Mums, dads and the kids: Representations of rainbow families in children’s picture books

Abstract

Picture books depicting LGBTI + families now form a significant sub-genre within children’s literature. However, despite significant scholarship on representations of queer people in child and young adult literature generally, the way rainbow families are depicting in picture books, in particular, has received rather less attention. This paper seeks to address the need for further critical insight in this area. By undertaking a survey of approximately 60 different examples of children’s picture books depicting rainbow families, key themes and representational strategies are identified in order to uncover how such families are represented, and the dominant discourses that attend them. Our contention is that while there is a significant number of children’s picture books depicting rainbow families, only a relative few are consistently visible and discussed, so that stakeholders may find it challenging to access a diverse range of resources in this area. Nevertheless, we argue that because this sub-genre of children’s literature is still developing, evidence suggests that there is also a small but important number of contemporary texts that have the potential to expand the ways in which LGBTIQ + families are depicted.

Keywords:

• Children’s literature
• family
• gay
• lesbian
• sexuality

Notes

1 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer plus other gender and sexual identities that can be understood to exist in a spectrum beyond heteronormative identities. In this instance we have chosen the acronym which is in common use in the context in which this research takes place (Australia), as well as to indicate that the scope of this paper includes reference to members of ‘rainbow families’ that might identify as gender- or sexually-diverse in a range of different ways. Where this paper refers to the research done by other parties, we have deferred to their interpretation or version of this acronym, hence the references to LGBT and other iterations below.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lara Hedberg

Lara Hedberg is a late-stage PhD candidate at Deakin University. Lara's dissertation investigates queer girls in children's media, and she has previously published on young adult fantasy writing and representations of bullying in children's literature.

Paul Venzo

Paul Venzo (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in writing, literature and culture at Deakin University. Paul's research focusses on child and young adult literature, paying particular attention to representations of identity and sexuality. He is also a poet and Italian scholar.

Helen Young

Helen Young (PhD) is also a Lecturer in Deakin University's School of Communication and Creative Arts. Helen's research focusses on popular culture, critical race studies, and medievalism.