The Little Engine That Could was first published in 1930 and has become a beloved children’s classic, spawning numerous spin-off titles. In this latest one, by G. M. King, The Little Engine is excited about going to the Pride Parade to celebrate with everyone—but then one of her wheels falls off! A two-mom family who are also on their way to the parade offer to push. Soon they are joined by a group of teenagers, and then by various other members of the LGBTQ community (and presumably some allies, too) bedecked in rainbows and colors of the various LGBTQ identity flags. “Will we get there?” Little Engine wonders. “I think we can!” they all respond. Finally (spoiler alert!) they reach the stage where a drag queen and king are singing. “We can!”
The plot may be simple, but Jill Howarth’s bold, colorful, and retro illustrations make it a joy. The humans that The Little Engine meets are a varied lot, with different racial/ethnic identities, ages, and gender expressions, but all are clearly getting into the community spirit of the event. (I particularly liked seeing one grandfatherly couple, one waiving a bi flag and the other wearing a button with the trans colors, a nice bit of LGBTQ elder representation.)
If your kids (or you) have loved the original book, this is a must-have; and even if this is your first introduction to the franchise, it’s as good a book as any I’ve seen to introduce the youngest readers to the very queerest of holidays.
