LGBTQ+ IN

THE LLC
Annie Zurrer
 INCLUSIVE
R E P R E S E N T AT I O N The purpose of our library
learning commons is to provide
a safe, welcoming, inclusive
space complete with resources
that represent the diversity of
our students, our school
community, and of the
colourful world in which we
live.
“Librarians have the power to act as catalysts for social change.
They have the potential to build inclusive library policies,
collections and services within a framework of human rights and
social justice, reflecting core values of access and intellectual
freedom, inclusivity, diversity and equality, and, particularly in
the school library context, duty of care and safety.”

- Alvin Schrader, 2009

FICTION TITLES
ALL ARE WELCOME
BY ALEXANDRA PENFOLD

“Discover a school where—no matter what—

young children have a place, have a space, and
are loved and appreciated.
Follow a group of children through a day in their
school, where everyone is welcomed with open
arms. A school where students from all
backgrounds learn from and celebrate each
other's traditions. A school that shows the world
as we will make it to be.”

Grades K – 3
A FA M I LY I S A FA M I LY I S
A FA M I LY
BY SARA O’LEARY

“When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about

what makes their families special, the answers are all
different in many ways — but the same in the one way that
matters most of all.

One child is worried that her family is just too different to

explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes
their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and
another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another
has a new baby.

As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with

and who loves them — family of every shape, size and every
kind of relation — the child realizes that as long as her
family is full of caring people, her family is special.”

Grades K – 3
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE
BY LISA JENN BIGELOW

“This summer brings big changes for Melly: her

parents split up just before she goes to Camp
Rockaway, her best friend ditches her, and she
finds herself falling for a girl at camp. To top it
off, Melly's not sure she has what it takes to be a
real rock 'n' roll drummer.”

Grades 3 – 7
ALAN COLE DOESN'T
DANCE
BY ERIC BELL

“Ever since Alan revealed he’s gay, Ron has been

bullying him with relentless fury. Buoyed by the
support of his friends Zack and Madison, Alan
thinks he can withstand the bullying. Things come
to a head when Alan’s father asks that he take June
to a school dance. Never mind that Alan has two
left feet, does not like girls, and might be
developing feelings for a new boy at school.”

Grades 5 - 7
GEORGE
BY ALEX GINO

“When people look at George, they think they see a boy.

But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.
George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever.
Then her teacher announces that their class play is going
to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY
wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't
even try out for the part...because she's a boy. With the
help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a
plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone
can know who she is, once and for all.”

Grades 4 – 8
C AT T Y W A M P U S
B Y A S H VA N O T T E R L O O

“The magical story of a hex that goes haywire, and the

power of friendship to set things right! If Delpha and
Katy want to reverse the spell in time to save everyone
in the Hollow from rampaging zombies, they'll need to
mend fences and work together. One character has just
found out she’s intersex and the other has two moms.”

Grades 5 – 7
DRAMA
BY RAINA TELGEMEIER

”Graphic novel through drama – a play – and

drama between characters explores middle school
feelings with boyfriends and girlfriends, and
boyfriends and boyfriends. Diverse characters.”

Grades 5 – 8
NON-FICTION TITLES
BE AMAZING: A
H IS TORY OF P R ID E
BY DESMOND NAPOLES

“In Be Amazing, drag kid Desmond is Amazing walks

you through the history of the LGBTQ community, all
while encouraging you to embrace your own
uniqueness and ignore the haters.

Desmond is amazing—and you are, too.

Throughout history, courageous people like Marsha P.

Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and RuPaul have paved the
way for a safer, more inclusive society for LGBTQ
individuals, and it’s thanks to them that people just
like Desmond can be free to be who they really are.”

Grades K – 3
 G AY & L E S B I A N
HI S TORY FOR KI DS:
T H E C E N T U R Y- L O N G
STRUGGLE FOR LGBT
RIGHTS
BY JEROME POHLEN
“This book puts the historic struggle
for LGBTQ equality into perspective.
Given today's news, it would be easy
to get the impression that the
campaign for LGBTQ equality is a
recent development. This resource
helps put recent events into context.”
Grades 4 – 9
QUEER HEROES: MEET 52 LGBTQ HEROES FROM
T H E PA S T A N D P R E S E N T
BY ARABELLE SICARDI

“This beautiful, bold book celebrates the

achievements of LGBT people through history and
from around the world. It features full-color
portraits of a diverse selection of 52 inspirational
role models accompanied by short biographies that
focus on their incredible successes, from Freddie
Mercury's contribution to music to Leonardo da
Vinci's Mona Lisa. Published to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, this title
will show children that anything is possible.”

Grades 5 – 10
SUGGESTED
ACTIVITIES

• Conscience Alley: https://dramaresource.com/conscience-alley/

• Wrinkled Wanda: https://bullyproofclassroom.com/great-anti-bullying-activities
• Tableau: https://www.thoughtco.com/introducing-tableau-to-students-3938471
• Hot Seat: https://dbp.theatredance.utexas.edu/content/hotseating-0
 • Schrader, Alvin M. (2009).
Challenging Silence, Challenging
Censorship, Building Resilience:
LGBTQ Services and Collections in
SOURCES Public, School and Post-Secondary
Libraries. Feliciter (Ottawa), 55(3),
107.
• “Great LGBTQ Inclusive Picture &
Middle Grade Books.” Welcoming
Schools, 2021,
welcomingschools.org/resources/childr
ens-books-lgbtq-inclusive.
• France, Paul Emerich. “Supporting
LGBTQ Students in Elementary
School.” Edutopia, George Lucas
Educational Foundation, 31 May 2019,
www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-
lgbtq-students-elementary-school.