friday's five, it's always time for PRIDE

In June, the rainbow flags come out, and every business and store tries to sell you their product through the apparent lens of appreciation and respect for the LGBTQ+ community, even when they put their lobbying money elsewhere. (Go read that article now and come back, or save it for later, but it's a good one.) While I can see the value in representation, it's a slap in the face when it's just for business. Sigh. I digress.

What doesn't give me frustration is the importance of sharing literature with children that helps them understand the world around them and the people in it. All the people. There are authors and illustrators who, like Marla Frazee, who are intentional about diversity happening naturally in their books, creating books with characters who just are who they are. But we also need books that are overt with their messaging, and today I'm sharing a handful of books that celebrate diversity of gender identity, sexuality, and families in honor of Pride Month, but these books deserve to be in the spotlight all months of the year.

1. Neither written and illustrated by Airlie Anderson

Explaining gender fluidity or non-binary gender identity to young children might be overwhelming to some adults. What if a picture book presented the concept of there being options that are not just one or the other, but related it to something different than gender? This book does just that in a very basic way, in simple and straightforward language that will immediately be understood. Encouraging and cultivating empathy is easy to do with a book like this, and I hope that this will be helpful to both kids and parents!

2. Stella Brings the Family written by Miriam B. Schiffer and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown

Well, this book presents an issue that I think many teachers and administrators are reticent to address-- school events that are specific about which family members or gendered identity people are invited to attend. For Stella, a class celebration for Mother's Day poses a problem about who she would bring, because Stella has two fathers and no mother. Thankfully, Stella's peers help her to see that she should still be included in this class event, and she decides to bring her whole family. I gotta say that the ending showing another child, one who has two mothers, starting to worry about the upcoming Father's Day celebration frustrated me a little. Was there room for this imaginary teacher to have come to the conclusion that her class parties could be way more exclusive? Yes, and I hope that perhaps it will make some real-life teachers figure that out, too.

3. Worm Loves Worm written by J. J. Austrian and illustrated by Mike Curato

Introducing young children to breaks from tradition is easy, because kids aren't as beholden to "the way it's always been done" the way adults are. And, it's a freaking beautiful thing to watch kids simply accept differences as a result. This pic book breaks the mold for two creatures who love each other and want to be married, because when all the other garden critters tell them they "have to" have or do things a certain way, they take what they like and tell them when they don't. When told that there is a way that things have always been done, their response takes the cake: "Then we'll just change how it's done." Perfection. When it comes to love and relationships, it's easy-- love is love is love is love.

4. Sparkle Boy written by Lesléa Newman and illustrated by Maria Mola

Ooh, I quite like this one about a young boy who enjoys all things glittery and sparkly. But, his older sister isn't a fan of his desire to wear glittery skirts, nail polish, and bracelets. The adults in the children's lives give some thought to his requests and eventually all come up with the same answer to his sister's protests that boys aren't supposed to dress like that-- if he wants to dress like that, he may. Casey calls himself a boy, but his type of boy-ness includes these fancy elements and his sister Jessie has to come to the same conclusion as her parents and Abuelita in her own time. I adore everything about this one, and it is super accessible to young children, both in affirming individual choices and helping children who are stuck in the 'supposed to' mindset see another perspective.

5. This Day in June written by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Kristyna Litten

This rhyming picture book presents short couplets describing many aspects of a Pride Parade, from "Rainbow arches / Joyful marches" to "Clad in leather / Perfect weather" to "Banners swaying / Children playing". The end of the book includes explanations for each of the lines, giving older children some context for the history of the Gay Rights Movement and what they might see at a Pride Parade. What a perfect book to share with a child to celebrate the idea of equality.

Happy reading, all year long!