Jacqueline Woodson on Monday won the Hans Christian Andersen Award, “the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children’s books,” which should surprise exactly no one, as it was one of the few major awards in children’s literature this amazing author and poet—and a queer mom—had not yet won.
Two similarly named books coming out this month offer tweens and teens a colorful look at some of the revolutions and revolutionaries of LGBTQ history.
Sara Lovell is an award-winning singer-songwriter whose third children’s music album is out today! She’s also a single gay mom and answered some questions exclusively for Mombian readers about the origins of the album, being a single parent, and how her family is coping during the pandemic.
I’m so excited about the plethora of LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ books coming out in the next month or so as we head into Pride! I’ll be reviewing them over the coming few weeks—let’s start with a few about drag queens and other performers.
Here’s a great video to brighten your day: an a cappella virtual rendition of “Sing,” the classic song from Sesame Street, by a talented group of LGBTQ artists of color (plus some family and friends).
Melissa Etheridge formed much of the soundtrack for my coming-out years, back before either of us had children. Now, she’s teaming with her grown daughter Bailey Cypheridge to entertain us while we’re all in quarantine. Have a listen—even if, like me, you’re astounded at how fast the years have flown.
Eight of the titles in the American Library Association’s (ALA’s) latest annual list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books were challenged or banned because of their LGBTQIA+ content. That’s unfortunately not surprising—but some other new trends this year add to concerns about censorship.
The award-winning Disney Junior show Doc McStuffins ran its last new episode on Saturday after eight years on the air. It won much praise for offering the positive role model of a young Black girl who was a doctor—and for a 2017 episode that was the channel’s first to show a two-mom family. Its creator and executive producer, Chris Nee, is also a lesbian mom herself.
A charming new picture book is a gentle celebration of the loving relationship between a toddler and parents. The family in it just happens to have two moms—and it gives us a rare picture-book depiction of a mom with a masculine-of-center gender expression.
Hairstylist, comedian, and television personality Jonathan Van Ness (of Netflix’s Queer Eye) has just added another title to his resumé—children’s book author. And the nonbinary star of his delightful new book shows young readers the power and joy of being themselves.
