At Children’s Books Ireland we champion diverse and inclusive books that best reflect the world, with characters of all genders and sexualities and families of all kinds. We believe that everyone deserves to see their story within the pages of an excellent book.
The Read with Pride reading guide 2026 contains 100 LGBTQ+ inclusive stories for young readers aged 0–18 with 100 recommended ‘read also’ titles for further reading.
Being a newcomer can be tough, especially at a new school. Here, we explore the difficult emotions that accompany that first day, in a compassionate and supportive way. Without minimising the fear and apprehension a child may feel, pastel shades, simple design and a gentle rhythm in the text provide a comforting exploration of what to expect. Emphasis is placed on the faces and body language of a diverse cast of characters throughout. Each character is expertly illustrated to convey the emotional tone, making the shifts understandable to younger audiences.
‘I loved you from the beginning,’ reads the love letter from the future that shapes Emma’s final year of high school and sets her on a new trajectory in all facets of her life.
Eleven-year-old Finn N.O. Hope is back for another instalment of cringe-inducing tales.
From our very first glimpse of Bear, readers are instantly amused as he searches for his glasses, which we can see perched upon his head. On his way to track them down, Bear mistakes objects like trees and shrubs for other animals such as deer, a flamingo and even a crocodile.
‘Níl seans dá laghad ann go mbraitheann Nick an bealach céanna [fúmsa] … nó an mbraitheann?’ Sin an cheist atá ag déanamh tinnis do Charlie sa chéad leabhar Heartstopper. Ach tá deireadh le héiginnteacht agus le crá croí faoin tríú leabhar, más aon chomhartha an sliocht seo as dialann Nick: ‘is buachaillí muid go hoifigiúil agus is breá liom é sin a rá’.
Seo againn arís Éabha, laoch óg de bhunadh Inis Mara, agus í ag dul i ngleic le tubaiste mhillteanach eile. Cé go bhfuil seantaithí aici ar na bithiúnaigh santacha atá i ndiaidh theacht i dtír, beidh dúshlán roimpi stad a chur lena gcuid scéiméireachta. Ach nuair atá d’oileán, do mhuintir agus do phobal faoi bhagairt ag bithiúnaigh shantacha, nach í Éabha féin an cailín is fearr leis an dúshlán céanna a shárú!
From the very first page, the narrator insists, ‘I am NOT a dog!’ As the story unfolds, comparisons with different dog breeds reveal why this scruffy little character feels he could never measure up. Strong, fast, clever or elegant – every dog seems to possess a quality that he believes he lacks.
Leo is the star striker for the Tigers football team, who are teetering on the edge of relegation from the top division. As the season comes to an end, he must contend with an ankle injury, a selfish rival striker, and pressure of taking game-winning penalty kicks. Can he help the Tigers avoid relegation? Can the Tigers finish in the top eight to compete for the Cup?
If you want to know anything about wolves, Jasmine is the girl to ask – what she doesn’t know about wolves is not worth knowing. Like wolves, Jasmine loves her family and friends but life isn’t always easy and this book explores a topsy-turvy time when young Jasmine finds herself counting on her favourite wolf book just to get through the day.
