Check out some of the great new kids’ books about Pride and the history behind it! Here’s a roundup of some of 2022’s best picture books and middle grade titles on the topic, out now or coming soon!
These aren’t even all the LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books being published in the next few months—just the ones specifically about Pride or LGBTQ history. Stay tuned for many more LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books on other topics—check my database regularly to see what’s new (in addition to the ones I highlight in posts here on the blog)! And for kids’ books about Pride published before this year (there are a bunch), filter the database by the “Pride” tag.
Picture Books
’Twas the Night Before Pride, by Joanna McClintick and illustrated by Juana Medina (Candlewick): This fun take on the classic poem gives us a vision of Pride through the eyes of a child with two moms. Using the traditional cadences, the story shows a child getting ready for the Pride parade and happily retelling the history of Pride to their younger sibling. It captures the meaning and history of the event with just the right amount of detail for younger ages, while blending it with a relatable family story. One of the moms is also “that kind of mom who’s more boyish than girly”—a bit of representation that we don’t always get to see. Also available in Spanish as La víspera de Orgullo. Full review.
The Rainbow Parade, by Emily Neilson (Dial): A young girl with two moms is excited about going to the Pride Parade in this winsome story based on the author-illustrator’s own experience as a child. When a drag queen suggests to the watching Emily that she and her moms should be in the parade, Emily isn’t sure … until a group marches by with an “LGBTQ+ Families” banner. Emily and her moms then join in the fun. At the end, she tells her moms she’s going to practice pride “all year long.” I just love this book and its thoughtful child’s-eye perspective on Pride. Full review.
The Meaning of Pride, by Rosiee Thor and illustrated by Sam Kirk (Versify): “LGBTQIA+ people have been fighting for our rights for a long time,” this bright book tells us, before offering an introduction to the people and achievements that give Pride its meaning. After a bit about Stonewall and LGBTQIA+ history, we read about some of the qualities that “Pride” encompasses, like wearing what you want and feeling good, fighting for your rights and those of others, and more. Each spread shows famous LGBTQIA+ people who represent the relevant concept. As a broad, colorful, and inclusive picture of the diversity and accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ community, it succeeds admirably. Full review.
ABC Pride, by Louie Stowell and Elly Barnes, illustrated by Amy Phelps (DK Children): A bright and cheery alphabet book that not only features words and definitions specific to queer culture and identities, but also ones related to emotions like “acceptance,” “belonging,” “kindness,” and “love.” The authors are thoughtful about keeping explanations simple for the age group but also about considering many aspects of LGBTQ identities. Full review.
We Are the Rainbow! The Colors of Pride, by Claire Winslow and illustrated by Riley Samels (Sunbird Books): This board book takes readers on a journey through the colors of the LGBTQ Pride flag and the meanings behind those colors. While there are already several similar books (Pride Colors, Our Rainbow, Kevin Keller’s Favorite Colors), this one is notable for its visible inclusion of gender creative and trans people. The illustrations are both cheery and warm, showing a wide range of children and adults across many aspects of identity. Full review.
The Big Book of Pride Flags, illustrated by Jem Milton (Jessica Kingsley Publishers): Pride flags across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum fill this colorful book. Each page offers a bit of history about the flag as well as an explanation of the identity(-ies) behind it and what the colors mean. While a few of the descriptions could be improved, this is a fun and informative book that should definitely engage young readers (and may even teach older ones a thing or two about the meanings behind some of these symbols). Full review.
The Harvey Milk Story, by Kari Krakow, illustrated by David C. Gardner (Lee & Low): Long out of print but now reissued by Lee & Low, this biography looks at Milk’s life from birth through his assassination, and conveys his significance with warmth and appreciation. The text is wordy enough that it’s best for the older end of the picture book age range, but that will be a selling point for those in this range looking for a substantial biography. This edition also updates the resources at the end to include several titles published after the original 2001 version. Full review.
[Added 6/4/2022] A Kids Book About Pride, by Kendall Clawson (A Kids Book About). Available free from the publisher, this book is part of the lauded A Kids Book About (AKBA) collection that began in 2019 with A Kids Book About Racism, and continues with volumes on other important topics that can be challenging to discuss. As with other titles from the publisher (on LGBTQ and other topics), it uses bright colors and a variety of fonts rather than pictures, keeping the focus on the words. Author Kendall Clawson speaks directly to readers in the first person, giving the book a conversational feel. While I have a few small concerns (see full review), this is overall a positive and inspiring title, with simple and clear explanations of both the emotion of pride and the history of Pride celebrations.
Middle Grade
History Comics: The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights, by Archie Bongiovanni and illustrated by A. Andrews (First Second): In this fun yet informative graphic novel, three modern queer teens are magically transported back to the Stonewall Inn in June 1969, where they meet Marsha P. Johnson, Silvia Rivera, and Stormé DeLaverie, learn more about queer history before, during, and after Stonewall, and are motivated to take action on current challenges once they are back in the present. The story is obviously fictionalized, but is in many ways one of the best short LGBTQ histories for this age group. Few will engage readers as well as this one and whet their appetites not only for reading more about history, but about making it themselves. Full review.
Pride: An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement, by Stella Caldwell (Penguin Workshop): A broad overview of LGBTQ rights from ancient times to the present, this book emphasizes the U.K. and U.S. but occasionally ventures farther afield. The historical survey covers politics, culture, media, social movements, and more, and is interspersed with snapshot biographies of a variety of LGBTQ people throughout history as well as profiles of young LGBTQ people today. This small volume may not go into too much depth on any one topic, but as an appetite-whetting book for those new to the richness of LGBTQ history and culture, it is a valuable addition to any home or library collection and an accessible entry point for further exploration. Full review.
From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement, by Amy Lamé (Wayland): A bright overview of LGBTQ history from ancient times to the present, this book is less a narrative history and more a series of interesting snapshots, timelines, quotes, and other fascinating tidbits, grouped into sections about Prejudice, Pride, Community, Turning Points, and LGBTQ+ Life. Most discussion is focused on the U.K. and U.S., but there is one chapter dedicated to LGBTQ people in other countries. While a few points could use revision, the bright layout and many photographs should engage readers, particularly those without the desire to read through a longer narrative text. Originally published in the U.K. in 2017; U.S. edition published in 2022. Full review.
Small Town Pride, by Phil Stamper (HarperCollins): In this fictional title, 13-year-old Jake has just come out as gay in his small Ohio town. Jake’s father, in a perhaps overly enthusiastic show of support, raises a giant rainbow flag in their yard. This triggers panic among some members of the community—including the conservative mayor—who are afraid the flag might signal the start of an actual Pride celebration. Jake, however, gets caught up in small-town politics as he and his friends work to make that vision a reality. At a time when some of the most vicious battles for LGBTQ inclusion are taking place in town councils and school boards across the country, Stamper not only reflects the state of our world but also shows us one possible, hopeful way forward. That’s no small feat. Full review.
