A boy named Brian is excited about going to a Pride parade with his two dads, plus his three best friends and their families (a two-mom family and a mom-dad family). The kids aren’t quite sure what to wear, however, a problem that pops up throughout the story to create some low-stakes dramatic tension as the book explores some of the history of Pride and the ways a community may celebrate it today.
Before the parade, Brian explains that he and his friends are learning about the history of Pride Month in school. We see the teacher telling the class about “a historic protest called the Stonewall Uprising.” The students then make signs with messages of equality to carry in their local parade. The teacher also “makes sure we learn about LGBTQIA+ rights throughout the year,” says Brian, and explains that they learned about famous queer people for LGBTQ+ History Month (which sort of contradicts the concept of “throughout the year,” since it’s still an identity/heritage month, but I guess it’s more than just Pride Month).
Brian’s friends also talk about other Pride-related events they’ve attended, like a Pride trail/scavenger hunt at a museum and a Pride crafting day. They then attend a drag story time. The next day, they help make a float in the colors of the transgender flag for an LGBTQIA+ charity. The day before the parade, Brian helps his dads sew rainbow flags for the parade. The dads then hold a pizza party, where an uncle explains to Brian the concept of chosen family. That gives him an idea for a costume….
At their small-town Pride, the local businesses, library, and even the firefighters show their support in various ways. Brian, his dads, and his friends have a great time, and Brian is already looking forward to the event next year.
The description-heavy narration doesn’t feel as engaging as some other stories of children and their parents at Pride, like The Rainbow Parade or ‘Twas the Night Before Pride) but the book is unfailingly cheery and offers a delightful vision of a place where LGBTQ equality and inclusion is woven throughout the community. (Unfortunately, there are probably fewer and fewer places like that in the United States today.)
Sixteen pages of backmatter include additional information about the history of the LGBTQ civil rights movement, the Pride flag, and Pride and LGBTQ History Month celebrations around the world (including in Hungary, whose anti-LGBTQ laws and recent ban on LGBTQ public events make it a sadly dated choice). There are also suggested crafts and activities. All of this seems to slant the book towards pedagogical use in schools and libraries, although some home readers may enjoy it, too.
Brian and one dad have medium-brown skin and brown curly hair; his other dad is White and wears a cochlear implant.
