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.
We Can Be Mermaids is the story of the very special bond between a Dad and his five-year-old daughter Silver. Dad would do anything for Silver, even facing his biggest fear and learning to swim.
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.
This book considers a very well explored subject, namely the Great War, but from an entirely novel standpoint. It delves into the story of Fred Müller and his family and their harsh treatment as German immigrants living in England, during the period of 1914–1918, exploring how these events impacted their lives.
‘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.
Sa ghreannán iontach seo faighimid cuntas dialainne an déagóra Lia faoina saol agus í ina cónaí lena máthair sa chathair. Tá an bheirt acu an-mhór lena chéile agus tá caidreamh neamhghnách eatarthu – tá máthair Lia gafa le cluichí ríomhaire, ní féidir léi cócaireacht agus scanraíonn sí í féin lena taibhscéalta! Níl an t-ádh le máthair Lia ó thaobh cúrsaí grá de agus beartaíonn Lia chun cabhrú léi trí í a chur in aithne don chomharsan nua, Ruaidhrí.
‘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’.
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.
When seventeen-year-old Sam, who has cerebral palsy, is once again excluded from a class trip because the school bus is not wheelchair accessible, he decides to start a fundraiser to raise money for an inclusive bus. While the bus may be the catalyst for this story, what unfolds goes far beyond any fundraiser.
