A simple way to let students and families know that your school welcomes everyone is to integrate books into your curriculum that reflect the diversity of your classroom and the world.
Welcoming Schools, a project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, has created lists of currently available diverse books as a starting point. Each recommendation includes a brief summary and the grade and age-range the book is best suited for.
Diverse Books for a Welcoming School
This collection consists of books for pre-K through high-school-age kids on the topics of family diversity, bullying, bias and gender. This list also includes books for families, teachers, counselors, psychologists and other school staff to learn about LGBTQ topics and schools, bullying, school climate, transgender children, diversity and equity.
Elementary Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools Booklist
Secondary Creating Gender Inclusive Schools Booklist
Diverse Books for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools
Books are a great way to introduce LGBTQ topics to students. Find up-to-date recommendations for books that work well both in school and at home to spark discussion.
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools Booklist for Middle School
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools Booklist for High School
Diverse Books that Look at Gender and Support Transgender and Non-Binary Students
These lists of up-to-date book recommendations help to open up discussion on gender roles and gender stereotypes in developmentally appropriate ways that children understand.
Use books to talk with students about gender, support transgender children and to help all students understand what transgender and non-binary mean.
Elementary Supporting Transgender & Non-Binary Students Booklist
Secondary Supporting Transgender & Non-Binary Students Booklist
Diverse Books to Prevent Bias-Based Bullying
Find up-to-date recommendations for books that work well both in school and at home to spark discussion on ways to prevent bullying, bias and prejudice, building allies and respecting diversity.
Elementary Preventing Bias-Based Bullying Booklist
Secondary Preventing Bias-Based Bullying Booklist
Books to Embrace Family Diversity
Showing a wide range of diverse family structures in your choice of books helps welcome all students to your classroom, exposes students to the diversity of the world around them and helps students understand the commonalities of family and love.
Find up-to-date recommendations for books that work well both in school and at home to spark discussion.
Source: Welcoming Schools | Great Diverse Books For Your School, Library or Home, http://www.welcomingschools.org/resources/books | Copyright ©2022 The Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Last reviewed August 2022.
