33 Jaxin Bohn – Queer Sensitivity & Acceptance in Children’s Literature
Jaxin Bohn (He/Him/His) is a Junior from Richmond, IN, studying Secondary English Education and Literature with a minor in Coaching. Jaxin writes about queer people and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community through his research and writing. This work was prepared for Alisa Clapp-Itnyre’s English L390, who states, “Jaxin wrote an excellent, and MUCH NEEDED paper on LGBTQ+ children’s literature, closely examining 5-6 picture books and placing them in the context of today’s society and book banning. Excellent job!”
Queer Sensitivity & Acceptance in Children’s Literature
Queer sensitivity and acceptance in children’s literature, specifically in children’s picture books, are significant tools that teachers can use to help all students understand queer people and can be especially important for children who are queer or a part of the LGBTQ+ community. This small sub-genre of LGBTQ+ children’s literature explores queer individuals and their stories, presenting them in a digestible, simple, and naive manner, which allows students to learn about people who are different from themselves—this can also possibly be the first representation of queer culture or individuals for young students and young queer students.
Teaching queer sensitivity may feel like a taboo for many teachers. It is a topic that can be intimidating, foreign, and uncomfortable if the teacher does not have a clear understanding of queer sensitivity and of the importance of accepting and supporting young queer students, which means they cannot effectively teach all of their students. Regardless of the teacher’s personal ideology or support for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, they cannot effectively teach all students if the literature fails to represent everyone. Teachers might feel as though they cannot teach about LGBTQ+ people or culture for a variety of reasons. Laws may restrict what they can teach about queer studies, many teachers do not have sufficient training on how to teach queer material respectfully and appropriately, and the teacher may believe it is all about sexuality and so on. In reality, books that implement queer sensitivity and acceptance are teaching children about love, accepting themselves and others for being authentically and unapologetically themselves—encouraging them not to conform to societal heteronormative expectations of gender and sexuality—and the importance of diversity and uniqueness. With the progress society has made in supporting and accepting people within the LGBTQ+ community, it is inevitable, no matter how hard some may try, that queer individuals in America will never go back into hiding.
Queer individuals, and specifically young queer people, need safety, love, support, and acceptance, and one of the best ways this can be achieved is by using children’s literature to teach and encourage students to have positive, prosocial ideologies towards all people (women, people of color, people with disabilities, etc.). This paper will highlight the importance of queer sensitivity and acceptance within children’s literature by examining three children’s picture books. Self-expression is seen in Julián Is a Mermaid, family diversity is seen in And Tango Makes Three, and celebrating culture and identity is seen in Sylvia and Marsha Start A Revolution. By dissecting the narratives, illustrations, teachability qualities of the picture books, and literary choice and style, and through closely examining these books and highlighting their importance, this paper aims to encourage educators of all age groups to teach inclusive literature that highlights queer sensitivity and acceptance.
In “Reading Gender: A Feminist, Queer Approach to Children’s Literature and Children’s Discursive Agency,” Jennifer Earles explains that reading and discussing feminist and queer children’s books is helpful and impactful. During her work, she held ‘disruptive’ storytimes, where she read a book, prompted, and discussed it with preschool children; she encourages this type of education approach and environment. She suggests, “[B]ooks that feature stories about love and adventure, acceptance and security, bodily agency and change, collectivity and self-determination could help to break down those dichotomies that inform hegemony and hardship” (Earles 385). Earles’s work sheds light on teaching feminist and queer studies to children in children’s literature spaces; children can handle complex topics.
To fight this fear around teaching diverse children’s literature, specifically queer sensitivity, and acceptance in children’s literature, teachers must understand the stories they are scared to read are content that could help them create safe spaces, open up conversations, and help students in learning more about diverse groups of people. By examining the three children’s picture books previously mentioned, this paper aims to reveal different facets of queer sensitivity and acceptance, self-expression, family diversity, and identity celebration. All are equally essential categories that can help teach children about queer culture and life. This analysis can hopefully ease some of the anxiety when teaching such material, as they can be valuable tools in teaching and creating a safe space for all students.
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love is an example of a children’s picture book that exemplifies self-expression in a queer-sensitive manner. Julián Is a Mermaid is a beautifully illustrated book whose narrative is mainly told through a third-person limited look into Julián’s life. The illustrations vividly depict Julián’s joy and creativity, which helps children learn about self-expression. The story follows Julián, a young boy (assumed genderfluid) who becomes enchanted by the sight of three women—drag queens—dressed as mermaids on the subway. Their vibrant mermaid drag costumes and their confidence inspire Julián to imagine himself as a mermaid. Readers see his imagination as he envisions himself as a colorful ocean-themed mermaid with animals forming his tail. The aquatic-themed image and characters contrast with the simple tan background of reality. After returning home, Julián uses household items and his abuela’s makeup to create his mermaid costume, complete with a flowing white curtain headdress and a makeshift plant stem tail. While walking around the house, Julián is caught by his abuela; however, his abuela’s reaction is subtle. Instead of scolding him, she surprises him with support, “Come here, mijo” (Love 26). His abuela gives Julián a necklace and takes him to a Pride parade—where others are dressed as mermaids, “Like you, mijo. Let’s join them” (Love 33-34). The story never says the pair are going to a pPride parade, that the mermaids they saw were drag queens, or that Julián is probably a genderfluid person, but the pictures tell readers all that. Julián’s abulea helps affirm his self-expression and uniqueness. The story ends as they walk in the parade with other mermaids. The story teaches self-expression and encourages authenticity in a way that can resonate with all children, including those who identify as queer or maybe might not even know they are. Most children like to dress up in costumes; they do it every year for Halloween or Dias de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Teachers can use this story to challenge heteronormative narratives and encourage students to think critically about gender roles and the value of embracing diversity. Julián is just like any other kid, wanting to dress up and feel like a fictional character they dream of being.
To depict family dynamics more inclusively, teachers can share books like And Tango Makes Three, a story that spotlights diverse, nontraditional family dynamics through animals. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole, tells the heartwarming true story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo: “Roy and Silo were both boys. But they did everything together” (Richardson and Parnell 12). The two penguins fall in love, bond, and become parents to a chick named Tango at the Central Park Zoo. The story begins with images showing families walking into the park to visit all the animal families at the zoo with realistic and not overly bright images. The book normalizes nontraditional families through charming illustrations and simple language by showing that love, care, and commitment define a family: “And all the children who came to the zoo could see Tango and her two fathers playing in the penguin house with the other penguins / ‘Hooray, Roy!’ ‘Hooray, Silo!’ ‘Welcome, Tango!’ they cheered” (Richardson and Parnell 30). The book disregards societal expectations or conventional norms of sexuality, gender, and family structures. The images and pictures convey Roy and Silo in a nonsexual manner as they fall in love and start their journey of parenthood. They also show the other heterosexual penguin families, teaching young readers that families come in all shapes and sizes and conveying that love is universal. This story could be a tool for educators to introduce the concept of diverse families, “There they snuggled together and, like all the other penguins in the penguin house, and all the other animals in the zoo, and all the families in the big city around then, they went to sleep” (Richardson and Parnell 32-33). The book highlights the normality of the penguin family, that they are just like all the other families, just as queer people and their families are just as normal as other family structures.
Teachers could read books such as Sylvia and Marsha Start A Revolution to be more inclusive. Culture and identity celebration is a massive part of queer life and is possibly the most intimidating and scary to teach because it is the most explicit and suggestive; however, these again are misconceptions about teaching and presenting queer sensitivity and acceptance to children in children’s literature. Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution is a book that can help teach children about queer culture and celebration of identity through digestible simple narratives.
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution by Jessie L. Jean and illustrated by A. J. Jacobs is a historical picture book that depicts the activism of Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, two pivotal transgender women figures in the Stonewall Riots and the early LGBTQ+ rights movement. The two women are shown as kind people, pillars of their community, who are ready and willing to make a change: “Someday girls like us will able to wear whatever we want. People will call us by the names we choose. They’ll respect that we are women. The cops will leave us alone, and no one will go hungry” (Jean 8). The book tells the story of their contributions in a way that is accessible and engaging for young readers while highlighting their bravery in advocating for trans rights and the inclusion of marginalized communities within the more significant LGBTQ+ movement. The bold and vibrant cartoon illustrations capture the spirit of protest and revolution, with both women having yellow shines around their bodies to symbolize how their souls shine, even in a world that does not always accept them: “Sylvia and Marsha strode with pride, like two lionesses, until they heard the call… ‘Here comes Alice in the Blue Dress’” (Jean 15-16). The pictures and narrative highlight this phrase multiple times in the story, as this was a term people would call out when they saw transgender women, which would signal the police to come to get them. The story does a great job of conveying the hardships transgender women faced during this time, as well as the heroic actions of Sylvia and Marsha. The text explains how Sylvia and Marsha’s actions helped shape the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement: “Sylvia and Marsha spend their lives fighting for the survival and rights of transgender people. Through it all, they were best friends. Their memory shines like a star, showing us that with our friends, we can change the world” (Jean 19-20). This book could be an invaluable resource for educators who wish to teach children about LGBTQ+ history, the importance of activism in fighting for social justice, and more common kid themes like love and friendship. It celebrates the identities of two groundbreaking individuals. It teaches children the power of standing up for what is right, reinforcing the importance of allyship, inclusion, and fighting for equal rights.
Incorporating LGBTQ+ literature into children’s education is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity. The teacher is responsible for creating a more equitable experience and understanding of society for their students. Books such as Julián Is a Mermaid, And Tango Makes Three, and Sylvia and Marsha Start A Revolution demonstrate that queer culture and identity can be introduced to children in accessible, engaging, and age-appropriate ways. These narratives offer valuable lessons about self-expression, acceptance, and social justice, helping children develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world around them.
While challenges such as misconceptions about sexual identity and concerns about childhood innocence may arise, educators have tools and strategies to navigate these obstacles effectively. Teachers can create safe environments where students feel seen, respected, and valued by addressing these concerns with sensitivity and openness.
Ultimately, the integration of LGBTQ+ perspectives into education is about preparing children to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world. It empowers students to challenge stereotypes, appreciate differences, and advocate for inclusion. Through literature, educators can have open conversations that inspire kindness and a commitment to social justice. By normalizing queer sensitivity and celebrating all forms of identity, teachers help build a foundation for a more compassionate and inclusive future.
Works Cited
Earles, Jennifer. “Reading Gender: A Feminist, Queer Approach to Children’s Literature and Children’s Discursive Agency.” Gender & Education, vol. 29, no. 3, May 2017, pp. 369–88. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.proxyeast.uits.iu.edu/10.1080/09540253.2016.1156062.
Ellison, Joy Michael, and Teshika Silver. Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution!: The Story of the Trans Women of Color Who Made LGBTQ+ History. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2021.
Love, Jessica. Julián Is a Mermaid. Candlewick Press, 2018.
Richardson, Justin, et al. And Tango Makes Three. Simon & Schuster, 2005.