TYEF’s Featured Books for Young Children
Here you can see a list of books we feature for children up to around age 10, complete with book covers and descriptions.
Additional Books for Young Children
If you would like further reading on books suggested through age 10, we have additional titles compiled here with their author and year of publication.
TYEF’s Featured Books for Older Children and Teens
Here you can see a list of books we feature for ages 11-18, complete with book covers and descriptions.
Additional Books for Older Children and Teens
If you would like further reading on books suggested ages 11-18, we have additional titles compiled here with their author and year of publication.
TYEF’s Featured Books for Parents, Educators, and Providers
Books for Parents, Educators, Providers and Allies
The Transgender Child-A Handbook for Families and Professionals, Stephanie Brill, and Rachel Pepper
This must-read book provides the foundation that all parents, professionals, and caregivers need to understand and support the child whose body and gender identity are unmatched. Filled with compassion and common sense, this book provides real-life examples, frequently asked questions, and practical information about forms and documentation.
An ideal follow-up to The Transgender Child, also by Stephanie Brill, this book includes topics unique and important to teens such as identity consolidation, developing resilience, and enlisting mindfulness in everyday life. A comprehensive glossary of transgender terms as well as a listing of questions to raise when selecting a doctor or surgeon are excellent features of this book for teens and their parents and caregivers.
This is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel
The Gender Creative Child by Diane Ehrensaft
This book, by the author of the groundbreaking book Gender Born, Gender Made, confirms that children's gender identities are not confirmed by their physical appearances at birth nor by the checked boxes on their birth certificates. Gender fluidity is explained as variables of nature, nurture, and culture are examined. Erhersaft urges readers to listen to the child, learn from the child, and support the child. Benefitting from this message are parents, schools, communities, and the world.
Being Jazz: My life as a Transgender Teen by Jazz Jennings
By the same author as the children's book, I Am Jazz, Jazz Jennings maintains, "I'm only friends with people who will accept me for who I am no matter what, and not for what's between my legs." Photos of award winning Jazz with Laverne Cox, Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, and her family depict the genuine Jazz as an amazing and talented young lady. Jazz is a shining ray of hope for tomorrow's transgender youth and for humanity, itself.
Helping Your Transgender Teen: A Guide for Parents by Irwin Krieger
Another excellent tool for parents of transgender children. This guidebook caters specifically to the needs of parents who have a transgender teen. The book helps parents to understand what the transgender teen experiences and feels during adolescence. The author Irwin Krieger is a long time clinical social worker with years of experience working with transgender youth, providing an excellent professional opinion that is easy to comprehend.
Transgender Family Law by Jennifer L. Levi (editor)
This book is the first to address the unique legal issues that transgender people experience around family law. It provides parents, educators, and practitioners with the tools to understand the rights of their transgender clients and how to be a good advocate to them.
Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt
Written descriptively and in great detail by Amy Ellis Nutt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Becoming Nicole depicts an identical twin who reveals her true self when she is a toddler. The book poignantly describes Nicole's and her Republican, right-wing, Christian, all-American family's challenging journey from denial to acceptance and ultimate support of their daughter.
Counseling Transgender and Non-Binary Youth: The Essential Guide by Irwin Krieger
TYEF highly recommends this book which discusses gender identity and expression, as they relate to youth, in detail. Krieger lays out clear advice and support on working with transgender and non-binary youth with regard to their identity, mental health, personal and family life and their medical and social transition. This book also offers additional resources and reading lists. This guide will inform counselors, educators, parents and therapists to support trans youth.
Helping Your Transgender Teen, 2nd Edition : A Guide for Parents by Irwin Krieger
In this book’s 2nd edition, Krieger offers advice to parents of transgender youth. This book guides parents on working together with their children through all aspects of their gender journey. Importantly, Krieger also discusses non-binary identities along with legal, social and medical developments regarding transgender issues. Educators, providers, counselors, and allies would also benefit from reading this publication.
TYEF book list created by Susan Brand and Susan Maasch, courtesy of TYEF. If using this entire list, please include the information above for citation, and the year of its publication, 2016.