By Spencer Miller
According to a recent report out of the United States, a rise in book bans has created a “notable chill” in the market for queer stories with the effect “most keenly felt within children’s book publishing.” Thankfully, publishers and authors are organizing to hold space for marginalized stories.
With book bans an ongoing concern in Canada (especially in Alberta), it’s become increasingly important to support the work of independent Canadian publishers who continue to publish and promote books with queer characters, stories, and themes.
As I currently reside in Alberta, it’s been frustrating and disheartening to see queer stories become a topic of debate and controversy. On an encouraging note, I’ve also heard from awesome librarians and teachers looking for book recommendations to add more queer inclusive stories to their shelves. So I’ve put together this book list to highlight new and upcoming Canadian books that feature 2SLGBTQIA+ characters, queer themes, and inclusive messages.
To everyone doing this important work and making space for inclusive stories, thank you. Let’s continue to advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ books in schools.
K-3 (Picture Books)
A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend (Groundwood Books) bounces between kids at a summer camp as they share their thoughts on what it means to be a friend. The kids ask each other questions and offer advice for making friends. Together, they express the importance of finding commonalities and listening to each other’s stories.
Highlight: Delightful and inclusive, the book features a diverse cast of kids, including a friend who is trying out new pronouns.
Call Me Gray (Kids Can Press) holds a heartwarming story about change, acceptance and love. One winter, while creating their annual ice rink together, a child asks their dad a question: “Do you ever feel mixed up about who you are?” The question starts a conversation in which the child shares something special about their identity.
Highlight: Inspired by the real-life experiences of the author and his son, this story beautifully depicts the living bond between a parent and child.
Ellis on Guard (Second Story Press) offers relatable scenarios and practical coping tools for dealing with anxiety. The story follows Ellis (they/them), an imaginative and creative young person whose big imagination sometimes turns to creating worries and anxieties.
Highlight: This book helps normalize worry and lets young readers know everyone worries sometimes. It’s a great starting point to talk about what to do when feeling anxious.
K-3 (Chapter Books)
Little Bee: The Buzz About the Party (Annick Press) is the first in a new series that will explore social justice topics for little readers. The story follows Bee and her best friends Sarah and Tiam (a.k.a. the Winged Wonder gang) as they plan a winning Mother’s Day party that makes everyone feel included.
Highlight: The story (literally) celebrates non-traditional families and teaches it’s worth making an extra effort to avoid leaving anyone out of a good time.
The Healer and the Phoenix (Annick Press) kicks off a new fantasy series with a focus on teamwork. In this first book, ten-year-old Starbright Mai is thrust into a world of secret quests and magical powers when she is chosen as the newest member of Van Lang’s Legendary Allies Team. At first, Mai and her phoenix, Ruby, struggle to feel a part of the team. But after one crisis call, Mai is ready to step up.
Highlight: This awesome and inclusive fantasy world (where characters share their pronouns while introducing themselves) holds huge appeal for young readers.
4-7
Allyship as Action: 7 Ways to Advocate for Others (Orca Book Publishers) is a practical guide to navigating the real-life messy situations young people may encounter at school and in their communities. Can you remember being in middle school and witnessing someone being bullied or left out and not knowing what to do? Going through the scenarios in this book will help students feel prepared to practice allyship and advocate for others.
Highlight: The true-to-life scenarios laid out in this book also make great prompts for learning discussions and activities.
Checked Out (Orca Book Publishers) is a high-interest, low-reading level book that tackles the issue of censorship. Seth and his classmate Pluto set up a Pride Month display to raise awareness of queer books in their school library, but as soon as the display goes up, someone checks out all the books, leaving the table empty. When they discover that their classmate Rebecca checked out the books with the intent of never returning them, Seth and Pluto have to decide what to do next.
Highlight: Within this high-interest story is a clear argument for why queer stories matter and make a difference to young readers.
8-12
Lying, Stealing, and Other Ways to Save the Planet (Annick Press) is an upcoming YA novel about coming of age in the shadow of climate change. This is the story of rogue teen reporter John O’Neil, who has turned his nose for news toward blackmailing homophobic bullies and the country club owner responsible for environmental crimes in his small town. John gets in over his head as his desperation to protect a bird conservation area turns him towards forgeries, a car chase, and a high-stakes heist.
Highlight: John’s cynical, sarcastic outlook and questionable decision-making lead to some truly hilarious and heart-racing situations.
Wavelength (Groundwood Books) is a love story between Sasha, a seventeen-year-old pop sensation who runs away to a nowhere midwestern city to escape fame and embrace their non-binary identity, and Lillian, a broken-hearted romantic and musically talented student at the local high school. Through their connection, Sasha and Lillian explore the deeper parts of themselves, their emotions, and their music… until a mean-spirited music executive tries to tear them apart.
Highlight: There’s enough conflict to keep readers engaged, but there’s also plenty of time to hang out and vibe with the loveable cast of queer misfit characters.
Spencer Miller (he/him) is a teacher, writer, reader and basketball fan. He advocates for Canadian books in the classroom as the Editorial Coordinator of Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom, a program of the Association of Canadian Publishers. You can follow more of Spencer’s passion for books on Instagram @SpencerBMiller.