During June we celebrate Pride month and commemorate the struggle by LGBTQIA+ people to earn equal rights as well as celebrating the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ folks. Pride is a time to empower all types of folks and celebrate them for who they are. It's also a great time to talk with your children about diversity, kindness, and inclusion. Having these conversations with children will help them grow into kind and empathetic adults.
By Katherine Locke
Illustrated by Anne Passchier
New York: Little, Brown, 2021. Picture book.
Whenever Ari's Uncle Lior comes to visit, they make a point of asking Ari "what are your words?" Sometimes Ari knows which pronouns feel right, but on this day it's tricky to pick. As Ari and Lior travel through the neighborhood they meet lots of Ari's neighbors who share their pronouns with the pair. This book is an affirming choice that models how to adapt language to accommodate people and their preferences. Though it may feel awkward at first, using people's correct pronouns is an important first step to making sure friends, neighbors, and family feel welcomed and loved.
By Joanna McClintick
Illustrated by Juana Medina
Somerville, MA: 2022. Picture book.
On the night before Pride, two little kids and their moms are excited to attend a Pride march the next day. In rhyming verse, we are told the history of Pride from it's beginnings to present day, with a reminder that LGBTQIA+ people exist and that they matter. The colorful illustrations show the diversity of the queer community and help to convey the message of togetherness and love that the author expresses.
By Emily Neilson
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture book.
The excitement leaps off the page as a young girl named Emily prepares to attend Pride with her moms. In a story inspired by the author's memories of attending Pride as a child, we see the celebration from a firsthand perspective. By showing rather than telling, the author is able to gently convey the idea of "Pride" that is so important within the LGBTQIA+ community. Colorful and cheery illustrations help keep the pacing of the story as we march alongside a wonderfully diverse parade.
By Michael Genhart
Illustrated by Anne Passchier
Washington, DC: Magination Press, 2019. Picture book.
This joyous and colorful introduction to Pride tells readers the meaning behind each color in the rainbow flag. In illustrations filled with diverse children and families colors and their meanings are introduced. The uplifting text in this book is enriched by the illustrations which share the responsibility of sharing this message of love, joy, and family.
By Robin Stevenson
Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Victoria, British Columbia: Orca Books, 2021. Picture book.
This rhyming and totally read aloud-able picture book follows a family at a Pride parade who lose their puppy! Fellow parade attendees join in to help the family find their missing pup and the story is told as an abecedary with new vocabulary introduced on each page. The illustrations are colorful and richly detailed which makes this a great choice for families who want to learn about Pride together.
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