Rainbow Project Book List

About the Rainbow Project Book List
The Rainbow Project Book List is list of recommended books dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangendered and questioning issues and situations for children up to age 18.

Administered by:

Rainbow Round Table (RRT) logoSocial Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) logo

Middle Grade Fiction

2017 Selection(s)

The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island

By Dana Alison Levy. 2016. 259p. Random House/Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Grades 3-5.

The Fletcher family looks forward to their regular vacation at Rock Island: clam chowder, swimming, ice cream, and most of all the lighthouse. But when they find the lighthouse fenced off when they arrive, it starts a summer unlike all the rest.


The Hidden Oracle

By Rick Riordan. 2016. 376p. Disney. Grades 5-8.

Apollo’s in trouble with Zeus and has been banished to Earth as a mortal with none of his godly powers, so he makes his way to Camp Half-Blood before finding out about an all-new threat to Camp Half-Blood and the world.


Lily and Dunkin

By Donna Gephart. 2016. 340p. Random House Children’s/Delacorte. Grades 4-6.

Lily is fighting to live openly as a girl, Dunkin is fighting his memories of his father, and they’re both fighting to save the tree in front of the library.


Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor

By Rick Riordan. 2016. 471p. Disney. Grades 5-8.

Stonewall Book Awards–Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Award Book. 

In Magnus’s second adventure, Rick Riordan introduces readers to Alex Fierro, a gender fluid teen who has “startling eyes, an impressive sweater-vest, and a tendency to hit people” (54). Alex is a hero and represents the expansive possibilities of gender for future generations.


The Other Boy

By M. G. Hennessey. 2016. 234p. HarperCollins. Grades 5-8.

Twelve-year-old Shane loves baseball, drawing, and hanging out with his best friend until a transphobic school bully targets him. When Shane loses hope for finding his place in the world, some unexpected allies step forward.


Picture Books

2017 Selection(s)

Big Bob, Little Bob

By James Howe; illus. by Laura Ellen Anderson. 2016. 32p. Candlewick. Ages 3-7.

Three friends learn that gender doesn’t matter when it comes to playing with toys.


Home at Last

By Vera Williams and Chris Raschka. 2016. 40p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Age 5-8.

Lester finds a loving home with Daddy Rich and Daddy Albert and their big, fluffy dog.


Worm Loves Worm

By J.J. Austrian; illus. by Mike Curato. 2016. 32p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray, Age 3-8.

Worm loves worm, and now they want to get married.  But which worm is the bride and which is the groom?  And does it matter?


2017 Top Ten Choices

2017 Selection(s)

I'm a Girl

By Yasmeen Ismail. 2016. 32p. Bloomsbury. Ages 3-7.

A spunky child is not afraid to be herself.


Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship

By Jessica Walton; illus. by Dougal MacPherson. 2016. 32p. Bloomsbury. Ages 3-6.

Errol’s teddy bear, Thomas, is sad until telling Errol the bear is actually a girl teddy bear and wants to be called Tilly. Errol and Tilly move the bow-tie from her identity as Thomas to a hair bow for Tilly. Errol only cares that the teddy bear is his friend.


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