Pride isn’t the only holiday that LGBTQ families and individuals celebrate! These two brand-new picture books and a chapter book show queer families and people finding joy with their communities and traditions during a variety of holidays.
Click links or images for full reviews of each title, and filter my Database of LGBTQ Family Books by the “Holidays” tag to find even more!
Shabbat Is …, by A.J. Sass, illustrated by Noa Kelner (Little, Brown). Shabbat, the Jewish holiday that marks the end of every week, can mean many different things and be observed in many different ways, reflecting the great diversity of Jews even within the same synagogue. In his first picture book, author A.J. Sass, best known for award-winning middle grade novels, gives us a joyous and warm look at Shabbat through the eyes of a trio of children, one of whom has two moms and another who has a nonbinary cousin celebrating their b’nai mitzvah.
Fa La La Family, by Scott and Mark Hoying, illustrated by Steph Lew (Henry Holt). From Scott Hoying of acclaimed a cappella group Pentatonix and his husband, Mark Hoying, comes this cheery rhyming book about how “Christmas is for families! Families of all kinds.” Family and Christmas spirit are intertwined, the book conveys, no matter what a family looks like.
Wednesday Wilson Looks on the Fright Side, by Bree Galbraith, illustrated by Morgan Goble (Kids Can Press). Budding entrepreneur Wednesday Wilson is back for her fourth chapter-book adventure! This time, Wednesday faces a Halloween dilemma: Her house has been placed on her peers’ “Do-Not-Knock” list because her two moms don’t give out candy, just things like bookmarks and colored pencils. Her solution might also be her next big business idea, but she’s going to need all of her ingenuity and problem-solving skills make it work!
