For July 4th, I’m highlighting seven children’s books about LGBTQ Americans who advanced civil rights, fought for our country’s unity, and evocatively conveyed the strengths, flaws, and diversity of our country in words and music.
In order to keep this list manageable, I’m skipping books about folks whose impact was primarily in LGBTQ rights; you’ve probably seen a bunch of those recently for Pride Month. You can always find them (and ones of LGBTQ people whose achievements were in other endeavors!) by filtering my Database of LGBTQ Family Books by the “Biography” tag.
Click titles or images for full reviews.
The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D. J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier, by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Nabi Ali (Little Bee): The true story of Albert D. J. Cashier, an immigrant, a Union soldier in the U.S. Civil War, and a transgender man. A rare and needed picture book of a pre-Stonewall LGBTQ figure and American hero who deserves to be better known.
For Spacious Skies: Katharine Lee Bates and the Inspiration for “America the Beautiful,” by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Olga Baumert (Albert Whitman): This lovely story discusses Bates’ work towards peace and social reform, and how it influenced the writing of her most famous poem. It mentions “the home she shared with Katharine Coman” but an afterward calls their relationship “a close companionship,” when it was likely more than that, as I explain in my full review. I know of no other picture book biography that does better, however. (See more about Bates in my previous post.)
Dare to Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote, by Jasmine A. Stirling, illustrated by Udayana Lugo (Union Square Kids): Carrie Chapman Catt may not be as well-known to many readers today as sister suffragette and mentor Susan B. Anthony—but as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association during the critical years immediately before and during passage of the 19th Amendment, her impact was at least as great. In a lively retelling of Catt’s life that includes recognition of her “partner for life,” Mary Garrett Hay, Stirling gives us a charming, engaging, and informative biography that should ignite young readers’ interest in voting and civil rights, even as it provides an important model of a same-sex relationship from more than a century ago.
Copland: A Story About America, by Veronica Mang (Viking): Copland, a first-generation American during the Great Depression, wanted to write music “that sounds like America.” But America is a young country. What exactly does it sound like? He considers various musical influences and styles from the varied people of America, and decides they are all part of the answer, as is room for something new. One page shows him and his partner, Victor Kraft, with their arms around each other, while the backmatter notes that he “lived quite openly for his time.” The story skillfully captures the spirit of Copland’s music and its significance, while offering a broader look at how music can tell a story, bear witness to change, and invite us to dream of a better future.
Pauli Murray (Leaders Like Us), by Kaitlyn Duling, illustrated by Arvilla Mae Morett (Discovery Libraries): Part of a series of early chapter book biographies, this book is geared towards newly independent readers, but covers the highlights of Murray’s life well, with bold illustrations enhancing the narrative. Murray, a teacher, lawyer, Episcopal priest, and co-founder of the National Organization for Women, had an impact on overturning segregation, advancing civil rights, and promoting marriage equality. The book also explains that Murray was in a relationship with another woman, and as a child, “never felt quite like a girl” but sometimes “felt like a boy or felt in-between.” Although a simplified version of Murray’s achievements, the book effectively conveys Murray’s impact on civil rights and belief in the power of words to create change.
A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington, by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, illustrated by Byron McCray (Henry Holt): What happens when a Coretta Scott King Author Honoree, two-time NAACP Image Award winner, and three-time Caldecott Honoree teams up with the critically acclaimed author of several LGBTQ picture-book biographies? Good things. They sing the praises of a man too long in the shadows of better-known Civil Rights leaders—and take the concept to another level with suggestions for relevant songs on each spread, drawn from the Civil Rights movement and Black spirituals. This is a moving testament to Rustin and his work, not only conveying the facts of his life but also helping readers emotionally connect with both the man and the spirit of the era.
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin, by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Jamiel Law (HarperCollins): Before he was known as James Baldwin, he was Jimmy, growing up in Harlem during the Great Depression. Meadows gives us a lyrical biography of Baldwin from childhood onward, capturing something of the rhythm of his work in her blank verse. This is an outstanding biography, offering young readers just enough detail about Baldwin’s life and importance to be informative without overwhelming; incorporating both his Black and gay identities; and honoring Baldwin’s legacy in the rhythm of the text itself.
I’ll leave you with one verse from this title:
Jimmy captured the nation’s suffering—
the hopes and dreams
for love and humanity—
energizing people of all ages and races
to open their minds to new ways of thinking.
This July 4th, may all Americans keep our minds open to a vision of our country as a place of true equality, with liberty and justice for all.
