 #2. And Tango Makes Three, Reasons:

homosexuality 2008 #1. And Tango Makes Three,

Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group

2007 #1. And Tango Makes Three, Reasons:  anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, sexism, and unsuited to age group

2006 #1. And Tango Makes Three, Reasons: anti-family, homosexuality, and unsuited to age group

Uncle Bobby's wedding Brannen 20082008 Banned Books #8

King & King & Family Haan (King & King 2004 Banned Books #8 and 2003 #9 Reason: homosexuality)

Amazon Review This book is fuel to the right wing fire and

doesn't represent any of the creative ways LGBT people have created families.

Challenges by Reason (1990 - 2009) 10,676 challenges Office for Intellectual Freedom -ALA

Challenges by initiator (1990 - 2009) 10,676 challenges Office for Intellectual Freedom -ALA

Challenges by institution (1990 - 2009) 10,676 challenges Office for Intellectual Freedom -ALA

100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–19991. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz 2. Daddy’s Roommate, by Michael Willhoite 3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou 4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier 5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain 6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck 7. Forever, by Judy Blume 8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson 9. Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea

Newman10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009 1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling 4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin

Richardson/Peter Parnell 20. King and King, by Linda de Haan 21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee 44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher 48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez

100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999 24. The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles

Silverstein 44. Annie on My Mind, by Nancy Garden 63. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher 74. Jack, by A.M. Homes 75. Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge

Librarians - Your New Best Friends “Libraries should challenge censorship in the

fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.” —Article 3, ALA, Library Bill of Rights

Collection Policies/Challenge Procedures Reconsideration Policy (dated, stereotyping, heavy

handed) Where are the books shelved? Behind desk? In the

“Problem Family” section along with “my father is in jail” books? In with the rest of the library books?

“We need books that depict and celebrate all our experiences.” –school librarian

Filtering in Schools LGBT terms filtered in email messages and

websites in many schools Implications

Bullying resources Research It Gets Better, Trevor Project, COLAGE, PFLAG

Problems with LGBT Parent Books Stereotyping Heavy handed/didactic Tragedy Ruined relationships Shame

Jack Homes 1989If it Doesn't Kill You Bechard1999

Uncle What-is-it is coming to visit!! Willhoite 1993

Publisher’s Weekly Review …a newspaper photo of a Carmen Miranda

impersonator marching in a gay pride parade (" 'Coochy, coochy, coochy,' squealed Shelby").

…"dressed up in black leather. Zippers and chains all over 'em. Dark glasses . . . Chaps!"

…caricatures of transvestites and "leather queens" (there's even a multibraceleted limp wrist on the book's cover),

Alas, this volume is stronger at defining stereotypes than at demolishing them.

My Two Uncles Vigna 1995

Holly's Secret Garden 2000

Molly's Family Garden 2004

Amazon Reviews Why are two Moms always presented as a

problem? I have an 11 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. In Kindergarten neither of them even had the concept that having two Moms was bad or that one or the other of us was or was not their real Mom. I sure don't want to introduce those ideas thru a childrens book.

One of the greatest parts of this book is that not only does Molly's two mothers explain to her that family's are based on love and commitment, but even her teacher takes time to explain to her students that families are different.

Families Kuklin 2006

Between Mom and Jo, Peters 2008

The Accidental Adventures of India McAllister Agell 2010

Athletic Shorts Crutcher 1989 2006 Banned Books #7

School Librarian Comment – Athletic Shorts I strongly recommend the first Story in

Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher.  Angus Bethune has four great gay parents.  

You will love it.  I nominated it a few years ago for the Pennsylvania young readers award and many complained and in protest sent me the copy they had purchased.  

They came in handy since it was used in the middle school curriculum. Ray

Advances in LGBT Parent Books Step parent/divorce/separation is a non-issue

regarding gender, treated just like a heterosexual relationship

More common to have the LGBT parent part of a character as a non-issue, not making a statement, it just is part of the story

YA is going to find fault with something, it may be handy to point to LGBT issue, but could just as easily be the kind of car you drive, the clothes you wear

Missing from this collection Transparents IVF/donor sperm Surrogate Special Needs (parent or child) LGBT grandparents Others?

Your Comments/Ideas Favorite LGBT parent books? Books you’d never give another LGBT parent? Input at local public library? Advocating at your child’s school library and

classroom?