The ALA Rainbow Book List is an annual list of "books with significant gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender content, and which are aimed at youth, birth through age 18" produced by the American Library Association's (ALA's) Rainbow Project, which is run by the ALA's Rainbow Round Table and Social Responsibilities Round Table.

History When the Gay Liberation Task Force formed in 1970 as part of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the ALA, it was the first professional organization in the U.S. for gay people. In response to a lack of positive representation of gay people in literature, they created the Stonewall Book Award in 1971 and a bibliography of 48 gay books, freely requestable by mail. The task force later created other bibliographies concerning LGBTQ literature and adjusted their initial list over time. The group eventually became known as the Rainbow Round Table.

The Rainbow Book List evolved from these bibliographies. It began in 2008, as a joint endeavor between the Rainbow Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table. Its goal is to recommend a bibliography of books with "significant and authentic LGBTQIA+ content" for readers up to 18 years old. The Rainbow Book List inspired a new list for readers over 18, the Over the Rainbow Book List. It was proposed in 2010 and the first list began in 2011, with a focus on providing a cross-section of each year's new high-quality LGBTQIA+ literature.

LGBTQ bibliographies for libraries

Although roughly 4.5 percent of the U.S. population identifies as LGBT, "the vast majority of libraries lack high-quality, comprehensive LGBT collections" and "satisfaction among LGBT patrons is low." To ensure libraries have adequate LGBT books for readers of all ages, librarians should rely on resources such as the ALA's Rainbow List and the Lambda Literary Foundation. Library Journal recommends stocking the winners and finalists of LGBTQ literary awards, like the above or the ALA's Stonewall Book Awards, Publishing Triangle's awards, and Gaylactic Spectrum Awards. They also recommend adding books sold in LGBT bookstores or from LGBT-focused publishers. To make it easier and safer to check out these books, they recommend creating guides to find LGBT books without requiring the help of a librarian, like by creating book displays and lists.

Honorees +Top Choices Per YearYearCategoryTitleContributors2008Young Adult FictionSomeday This Pain Will Be Useful to Yougrl2grlFreak ShowBreathing Underwater2009Picture Books10,000 DressesYoung Adult FictionDown to the BoneLast Exit to NormalSkim and Jillian Tamaki2010Picture BooksDaddy, Papa, and MeFictionHow Beautiful the Ordinary (ed.)AshInto the Beautiful North2011Picture BooksDogs Don't Do BalletJuvenile FictionThe Accidental Adventures of India McAllisterThe Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-ChangThe Death-Defying Pepper RouxYoung Adult/Crossover FictionWildthornWill Grayson, Will Grayson and David LevithanA Love Story Starring My Dead Best FriendYoung Adult/Crossover NonfictionKicked OutDon't Ask. Don't TellThe Gallup's Modern Guide to Gay, Lesbian & Transgender Life (Series, 15 titles)Various2012Picture BooksDonovan's Big Day with Mike Dutton (Illus.)Middle Grade/Early Young Adult FictionHuntressPutting Makeup on the Fat BoyYoung Adult FictionI Am JBeauty QueensBrooklyn BurningSister MischiefShineShe Loves You. She Loves You NotGemini Bites2013Middle/Early Young Adult FictionBeautiful Music for Ugly ChildrenDramaMiddle/Early Young Adult NonfictionThe Letter Q: Queer Writers Notes to Their Younger Selves (Ed.)Young Adult/Crossover FictionStarting From HereThe Miseducation of Cameron PostAsk the PassengersAdaptationThe Song of AchillesChulito: a NovelAristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe2014Juvenile FictionBetter Nate than EverTeen NonfictionMy New Gender Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex PositivityBranded by the Pink TriangleTeen FictionLove in the Time of Global WarmingFreakboyThe CullingLeapIf You Could Be MineThe Summer PrincePantomime2015Picture BooksNot Every Princess and Lisa BoneThis Day in June with Kristyna Litten (Illus.)Young Adult FictionCinnamon Toast and the End of the WorldTell Me Again How a Crush Should FeelI'll Give You the SunFar from YouGrasshopper JungleSecret CityYoung Adult NonfictionSweet ToothWe Are the Youth: Sharing the Stories of LGBT Youth in the United States and Diana Scholl2016Graphic NovelsSuperMutant Magic AcademyJuvenile FictionGracefully GraysonThe MarvelsJuvenile NonfictionSex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU with Fiona Smyth (Illus.)Young Adult FictionSimon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaCut Both WaysWhen Everything Feels Like the MoviesFans of the Impossible LifeForgive Me If I've Told You This BeforeYoung Adult NonfictionBreakthrough with Matthew Lysiak2017Graphic NovelsPrincess Princess Ever AfterPicture BooksI'm a GirlIntroducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and FriendshipYoung Adult FictionHow Many Letters are in Goodbye?We Are the AntsEvery Heart a DoorwayWhen the Moon Was OursThis Song Is (Not) for YouThe RootAnd I Darken2018Board BooksBaby's First Words and Sunny Scribens with Christiane Engel (Illus.)Middle Grade FictionFelix YzStar-CrossedYoung Adult NonfictionThe ABCs of LGBT+The 57 BusYoung Adult FictionWe Are OkayRamona BlueThey Both Die at the EndDress Codes for Small TownsThe Backstagers Vol. 1 and Rian Sygh2019Picture Books FictionPrince & Knight and Stevie LewisSewing the RainbowMiddle Grade FictionHurricane ChildYoung Adult FictionGirl Made of StarsLet's Talk About LoveDarius the Great Is Not OkayGirls of Paper and FireJack of Hearts (and Other Parts)Odd One OutDeadEndia: The Watcher's Test2020Picture Books NonfictionStonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. and Jamey ChristophPicture Books FictionWhen Aidan Became a Brother and Kaylani JuanitaA Plan for Pops and Brooke KerriganYoung Adult NonfictionBrave FaceYoung Adult FictionPetThe Love & Lies of Rukhsana AliThe Music of What HappensWe Set the Dark on FireOn a SunbeamMooncakes and Wendy Xu2021Early Readers NonfictionDrawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring and Josh Cochran (Illus.)Our Subway Baby and Leo Espinosa (Illus.)Juvenile FictionMy Rainbow, Trinity Neal, and Art Twink (Illus.)My Maddy and Violet Tobacco (Illus.)The Every Body Book: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families and Noah Grigni (Illus.)Middle Grade FictionKing and the DragonfliesAna on the EdgeYoung Adult NonfictionAll Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-ManifestoYoung Adult FictionCircus RoseWhen We Were MagicYou Should See Me in a CrownI'll Be the OneElatsoe and Rovina Cai (Illus.)Miss Meteor and Anna-Marie McLemoreWar GirlsCampCemetery BoysSnapdragonThe Magic FishThe Deep & Dark Blue2022Picture Books FictionBodies Are CoolTyler FederCalvinVanessa Ford and JRGrandad's CamperHarry WoodgateWhat Are Your Words: A Book About PronounsKatherine LockeJuvenile FictionBoth Can Be TrueJules MachaisThe Deepest BreathMeg GrehanFrankie & BugGayle FormanToo Bright to SeeKyle LukoffMiddle Grade FictionThe InsidersMark OshiroThanks a Lot, UniverseChad LucasYoung Adult FictionAce of SpadesFaridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéThe Darkness Outside UsEliot SchreferEach of Us a DesertMark OshiroHani and Ishu's Guide to Fake DatingAdiba JaigirdarLast Night at the TelegraphMalinda LoLegendbornTracy DeonnThe Passing PlaybookIsaac FitzsimonsThis Poison HeartKalynn BayronGraphic FictionThe Girl from the SeaLee Knox OstertagMangaBoys Run the Riot, vol 1-3Keito Gaku2023Picture Books FictionBathe the CatAlice B. McGinty and David Roberts (illus.)Mama and Mommy and Me in the MiddleNina LaCour and Kaylani Juanita (illus.)Picture Books NonfictionA Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on WashingtonCarole Boston Weatherford, Rob Sanders, and Byron McCrayUpper Elementary FictionMoonflowerKacen CallenderThe Civil War of Amos AbernathyMichael LealiTiger HonorYoon LeeYou Only Live Once, David BravoMark OshiroEllen Outside the LinesA.J. SassMiddle School FictionDifferent Kinds of FruitKyle LukoffMiddle School Graphic FictionArtie and the Wolf MoonOlivia StephensYoung Adult NonfictionQueer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal SexualityEliot Schrefer and Jules Zuckerberg (illus.)Young Adult FictionThe Summer of Bitter and SweetJen FergusonThe HoneysRyan La SalaThe Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam SylvesterMaya MacGregorLovelessAlice OsemanThe City BeautifulAden PolydorosJust AshSol SantanaWhen You Call My NameTucker ShawThe Sunbearer TrialsAiden ThomasYoung Adult Novel in Verse FictionNothing Burns as Bright as YouAshley Woodfolk2024Picture Books FictionMy Mommies Built a TreehouseGareth Peter and Izzy Evans (illus.)Grandad's PrideHarry WoodgateUpper Elementary NonfictionA Child's Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of LGBTQIA+ CommunitySarah Prager and Caitlin O'Dwyer (illus.)Upper Elementary FictionEllie Engle Saves HerselfLeah JohnsonCamp QUILTBAGNicole Melleby and A.J. SassNikhil Out LoudMaulik PancholyJude Saves the WorldRonnie RileyJoy to the WorldKai Shappley and Lisa BunkerSir Callie and the Champions of HelstonEsme Symes-SmithThe Year My Life Went Down the ToiletJake Maia ArlowYoung Adult FictionThe Long RunJames AckerImogen, ObviouslyBecky AlbertalliAnder & Santi Were Here: a NovelJonny Garza VillaWe Deserve MonumentsJas HammondsSelf-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby RemixAnna-Marie McLemoreBeating Heart BabyLio MinThe Wicked BargainGabe Cole NovoaShe Is a HauntingTrang Thanh TranYoung Adult Graphic FictionNorthrangerRey Terciero and Bre Indigo (illus.)Young Adult Manga FictionIs Love the Answer?Uta Isaki2025Picture Books FictionMarley's Pride and DeAnn Wiley (illus.)How Are You, Verity?Meghan Wilson Duff and Taylor Barron (illus.)Picture Books NonfictionJimmy's Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin and Jamiel Law (illus.)Upper Elementary FictionThe Curse of Eelgrass BogNoah Frye Gets CrushedMaggie HorneLinus and Etta Could Use a WinCaroline HuntoonMurray Out of WaterTaylor TracyJust LizzieKaren WilfridLunar Boy and Cin WibowoYoung Adult FictionIcarusKindlingAriel Crashes a TrainRana Joon and the One and Only NowCanto ContigoJonny Garza VillaFlyboyThe Borrow a Boyfriend ClubDear WendyAnn ZhaoYoung Adult NonfictionHow the Boogeyman Became a PoetYoung Adult Graphic Novel NonfictionBreathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding and Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier2026Picture Book- FictionMenudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book and Erika MezaThe Gathering TableAntwan Eady and London LaddPicture Book - Non-FictionMy Little Golden Book About PrideKyle Lukoff and Michelle Jing ChangOutside in and Inside Out: A Story About Arnold LobelUpper Elementary FictionWitchycakes #1: Sweet Magic and Witchycakes #2: Changing MagicKara LaReau and Ariane MoreiraThe FlickerH. E. EdgmonIce ApprenticesGlitch Girl!Tales from Beyond the Rainbow: Ten LGBTQ+ Fairy Tales Proudly ReclaimedYoung Adult - FictionOllie In BetweenUnder the Same StarsThe Good Vampire's Guide to Blood and BoyfriendsThanks for ListeningThese Vengeful GodsCome Home to My HeartCompound FractureI Shall Never Fall in LoveLeaving RoomYoung Adult - Non-fictionTrans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day and Andrew EakettHick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt's Heart

See also Stonewall Awards

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External links