I am thrilled to be sharing the exclusive cover reveal for A Child’s Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community, by Sarah Prager, one of the most talented authors writing about LGBTQ history for kids. I am so looking forward to this book!
Sarah Prager is already the author of several excellent collective biographies of LGBTQ people throughout history, for elementary, middle grade, and teen readers. In A Child’s Introduction to Pride (Black Dog & Leventhal/Hachette), however, she takes a broader, more systematic approach to LGBTQ history and concepts for middle grade readers, telling Mombian exclusively:
This book is everything I ever wanted to pour into an educational primer for young people: an explanation of gender-neutral pronouns and sex vs. gender, how to come out and how to react to someone coming out to you, a completely global overview of ancient LGBTQIA+ history, a comprehensive look at LGBTQIA+ people’s contributions to culture, an in-depth look at the last century of LGBTQIA+ history, and so much more. I literally cried when I saw the illustrations [by Caitlin O’Dwyer], which are just gorgeous and fill the pages as much as the text. I am just over the moon with how this book turned out.
I’ll have a fuller review to come, but I have no doubt the book will showcase Prager’s usual clear but engaging prose and her thoughtful takes on LGBTQ people, cultures, and communities. It will also include a pull-out poster with a timeline of important events from ancient times to the modern era. Seeing ourselves in history can be hugely important for feeling like we belong in the present. Learning LGBTQ history can be extremely validating for LGBTQ children and youth, and can help create and strengthen allies as well. This is bound to be a go-to volume for schools and libraries, but should find a welcome place on many home bookshelves as well.
The book will be available May 2, 2023, but is available now for preorder (and preorders have a huge impact in convincing publishers and booksellers that there is demand for the book). Order it now and be surprised by it in the spring (and ask your local schools and libraries to stock it, too)!