LGBT+ education material

Primary level

• Ég er Jazz (I am Jazz) by Jessica Herthel (a book in Icelandic about the transgender girl Jazz and her experience. Suitable for preschool and youngest level primary school children. The book somewhat builds on gender stereotypes which is important to question during reading. The book is also available in English).

• Fjölskyldan mín (My Family) by Ásta Rún Valgerðardóttir and Lára Garðarsdóttir (a book in Icelandic about different family structures, suitable for preschools and the youngest level of primary schools)

• Fjölskyldubókin (The Family Book) by Todd Parr (a picture book in Icelandic about all kinds of families, suitable for preschool children).

• Háttatími (Bedtime) by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Braslina (a book in Icelandic about a child with two dads, a dog, and bedtime adventures. Suitable for preschoolers and for early reading primary school children)

• Júlían er hafmeyja (Julián is a Mermaid) by Jessica Love (a book in Icelandic about a child with non-traditional/variable gender expression, suitable for preschool level. The book is also available in ensku)

• Júlían í brúðkaupinu (Julián at the Wedding) by Jessica Love (a book in Icelandic about a child with non-traditional/variable gender expression who has adventures at the wedding of two women, suitable for preschool level. The book is also available in ensku)

• Morgunverkin (Morning Duties) by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Braslina (a book in Icelandic about a child with two moms, a younger sibling, a cat, and early morning adventures. Suitable for preschoolers and for early reading primary school children).

• Prinsarnir og fjársjóðurinn (The Princes and the Treasure) by Jeffrey A. Miles is (a book in Icelandic about princes who fall in love and their adventures. It is suitable for preschool children and the youngest students in primary schools)

• Vertu þú! (Be You!) by Ingileif Friðriksdóttir and María Rut Kristinsdóttir is a book that, among other topics, discusses a transgender child and same-sex couples. It is suitable for preschoolers and the youngest students in primary schools).

• Úlfur og Ylfa: ævintýradagurinn (Úlfur and Ylfa: The Adventure Day) by Ingileif Friðriksdóttir and María Rut Kristinsdóttir (a book about a boy with two moms who goes on an adventure with his friend. It is suitable for preschool children and the youngest students in primary schools)

• Ævintýri Freyju og Frikka (Freya and Frikki's Adventures) by Felix Bergsson (Storytel book series about twins with LGBT+ parents. Suitable for older preschool children and early primary school).

Mid-level

• Bella gella krossari (Bella the Motor-Cross Rider) by Gunnar Helgason (a book in Icelandic suitable for mid-level students, featuring a transgender supporting character, while the main character faces LGBT+ prejudice and deals with it).

• Skólaslit 2: Dauð viðvörun (School's Out 2: Deadly Warning) by Ævar Þór Benediktsson (an online book suitable for mid-level students, offering an exciting and spooky story where the main character, Ragnar, is transgender).

• Játningar mjólkurfernuskálds (Confessions of a Milk Carton Poet) by Arndís Þórarinsdóttir is about Halla who lives with her two dads, is a model student with high grades and even had a poem published on a milk carton!

Upper grades

• Hingað og ekki lengra! (No Further!) by Hildur Knútsdóttir and Þórdís Gísladóttir (a book suitable for mid-level and adolescent level students, featuring a friend of the main character who is transgender).

• Hjartastopp (Heartstopper) (adolescent book about the love relationship between two boys, translation of the book 'Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman, which has been made into a TV series)

• “Kvár”: What Does it Mean to be Non-Binary? by Elíás Rúnar (a book in Icelandic suitable for mid-level and adolescent level students)

• Nú er nóg komið! (That’s Enough!) by Hildur Knútsdóttir and Þórdís Gísladóttir (a book suitable for mid-level and adolescent level students, featuring a friend of the main character who is transgender. The book is a sequel to Hingað og ekki lengra! (No Further!)).

More books related to LGBT+ issues are available at Reykjavík City Library branches, through leitir.is and on the E-Library.

Preschool and early primary school

• A Plan for Pops by Heather Smith (a book at the City Library featuring gay grandfathers, in English, suitable for the oldest preschool children and youngest primary school children)

• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell (a book in English where a same-sex penguin couple adopts a chick, suitable for preschool children)

• Are You a Boy or a Girl? by Sarah Savage and Fox Fisher (a book in English exploring gender diversity, suitable for preschool and early primary school children)

• Daddy, Papa, and Me by Lesléa Newman (a picture book in English about the everyday life of a young child with two dads, suitable for preschool children).

• Heather has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman (a book in English, about a child with two mothers, suitable for preschool children)

• Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate (a book in English suitable for preschool and the youngest level of primary school children, about a child talking to their grandfather about trips he took with his partner (the child's other grandfather) in their old camper van).

• Introducing Teddy: a Gentle Story about Gender and Friendship by Jessica Walton (a book in English about a teddy bear who is transgender, suitable for preschool children)

• It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity (a book in English that discusses gender identity and diversity, for preschool and the youngest primary school children)

• Love makes a Family by Sophie Beer (a book in English about all kinds of families doing everyday things together, suitable for preschool children)

• Mama, Mommy, and Me in the Middle by Nina Lacour (a book in English about a child's experience when one of their mothers goes away on a business trip, suitable for preschool children and the youngest level of primary school).

• Mommy, Mama and Me by Lesléa Newman (a picture book in English about the everyday life of a young child with two moms, suitable for preschool children).

• Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino (a book in English about a boy who is teased for wearing a dress, suitable for preschool and youngest level primary school children)

• My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart (a book in English about a boy with atypical gender expression who initially experiences lack of support from his father and rejection at school but later finds support. The book demonstrates our diversity and that we can be all sorts of people, regardless of gender)

• My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart (a book in English about a child who doesn't fit into the binary gender system. It's great for discussions on non-binary issues and gender diversity. You can also watch a reading of the book on Youtube)

• Neither by Arlie Anderson (a simple book in English suitable for preschool and the youngest primary school students. It addresses gender-diverse children, gender norms, and the gender system, as well as other factors that make children stand out and how to create space for everyone). The translation of the book along with discussion prompts can be found here: Neither/Hvorugt.

• When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff (a book in English about a transgender boy who becomes a sibling. It is appropriate for preschool and the youngest level of primary school)

• Who Are You?: The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity by Brook Pessin-Whedbee (a book in English about gender awareness and diversity, suitable for preschool children and the youngest primary school students)

Mid-level

• My Dad Thinks I'm A Boy?!: A Trans Positive Children's Book by Sophie Labelle (a book in English about a transgender girl who doesn't have her father's support and how she copes with it, suitable for children on the youngest and middle levels, and especially for transgender children who might relate to the content. At the end of the book, there are icebreakers for further discussion)

Upper grades

• I Will Always Love You by Mason Deaver (a novel in English about a teen who comes out as non-binary, experiences rejection from their parents, but finds support and love in a new school, suitable for adolescent level students)

More books related to LGBT+ issues are available at Reykjavík City Library branches, through leitir.is and on the E-Library.

• Supporting an Intersex Child: A Guide for Parents. Compiled by IGLYO, OII Europe, and EPA (pamphlet in Icelandic, pdf)

• A Child or Young Person Comes Out by Samtökin '78. Pamphlet for the immediate families of LGBT+ children.

• Hvað er hinsegin?/What is Queer? (an informational pamphlet and poster about basic LGBT+ concepts in Icelandic and English)

• Hvað er hinsegin?/Co to jest Queer? (an informational pamphlet and poster about basic LGBT+ concepts in Icelandic and Polish)

• How to react to and answer questions about trans people in gender-segregated spaces (pamphlet in Icelandic and English concerning sports facilities)

• Talað um trans (Talking About Trans) (an informational pamphlet from Trans Iceland on the best practices for writing about and discussing transgender individuals)

• Hugrakkasti riddarinn (The Bravest Knight) (short film in Icelandic about Cedric the knight who falls in love with a prince, suitable for children in preschool and the youngest level of primary school)

• In a Heartbeat (a short silent animation that shows the love between two boys, suitable for the youngest level of primary school and works well as an icebreaker for further discussions)

• Odd Fish (2024). A heartwarming Icelandic film about a transgender woman who runs a fish restaurant in the Westfjords with her friend. The movie deals with coming out, friendships and fish.

• My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart (a silent short film suitable for the youngest level, based on the book about a boy with atypical gender expression who initially lacks support from his father but later receives it)

• Purl (a short animated film with English dialogue that shows the importance of expecting and celebrating diversity and the things that make us unique, serving as a good icebreaker for further discussion)

• Rósalín fer sínar eigin leiðir (Rósalín Goes Her Own Way) (a short film in Icelandic about Rósalín who falls in love with another woman. It is suitable for preschool children and the youngest primary school students)

• Will and Harper (2024) is a documentary about Harper, Will Ferrell's best friend who comes out as a transgender woman. They go on a road trip across the United States to strengthen their friendship and reintroduce Harper to the country.

• „Þú þarft ekki að skilja þetta en þú þarft að virða þetta“ ("You don't need to understand this, but you do need to respect it" Vísir from July 9, 2023

• "What I should have done when my 12-year-old told me he was transgender" TheGuardian.com dated February 15, 2022

• "Svo glatt að vera kynsegin" (So Happy to be Non-Binary) Mbl.is dated August 6, 2022

• "Margir misskilja veruleika trans barna" (Many Misunderstand the Reality of Trans Children) from Ruv.is dated February 18, 2020

• "Gefur innsýn í líf fjögurra íslenskra trans barna” (Provides Insight into the Lives of Four Icelandic Trans Children). Vísir.is dated February 5, 2020

• “Ronja Sif er 5 ára trans-stelpa” (Ronja Sif is a 5-Year-Old Trans Girl) from Mbl.is dated July 29, 2016

• „Ekkert mál að vera ég“ (No Problem Being Me), „Hún hefur aldrei efast“ (She Never Doubted), „Skilningur fólks kom á óvart“ (People's Understanding was Surprising), „Ekki hægt að brjóta mig niður“ (Can't Break Me Down), „Samtökin '78 veita stuðning“ (Samtökin ‘78 Provides Support) “ Fréttatíminn newspaper dated May 13, 2016, pages 20-26.

• All Kinds of Families printout by Elise Gravel. For preschool children and the youngest level of primary school. Great for discussing diverse families where children can draw their own family on the paper

• Assigned Male (website in English with comic strips about a transgender girl, suitable for mid-level and adolescent level students)

• Hinsegin frá Ö til A (LGBT+ from Ö to A) (information page in Icelandic on LGBT+ issues, ideology, concepts, and with narratives from LGBT+ individuals)

• Huldukonur (Hidden Women) (educational material and website in Icelandic about LGBT+ women in the past, suitable for adolescent level students.

• The Gender Unicorn and Genderbread Person (images with explanations of the terms sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, and sex characteristics, highly suitable for discussions with children and adaptable for all ages, also available in English here)

• Gender Identity and Expression Map (a website with an engaging information map in English about all sorts of concepts and identities related to gender identity and expression, suitable for adolescent level children)

• My Genderation (an English-language YouTube channel with diverse videos all about transgender people and made by transgender people, suitable for teenagers)

• Names and Pronouns in 60 Seconds (a short video in English featuring Ugla Stefanía Kristjönu-Jónsdóttir and Fox Fisher explaining the importance of names and pronouns for transgender individuals. It is suitable for mid-level, adolescents, and those who work with children)

• Ofur mjúkar hetjur (Super Soft Heroes) is a coloring book with superheroes that dismantle gender stereotypes, created by Swedish artist Linnea Johanson)

• Ofur sterkar prinsessur (Super Strong Princesses) (a coloring book with princesses that challenge gender stereotypes, by Swedish artist Linnea Johanson)

• Ready, Set, Respect! GLSEN’s Elementary School Toolkit (an American guide for primary school teachers on how to discuss and educate about bullying, diverse families, and the gender system, along with information on improving discourse, recess, and sports)

• Teaching Tolerance (a magazine in English for teachers about diversity and education, available in PDF format. See the article on LGBT+ identity on page 35)

• Trans barnið. Handbók fyrir fjölskyldur og fagfólk (The Trans Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals) by Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper (a book in Icelandic adapted to the local context about transgender children, their families, and how best to support them at home and elsewhere).

• Trans regnhlífin (The Trans Umbrella) (an image that illustrates how some transgender people fall within gender binary systems and others outside of it, also available inEnglish here)