bit.ly/lgbtqiahistorymonthlibraryresources
Purpose of this website
The Youth Advocacy Department coordinated with OPEN Books back in April of 2021 to receive a gigantic donation of LGBTQIA-themed books that are developmentally appropriate for elementary and TK-8 schools. Please view this message of support from Superintendent Lamont Jackson. We were able to secure book bundles (16 different books) for more than 130 different school sites. We’ve been waiting since April for a good time to distribute them to the school principals who would, in turn, pass them to their school site librarian/library tech. All sixteen of the books have been painstakingly vetted by the Office of Youth Advocacy and the Instructional Media Center for appropriate use in elementary and TK-8 schools. Here (and at right) is a brief video from News 10 that outlines the OPEN Books donation to SDUSD campaign collaboration with Youth Advocacy and the Instructional Media Center.
This campaign launch is the culmination of a collaborative effort between multiple departments including Curriculum Instruction and Assessment, Sexual Health Education Department, Youth Advocacy, and the Instuctional Media Center.
We wanted this to launch so that it would give librarians and library techs ample time to catalogue and label the books (as you would for ANY new addition to your library collection) and so that they are available for check-out by students. We also would like you to prepare a book display for LGBTQIA History Month in October. Here is a link that showcases different displays from multiple schools around SDUSD. These displays ALL used the supplemental materials that we are including in the book bundles.
Scroll further down for Additional Resources including student name-change protocols and forms (for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming youth).
Message of support from Superintendent Lamont Jackson regarding the OPEN books donation.
Gendernation.movOPEN Books Donation coverage on News 10.
Sample library display for librarians and library techs. All materials are contained in the Manila library packet and we request that you REUSE them year after year. Click the picture to see many more displays.
Supt. Jackson video #2 - Window's & Mirrors
Supt. Jackson video #3 - Representation
Learn more about Gender Nation by clicking the logo below!
LGBTQIA History
Library Resources
Each of the following 16 books donated to SDUSD by OPEN Books was vetted for appropriate content for elementary school students by the IMC and the Youth Advocacy Department. OPEN Books website has some basic synopsis information that we are reprinting below about each book, but we are also providing some curricular information to supplement the read alouds, shared readings, and independent readings of the collection for librarians, teachers, and counselors, etc. We hope that these curricular resources will give educators some entry points into discussions and activities that make your classrooms and the larger school site safer, more inclusive, and more affirming for ALL students.
The age ranges are recommendations, but any educator knows that picture books will always be compelling to primary, secondary, and adult learners alike. All of these books have some truly noteworthy and beautiful qualities that reinforce their accessibility and universality across age and other identity factors.
The Book Donations
Neither/Ninguno
By Airlie Anderson
In the Land of This and That, there are only two kinds: blue bunnies and yellow birds. But one day a funny green egg hatches, and a little creature that’s not quite a bird and not quite a bunny pops out. It’s neither!
Age range: 4-8 years
Gendering Affirming Pronoun Lesson Craft Activity
Neither Craft Sequencing List-Pictures Seek & Find Activity
And Tango Makes Three/Con tango son tres
By Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
The heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family.
Age range: 3-9 years
Equality and Diversity Lesson Plan from Highland Council
Looking at Family and Story Structure from Welcoming Schools
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
Annie's Plaid Shirt/Camisa a cuadros de Annie
By Stacey S. Davids
Annie loves her plaid shirt and wears it everywhere. But one day her mom tells Annie that she must wear a dress to her uncle’s wedding. Annie protests, but her mom insists and buys her a fancy new dress anyway. Annie is miserable. She feels weird in dresses. Why can’t her mom understand? Then Annie has an idea. But will her mom agree?
Age range: 3-9 years
Be Prepared for Questions and Put-Downs Around Gender from Welcoming Schools
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
Red: A Crayon's Story/Roja: la historia de un lápiz de color
By Michael Hall
Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let’s draw strawberries!) and his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!). He just can’t be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective.
Age range: 4-8 years
Teacher's Guide: Equality & Diversity from The Highland Council
Lesson Plan from Welcoming Schools
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
Marisol McDonald and the Clash Bash / Marisol McDonald y la fiesta sin igual
By Monica Brown
Marisol is turning eight, and it’s time to plan a birthday party that will be fabulous, marvelous, and divine. At the party store, Marisol can’t decide what kind of party to have. Nothing seems right for soccer, pirate, princess, unicorn-loving Marisol. Finally she comes up with just the right idea, and when her friends arrive for her Clash Bash birthday, a big surprise awaits. Will Marisol’s birthday wish come true?
Age range: 4-9 years
Teacher's Guide to Marisol from LEE & LOW Books
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
Sparkle Boy/El Niño Brillante
By Lesléa Newman
Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, but he also loves things that sparkle, shimmer, and glitter. When his older sister, Jessie, shows off her new shimmery skirt, Casey wants to wear a shimmery skirt too. The adults in Casey’s life embrace his interests, but Jessie isn’t so sure. Boys aren’t supposed to wear sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. Then, when older boys at the library tease Casey for wearing “girl” things, Jessie realizes that Casey has the right to be himself and wear whatever he wants.
Age range: 5-8 years
Teacher's Guide to Sparkle from LEE & LOW Books
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
One of a Kind, Like Me / Único Como Yo
By Laurin Mayeno
One of a Kind Like Me/Único Como Yo is a bilingual (English/Spanish) children’s book based on a true story about a child named Danny who wants to be a princess in the school parade. He and his mom embark on a venture to find a purple princess dress. But will they find it on time?
Age range: 4-8 years
Guide for Educators from Laurin Mayeno
Guide for Families at Home from Laurin Mayeno
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
When Aidan Became a Brother/Cuando Aida se convertio en hermano
By Kyle Lukoff
When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl’s room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn’t fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new everyday. Then Mom and Dad announce that they’re going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning—from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does “making things right” actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self. When Aidan Became a Brother is a heartwarming book that will resonate with transgender children, reassure any child concerned about becoming an older sibling, and celebrate the many transitions a family can experience.
Age range: 4-8 years
A Hope in a Box Curriculum Guide
Teacher's Guide by LEE & LOW Books
Discussion Questions from Anti-Defamation League
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
George
By Alex Gino
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she’s not a boy. She knows she’s a girl. George thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can’t even try out for the part. . . because she’s a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte—but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.
Age range: 8-12 years
A Hope in a Box Curriculum Guide
George Discussion Guide from Scholastic
It Feels Good to Be Yourself/Se Siente Bien Ser Ti Misme
By Theresa Thorn
Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others.
Age range: 4-8 years
Gender Terms & Discussion Questions from GLSEN
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
I Am Jazz/Yo Soy Jazz
By Jazz Jennings
From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way.
Age range: 4-8 years
Teacher Guide: Trans Topics from Welcoming Schools
Video Read Aloud from Human Rights Campaign
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro con subtítulos en español*
Julian is a Mermaid/Julian es una Serena
By Jessica Love
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Abuela think about how Julián sees himself?
Age range: 4-8 years
Teacher Guide: Understanding Gender Expression from Welcoming Schools
Read Aloud in English by Mayela Bernal
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
PRIDE The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag/Orgullo - La historia de Harvey Milk y la bandera de el arcoíris
By Bob Sanders
In this deeply moving and empowering true story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today’s world. Award-winning author Rob Sanders’s stirring text, and acclaimed illustrator Steven Salerno’s evocative images, combine to tell this remarkable – and undertold – story. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride.
Age range: 3-12 years
Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag Lesson Plan from Welcoming Schools
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
It's Okay to be Different/Está bien ser diferent
By Todd Parr
Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence–and it’s never to early to develop a healthy self-esteem.
Age range: 3-6 years
Discussion Questions,Vocabulary, Jigsaw Puzzle Activity from multiple sources
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived
By Daniel Errico
Knights, dragons, and princesses are the things all good fairy tales are made of, but what happens when the tale has an LGBTQ ending? Follow Cedric on his journey from his days on a humble pumpkin farm to the adventures that lead him to become a fullfledged knight. Once a knight, discover how he uses his cleverness and courage to vanquish a fire-breathing dragon and rescue a beautiful prince and princess. The book has been turned into a Netflix animated series.
Age range: 5-6 years
The Bravest Knight Who Ever Lived read aloud with Daniel Errico
*Haga clic en el libro para escuchar el libro leído en voz alta en español*
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
By Kai Cheng Thom
In the magical time between night and day, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky, a child is born in a little blue house on a hill. And Miu Lan is not just any child, but one who can change into any shape they can imagine. The only problem is they can’t decide what to be: A boy or a girl? A bird or a fish? A flower or a shooting star?
Age range: 3-8 years
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea Teacher's Guide from University of Central Florida STARS Collection
Additional Resources
Readalouds built around various elementary-appropriate books that explore LGBTQIA identity/experience. Built by the Ethnic Studies Department of SDUSD.
The Youth Advocacy Department receives multiple requests to facilitate name and gender changes for students and we want you to know that we have developed protocols and forms to assist educators and site staff coordinate these changes. There are implications for confidentiality that are built into this work and we've been careful to account for that. Be advised that schools are required to use and respect a student's requests for name changes and pronoun usage. Please be aware that we have 2 options for youth. Feel free to contact Maria Schembri, program manager, at mschembri@sandi.net with questions.
Visit our webpage for multiple resources for LGBTQIA+ youth and the educators, family, community that support them.
Responding to Resistance Document
A PDF that outlines some of the most common expressions of resistance and opposition along with comprehensive, professional, and diplomatic responses based on policy, statistics, best practices, and district/state mandates. (Ex. "Why are you teaching my child about sexuality in elementary school?").
Youth Advocacy Contact Information
Maria Schembri (she/her) - Program Manager - mschembri@sandi.net
Mick Rabin (he/him/his) - Resource Teacher - mrabin@sandi.net
Wendy Yutig-Scott (she/ella) - Resource Psychologist - wscott@sandi.net
Copies of each of the 16 Books are ALSO available for checkout from the Instructional Media Center (IMC) by educators all throughout SDUSD.
Thanks again to OPEN Books and their generous underwriters for these fantastic books!
