BRONWYN: Rainbow Stories

There is growing interest in stories about rainbow families, diversity and inclusion, and Youth Librarian Bronwyn, based at Mulgrave Library, is particularly passionate about sharing and recommending them to families with young children who are interested.

Bronwyn shares Monash Council’s position that it’s important to support rainbow families, and recognise the love that these families share.

“I have a rainbow family myself,” says Bronwyn. “I have a rainbow child, and we love and accept her and her partner unconditionally.”

There was a time when Bronwyn did not have much experience or knowledge of picture books for children that feature rainbow families and promote a message of love and acceptance.

“These books became very important to me because we fight very hard for our child to not be judged, and these picture books are part of the way forward for everyone to be treated equally without question.”

Bronwyn has seen first hand the hurtful rejection and discrimination that happens.

“Some people need new perspectives and these stories are a gentle way to introduce new concepts to explore.”

“In some ways it’s a tricky concept because there are some difficult things that adults in the LGBTIQA+ community are going through, but books help children navigate these things.”

Bronwyn is also glad that stories about rainbow families are freely available in the library and accessible to everyone.

“The more that children explore new worlds,” Bronwyn explains, “The more they build empathy at an early age.”

Bronwyn holds up a book called Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate.

“This is a beautiful, simple book about the young girl’s grandparents, particularly her grandfather and his partner ‘Gramps’,” describes Bronwyn. “The story normalises a beautiful and loving relationship between two men.”

The next book Bronwyn shares is Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. With gorgeous illustrations, the story follows a young girl whose favourite uncle brings a special friend to a family picnic, who then announce they are getting married.

“The girl explores feelings of confusion, eventually realising that her uncle’s relationship means she will have two loving uncles,” explains Bronwyn. “It’s relatable as many children will need to process a situation that may not be seen as normal in their family or social circles, but they can see it through to a place of acceptance and love.”

Bronwyn reflects on how the stories she’s sharing are really for everyone, rainbow or not.

“They are relatable whether you are inside or outside a rainbow family. Anyone could be part of a rainbow family, but all people are the same.”

My Magic Family by Lotte Jeffs brings a huge smile to Bronwyn’s face.

“I love the expression of different families, it captures childhood imagination,” she says.

“There is beautiful rhyming, and my favourite quote is, There are billions of families, a million ways to be, but of them all my favourite is mumma, mum and me.”

While stories about rainbow families are helpful for children who are part of a rainbow family, they are also helpful to those who are not, as they start to observe rainbow families at school or other settings.

The Girl With Two Dads by Mel Elliott is one such book. A young girl is starting at a new school and makes a new friend, but the friend notices the new girl has two dads and thinks her family must be very different to her own. She soon observes that family life for her new friend is no different to her own.

“Dads are dads regardless,” says Bronwyn. “This story normalises gay parents, that they parent just like any other.”

“And I love the relaxed attitude of the children.”

Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang is the last book that Bronwyn selects.

“I love that the story uses animals to highlight how different families are, but that regardless of the family model, it is love that makes a family,” Bronwyn says.

“All these books, and so many more, will help to grow a generation of people who accept others for who they are.”

“When parents feel free to be themselves, they are modelling to their children that they too are free to be themselves.”

Bronwyn sometimes includes picture books like these in her regular storytime sessions, believing that it’s not necessary to keep them just for rainbow themed storytimes.

“Adding books with subtle LGBTIQA+ themes help to normalise rainbow families, but sometimes children also need a clear resource to help understand something they are observing,” she explains. “It’s important to use a mix of books and integrate them as legitimate selections in their own right.”

Books about rainbow families are also better than many at representing cultural diversity.

“In some cultures,” says Bronwyn, “It’s harder to come out as LGBTIQA+, so showing cultural diversity is particularly important.”

“The more rainbow families are normalised, one would hope that it becomes easier for anyone, regardless of cultural background, to express their true selves,” Bronwyn shares. “To live openly, even if it’s a process or journey that has a different pace for different people.”

Bronwyn also notes that books about rainbow families also normalise men playing traditional female roles, and vice versa.

“It allows people of different genders to see that there is no one way to parent, and that parenting a child should involve a parent being true to themselves.”

Bronwyn continues to reflect on her own family. “My daughter deserves just as much love and happiness in her life than anyone else,” she says.

“I hope that books like these help people to open their hearts to people who are different to them. Love and warmth is tangible in the stories and I hope that readers feel it too.”

Rainbow Storytime is periodically held at various branches of Monash Public Library Service, but Youth Librarians make an effort to ensure that all children are represented in the stories they read throughout the year through regular storytime as well.

You can search our catalogue for Bronwyn’s recommendations, or speak to a Youth Librarian at any branch to find more titles that suit your child’s or family’s journey.

View all recommended books