2nd & 3rd Grade

The Berkeley Unified School District stands with our transgender and gender non-conforming students and wishes to affirm its commitment to providing a learning environment where every student is safe and has the opportunity to express themselves and live authentically. At its December 9, 2020 Board meeting, the Berkeley Unified School District Board of Education approved a Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Student Policy. For more information on LGBTQ support and resources, please visit the District Civil Rights and Compliance Office website.

These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent books published in the last 5 years that are devoted to celebrating, representing, and affirming transgender, non-binary, and gender fluid identities and expression.

For books affirming and celebrating the full spectrum of LGBTQI+ identity and voices, see this booklist.

Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelopeby Jodie Patterson

Call Me Maxby Kyle Lukoff

Calvinby J.R. Ford and Vanessa Ford

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identityby Theresa Thorn

Me and My Dysporia Monsterby Laura Kate Dale

My Rainbowby DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal

Pink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids About Gender Stereotypesby Elise Gravel and Mykaell Blais

Riley Reynolds Seriesby Jay Albee

Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!by Joy Michael Ellison

They Call Me Mix/Me Llaman Maestreby Lourdes Rivas
*Written by a BUSD teacher

When Aidan Became a Brotherby Kyle Lukoff

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

3-12 graders can find hundreds of great options on Sora. For Sora ebooks, you will be prompted to log in through Clever. More information on how to access Sora is available here.
TK-2 graders can find great ebooks and read-alouds through Tumblebooks or the Berkeley Public Library.
You will need a Berkeley Public Library card to order books through the Berkeley Public Library catalog. If you need a Berkeley Public Library card, click here.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores:

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.