What Inspires the Work
Growing up in a small town, Chris often felt unseen or boxed in by stereotypes. They imagined a story they never got to read: a fun, unapologetic, joyous romp of being exactly who you are. That is the kind of story Chris set out to create, a picture book for kids (and kids at heart) that centers trans and nonbinary representation.
They also weave in themes of belonging, self expression, and affirmation throughout the book. Above all, 2SLGBTQIA+ children’s books should feel like a celebration, not a lesson.
Advocacy, Workshops and Outreach
Chris is more than a storyteller. They speak in schools, libraries, and community centers about the power of storytelling to create belonging. Their workshops often highlight gender identity, strategies for inclusive reading in preschool settings, and how to select and incorporate truly diverse picture books into lesson plans for young audiences.
They hope that through this work, more families, educators, and libraries will embrace inclusive queer books as foundational tools for empathy, representation, and joy. Because when we share stories with openness and love, we open a book to our hearts and to one another.
Personal Life
When Chris is not writing or illustrating, they live a colorful and joy-filled life in Ontario with their husband Jared and a lively menagerie of animals, including dogs, bunnies, guinea pigs (obviously), parrots, chickens, and a tortoise named Rock Hudson. Their home, affectionately known as Gay Gardens, is a place where creativity, laughter, and love thrive.
Chris is also an award-winning creative strategist, storyteller, and online creator with hundreds of thousands of followers. They first went viral after asking a local bakery for “the gayest cake ever” to celebrate their marriage to Jared, and have been delighting audiences with their mix of humor, honesty, and heart ever since.
As the founder of Unicorn Rebellion, a creative branding agency, Chris speaks with students, educators, and organizations about creativity, identity, and happiness. In recognition of their philanthropy and advocacy for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Chris was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Visit ChrisPaulRainbows.com to learn more.
Author & Mission
Chris Paul (Rainbows) Farias (they/them) is a children’s author and illustrator dedicated to creating a world where everyone feels like they belong. They write 2SLGBTQIA+ picture books that speak directly to the hearts of the littlest readers and spark conversations that help build compassion and strengthen our empathy muscles. With Guinea Pigs Don’t Wear Pants, Chris has worked to expand representation in children’s books, especially for queer, nonbinary, and trans identities. Representation of all identities is not only imperative in creating empathetic humans, it is life saving. They believe that 2SLGBTQIA+ children’s literature should be joyous, colorful, and accessible for everyone.
Their mission is simple: make room on the shelf for everyone’s story.
Chris Paul (RAINBOWS) Farias and Guinea Pigs Don’t Wear Pants are proud to be represented by:
Publisher: Rebel Goose Books, founded by Susan Pi. With a Master of Publishing from Simon Fraser University and more than 15 years of experience in editing, marketing, design, bookselling, and ghostwriting, Susan brings a holistic understanding of the publishing process to every project. Her career began at Ten Speed Press and later included leading marketing at Heyday Books, one of California’s largest nonprofit publishing houses. Susan’s ability to identify what makes a story resonate, paired with her passion for authenticity and emotional depth, forms the foundation of Rebel Goose Books.
Literary Agent: Amy Tompkins of Transatlantic Agency. Amy has worked in publishing since 2002 and joined Transatlantic in 2007. She represents children’s authors, adult authors, select illustrators, and serves as international rights agent for Islandport Press. A graduate of Ryerson University’s Publishing Program with an MA in English Language and Literature, Amy is also the Secretary of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents and teaches in the Creative Book Publishing Program at Humber College in Toronto.
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