A young girl with two moms is excited about going to the Pride Parade in this winsome story based on author-illustrator Emily Neilson’s own experiences as a child. The fictional Emily and her moms take the train into the city, as Emily looks in wonder at the costumed “fairies.” At the side of the parade route, she happily greets the “family of friends” whom they meet.
Then they wait … and wait … until finally the parade appears, motorcycles in the lead, followed by people dancing, singing, juggling, and chanting, all loud, proud, and colorful. When one queen suggests that Emily has a lot to be proud of and that she and her moms should be in the parade, Emily isn’t sure … until a group marches by with an “LGBTQ+ Families” banner. Her mommy notes they are “just like us,” and Mama hops the fence.
Emily still worries she’s not “loud or proud enough to be in the parade.” Mama assures her she’s fine just as she is; Mommy notes that “Sometimes finding your pride takes a little practice.” Emily gives it a go and is soon having a great time. She notes that even the onlookers, who aren’t juggling or singing, are still loud and proud, “just like US.” At the end, she tells her moms she’s going to practice pride “all year long.”
I just love this book and its thoughtful child’s-eye perspective on Pride, including the tedious waiting before it starts, the joyous main attractions, and the now-common participation of family groups. Neilson also thoughtfully tackles one of the moments of Pride that can make even open-minded parents wonder how to explain it, as Emily observes that “Everyone is wearing what makes them feel most like themselves./Even if that means wearing hardly anything at all.”
Neilson’s lovely illustrations capture the swirling colors of Pride but also the emotions of the characters, especially Emily: her initial boredom, her wonder at receiving trinkets from a drag queen, her trepidation about participating, and her eventual joy at having done so. Like the author and their family, the fictional family is all White; other people at the parade are a variety of racial/ethnic identities. (Neilson uses they/them; publicity materials for the book use she/her for the fictional Emily, so I have followed those usages.)
Many years ago, Stefan Lynch of COLAGE coined the term “culturally queer” to describe children growing up with LGBTQ parents and immersed in queer culture and communities, regardless of their own sexual orientation or gender identity. The Rainbow Parade is a warm, fun story that such “culturally queer” children will particularly treasure. It should also appeal, however, to any child attending Pride (say, with another relative or with friends) or to children overcoming fears to demonstrate pride in other aspects of their lives. Highly recommended.
