The Rainbow Book List, now in its 15th year, is an annual annotated bibliography consisting of quality LGBTQIA+ literature intended for readers from birth to age 18. This resource guide is meant to assist librarians, educators, parents, and others to ensure that everyone from babies and children to tweens and teens have access to selecting quality books with significant content regarding inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and all that extends throughout the Rainbow spectrum.

The 2022 Rainbow Book List compiles some of the best LGBTQIA+ titles published in the USA and Canada between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. This year’s committee evaluated close to 450 eligible titles and selected a total of 122 titles. 

At a time when so many books are being challenged and banned, we are amazed and forever grateful to authors who continue to write these necessary stories. Each year, the committee notices that the level of diversity among book content and authorship is increasing, and this year was no different. We are thrilled to be able to provide a list of book titles that truly represents where LGBTQIA youth lives and literature are today. We hope that readers see reflections of themselves in these works and windows into the lives of others. 

For the second year in a row, we have created two Top Ten lists. The Top 10 lists are repeated by age, one intended for preschool through middle grade; the other intended for teen readers. An asterisk (*) indicates that title has been selected for one of the two Top 10 lists.The Rainbow Book List is brought to you by the Rainbow Round Table of the American Library Association. Members of the 2022 Rainbow Book List are: Roz Posley (Chair), National Cathedral School (DC); Amanda Melilli, UNLV Teacher Development & Resources Library (NV); Caitlin Young, New Orleans Public Library (LA); Mariel Depalma, Baldwin Public Library (NY); Jessica Geiss, Stanislaus County Library (CA); Cecilia Pasqualicchio, The Ocean County Library (NJ); Katy Schorling, Colorado Department of Corrections Librarian (CO); Isaiah West, Prince Georges County Memorial Library System (MD); Hayley Morgenstern, New Orleans Public Library (LA); Caitlin Young, New Orleans Public Library (LA); Paige Harp, Missouri State Library, MO; Dawn Zimmerer, Madison County Library System (MS); Karina Andrus, Fountaindale Public Library Districts (IL); and Ashley Vassar Balay (Administrative Assistant), Licking County Library (OH). 

View the full 2022 Rainbow Book List.