• IntroductionMotivationA brief discussion of sexuality and genderTerminologyChildren’s literatureSexuality, children and children’s literatureCorpus of textsMethodologiesStructure of this bookConclusion Issue booksPublishing and practical considerationsParatextsConfirmation of normalityHIV and AIDSTeaching through charactersControversyConclusion Portrayal and stereotypesPrejudice and stereotypesA brief history of stereotypes in LGBTQLiteratureQueerness as a problemCauses of queernessLooking queerActing queerSex and marriageThe gay boyfriendPositive stereotypes and challenging stereotypesReducing prejudice and literature’s roleConclusion DiversityMissing piecesBisexualityTransgenderOther shades of the rainbowMultiple identitiesRace/ethnicityReligion and spiritualityDis/abilityAgeClassWeight/size and body imageConclusion Sex and marriageMasturbationProtectionSexBTQ sexSummary of sexMarriageBackground on LGBTQ parentingBackground on LGBTQ marriageUS booksUK booksNorthern European booksSummary of marriageSingletonsConclusion ConclusionA brief summaryA call to arms (or pens): Not a conclusion, but a proposal NotesReferencesAnnotated bibliographyIndex

Literature representing LGBTQ experiences will be part of any inclusive school curriculum. Of course. Epstein takes that crucial next step, though, and establishes some criteria for selecting and using these books. She weaves her own opinions in with those of other experts, comments from authors, and the voices of the characters themselves. From picture books to young adult literature, she helps us understand the value of these works, but also reveals some of the unintended messages teachers might want to avoid or compensate for. This book will be a good place to start for anyone new to LGBTQ children’s literature or food for thought for the experienced practitioner.

• IntroductionMotivationA brief discussion of sexuality and genderTerminologyChildren’s literatureSexuality, children and children’s literatureCorpus of textsMethodologiesStructure of this bookConclusion Issue booksPublishing and practical considerationsParatextsConfirmation of normalityHIV and AIDSTeaching through charactersControversyConclusion Portrayal and stereotypesPrejudice and stereotypesA brief history of stereotypes in LGBTQLiteratureQueerness as a problemCauses of queernessLooking queerActing queerSex and marriageThe gay boyfriendPositive stereotypes and challenging stereotypesReducing prejudice and literature’s roleConclusion DiversityMissing piecesBisexualityTransgenderOther shades of the rainbowMultiple identitiesRace/ethnicityReligion and spiritualityDis/abilityAgeClassWeight/size and body imageConclusion Sex and marriageMasturbationProtectionSexBTQ sexSummary of sexMarriageBackground on LGBTQ parentingBackground on LGBTQ marriageUS booksUK booksNorthern European booksSummary of marriageSingletonsConclusion ConclusionA brief summaryA call to arms (or pens): Not a conclusion, but a proposal NotesReferencesAnnotated bibliographyIndex

Literature representing LGBTQ experiences will be part of any inclusive school curriculum. Of course. Epstein takes that crucial next step, though, and establishes some criteria for selecting and using these books. She weaves her own opinions in with those of other experts, comments from authors, and the voices of the characters themselves. From picture books to young adult literature, she helps us understand the value of these works, but also reveals some of the unintended messages teachers might want to avoid or compensate for. This book will be a good place to start for anyone new to LGBTQ children’s literature or food for thought for the experienced practitioner.

• IntroductionMotivationA brief discussion of sexuality and genderTerminologyChildren’s literatureSexuality, children and children’s literatureCorpus of textsMethodologiesStructure of this bookConclusion Issue booksPublishing and practical considerationsParatextsConfirmation of normalityHIV and AIDSTeaching through charactersControversyConclusion Portrayal and stereotypesPrejudice and stereotypesA brief history of stereotypes in LGBTQLiteratureQueerness as a problemCauses of queernessLooking queerActing queerSex and marriageThe gay boyfriendPositive stereotypes and challenging stereotypesReducing prejudice and literature’s roleConclusion DiversityMissing piecesBisexualityTransgenderOther shades of the rainbowMultiple identitiesRace/ethnicityReligion and spiritualityDis/abilityAgeClassWeight/size and body imageConclusion Sex and marriageMasturbationProtectionSexBTQ sexSummary of sexMarriageBackground on LGBTQ parentingBackground on LGBTQ marriageUS booksUK booksNorthern European booksSummary of marriageSingletonsConclusion ConclusionA brief summaryA call to arms (or pens): Not a conclusion, but a proposal NotesReferencesAnnotated bibliographyIndex

Literature representing LGBTQ experiences will be part of any inclusive school curriculum. Of course. Epstein takes that crucial next step, though, and establishes some criteria for selecting and using these books. She weaves her own opinions in with those of other experts, comments from authors, and the voices of the characters themselves. From picture books to young adult literature, she helps us understand the value of these works, but also reveals some of the unintended messages teachers might want to avoid or compensate for. This book will be a good place to start for anyone new to LGBTQ children’s literature or food for thought for the experienced practitioner.