These are the fairy tales that history forgot—or concealed. Ten tales in which gender is fluid and where queer stories can have a happy ending. Some are rare examples of LGBTQ+ folklore, like “The Dog and the Sailor,” which features a male protagonist who meets his own handsome prince. These stories include folklore from Europe, Asia, and the African savanna. Vibrant illustrations from an international group of artists enhance the multicultural identities showcased here, including artists from India, Germany, Cape Verde, Russia, Canada, China, and more. They remind readers that folk tales are our tales, and invite them to be whoever they want to be. Researcher Pete Jordi Wood has combed through generations of history to collect and adapt these ten unforgettable stories celebrating LGBTQ+ themes and characters.
- Books
- Middle Grade Fiction & Indies
- Middle Grade Fiction
- Tales From Beyond the Rainbow: Ten LGBTQ+ fairy tales proudly reclaimed
Tales From Beyond the Rainbow: Ten LGBTQ+ fairy tales proudly reclaimed
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
8+
Release Date
April 22, 2025
ISBN
978-0593889725
Buy This Book
Epic stories of love, adventure, and resilience featuring LGBTQ+ narratives and heroes, published as a collection of queer classics for the first time.
Editor review
1 review
A Wonderous Collection of 10 LGBTQ+ Folktales
(Updated: June 22, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
5.0
TALES FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW is a collection of 10 LGBTQ+ folktales from around the world. From Russia to India, the pages of this book brim with acceptance and magic. The stories are not perfect and clean, but they are as real and true as folktales can be. With magic beckoning, do you wish to enter these worlds and embrace these stories?
What I Loved:
In a collection of stories, it’s often that some don’t seem to be as strong as others. This book, which focuses on folktales that have been carried over for possibly generations in their cultures, is an outlier in that respect. Each story was just as magical and wonderous as the next. It was captivating. From princes to dogs to spinsters, each story was a breath of fresh air. It was hard to put down and left me craving more.
The illustrations included in this book were stunning. It can be hard at times to convey the beauty of an image when in black and white, but the illustrators in this book managed wonderfully. Each illustration, there is one per story, manages to capture the magic and wonder of that scene.
At the end of the book there is a section dedicated to expanding more on the tales and the alterations that were made by the author. I appreciated this additional bit of information. It adds background to the stories that are being retold as well as information for readers who may wish to read the original versions and compare the two.
Seeing queer history brought to page is always a stunning experience. These stories, folktales that were told between people all across the world, helps tie LGBTQ+ people now to their ancestors even though they’ve never met. I also appreciate that these stories appear to be mostly unchanged. They are altered, according to the author’s note only slightly, to avoid usage of some harsher terminology and to make the LGBTQ+ themes more prominent.
Final Verdict:
TALES FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW is a middle-grade book that is needed, for its intended audience and for those outside of that age range. Through 10 stories, this book shows readers plain and simple that LGBTQ+ people and their stories have existed through the ages. Brilliant illustrations are included with each story, helping to raise the stories to new heights.
Showcasing 10 stories across different cultures and times, TALES FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW is a magical reminder that LGBTQ+ stories have always existed and have always been worth telling.
What I Loved:
In a collection of stories, it’s often that some don’t seem to be as strong as others. This book, which focuses on folktales that have been carried over for possibly generations in their cultures, is an outlier in that respect. Each story was just as magical and wonderous as the next. It was captivating. From princes to dogs to spinsters, each story was a breath of fresh air. It was hard to put down and left me craving more.
The illustrations included in this book were stunning. It can be hard at times to convey the beauty of an image when in black and white, but the illustrators in this book managed wonderfully. Each illustration, there is one per story, manages to capture the magic and wonder of that scene.
At the end of the book there is a section dedicated to expanding more on the tales and the alterations that were made by the author. I appreciated this additional bit of information. It adds background to the stories that are being retold as well as information for readers who may wish to read the original versions and compare the two.
Seeing queer history brought to page is always a stunning experience. These stories, folktales that were told between people all across the world, helps tie LGBTQ+ people now to their ancestors even though they’ve never met. I also appreciate that these stories appear to be mostly unchanged. They are altered, according to the author’s note only slightly, to avoid usage of some harsher terminology and to make the LGBTQ+ themes more prominent.
Final Verdict:
TALES FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW is a middle-grade book that is needed, for its intended audience and for those outside of that age range. Through 10 stories, this book shows readers plain and simple that LGBTQ+ people and their stories have existed through the ages. Brilliant illustrations are included with each story, helping to raise the stories to new heights.
Showcasing 10 stories across different cultures and times, TALES FROM BEYOND THE RAINBOW is a magical reminder that LGBTQ+ stories have always existed and have always been worth telling.
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