Much as Pride is a moment of joy, these past few weeks and months have been marked by hurt and anger for many of those in the LGBTQ+ community. While rainbow flags and solidarity stickers are still visible up and down the country, it’s clear that there is still plenty of work to do before everyone can feel safe on our streets, let alone celebrated.
The work of allyship is a year-round endeavour, and one which can never begin too early in life. As we like to say in our line of work, the best place to start can often be with a book.
Last month, together with An Post, Children’s Books Ireland launched our Pride Reading Guide. The reading guide contains 100 LGBTQ+ inclusive titles, from baby books all the way up to young adult titles, and is available for free in libraries, bookshops and online.
Here, I’ve selected 10 reviews from the guide, written by our expert team, that best convey the meaning of Pride. Filled with facts and history, inclusive characters and lots of joy, these books can be used as a both a starting point and a point of reference for these important conversations with young (and not so young) readers.
Happy Pride, and happy reading!
Elaina Ryan CEO Children’s Books Ireland
LOVE IS POWERFUL
Heather Dean Brewer, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Walker Books 2020 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9781406397437
When Mari and her mother draw some words on cardboard, she wonders how this sign can be a message that the whole world will see. Sitting on her mother’s shoulders, Mari is overwhelmed by the crowd but understands how everyone there is united, so she chants her own message only for it to be amplified and echoed by those around her. An uplifting book, with diverse and heartwarming illustrations, on the universal power of peaceful protest, inspired by the Women’s March in NYC in 2017. (Age 2–4)
OUR BIG DAY
Bob Johnston, illustrated by Michael Emberley
The O’Brien Press 2022 (HBK) 32PP €12.99 ISBN 9781788493147
Uncle David and his partner Simon have lived together with their fluffy dog, Bear, for a long time. They are due to get married. The narrator, David’s young niece, explains that, in Ireland, everyone is now allowed to marry the person they love the most. This is since the Irish public voted that men can marry men and women can marry women. There is lots to do, and Uncle David’s niece helps Uncle David and Simon prepare for their wedding. This is a celebration of love, of family and of a commitment to marriage equality. (Age 3–7)
MY OWN WAY: CELEBRATING GENDER FREEDOM FOR KIDS
Joana Estrela, adapted by Jay Hulme
Wide Eyed Editions 2022 (HBK) 48PP £10.99 ISBN 9780711265844
This books helps introduce the idea of gender freedom, aiming to show that the perceived stereotype of the world being only coloured pink or blue isn’t true. The sparse poetic rhyming statements and bold illustrations cover quite a lot here, but the book would be best shared in a space where discussion is encouraged. It opens up the juxtaposition of how we present ourselves to the outside world and how we may feel inside, with the core message of understanding that when it comes to who we are, it’s what’s in our hearts that matters most. (Age 4–8)
JULIAN IS A MERMAID
Jessica Love
Walker Books 2019 (PBK) 40PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406386424
Julian and Nana spot some beautiful mermaids on their way home from the pool, which inspires the little boy to play dress-up. But what will Nana think? This incredibly beautiful picturebook, with minimal text and gorgeous illustrations, explores what it means to be yourself and to be loved unconditionally. A story overflowing with charm, tenderness and humour. (Age 5–8)
ALICE AUSTEN LIVED HERE
Alex Gino
Scholastic 2022 (PBK) 176PP £6.99 ISBN 9781338733891
In New York, we meet maths enthusiast Sam and their fashion-and-style expert best friend TJ. They take on a school history challenge to find a new statue that represents the present Staten Island community. This is a truly inspirational trip for both non-binary pre-teens as they explore history. These two likeable characters are very comfortable in who they are, but as history teaches them, it wasn’t always so. Through a wonderful network of family, friends and older residents, they discover that the school challenge also brings with it all the trials and wondrousness of being a young person. (Age 8–10, 10–12)
PROTEST! HOW PEOPLE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CHANGE THE WORLD
THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Alice & Emily Haworth-Booth
Pavilion Children’s 2021 (HBK) 168PP £14.99 ISBN 9781843654582
The history of peaceful protest – from the early strikes by Egyptian pyramid workers for food all the way up to Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion – is outlined in this brightly illustrated and fascinating book. Protest! explores the myriad ways that groups have protested creatively, including singing protests, guerrilla gardening and strikes. Packed with quirky cartoons, each chapter shows how a community came together to protest for better lives and equal rights. Young activists can even read advice on how to organise their own protest. (Non-fiction, Age 9–12)
THE DEEPEST BREATH
Meg Grehan
Little Island Books 2019 (PBK) 180PP €9.00 ISBN 9781912417186
Stevie is eleven and loves reading and sea creatures. There’s a girl at school that she likes. Actually, she’s a bit confused about how much she likes her. It makes her fizz inside. That’s a new feeling, one she doesn’t understand. Stevie needs to find out if girls can like girls – love them, even – but it’s hard to get any information. Maybe she can find an answer in a book. With the help of a librarian, Stevie finds stories of girls loving girls and builds up her courage to share the truth with her mum. Winner of the Judges’ Special Award at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2020. (Age 9–11, 12–14)
RAINBOW REVOLUTIONS: POWER, PRIDE AND PROTEST IN THE FIGHT FOR QUEER RIGHTS
Amie Lawson illustrated by Eve Lloyd Knight
Wren & Rook 2019 (HBK) 96PP £12.99 ISBN 9781526361257
When the police stormed the Stonewall Inn bar in New York City, the events that followed ignited the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Lawson depicts the variety of ways queer activists have spoken up and spoken out, with a dynamic account of poet Audre Lorde alongside the outrageous fun of Pride parades. Despite outlining the hardships faced by the LGBTQ+ community, hope remains. From the supportive surrogate families of the Ballroom community to the queer culture we now know as Pride, this account is insightful and inspiring. (Non-fiction, Age 12–14)
ALLIES: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again
Edited by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy
DK 2021 (PBK) 240PP £12.99 ISBN 9780241505953
This collection of deeply personal essays from a wide variety of young adult authors drills down into the meaning of allyship and examines practical ways to bolster those who need our support. The essays encourage readers to question their own biases concerning race, abilities and sexuality, and to use their own power and platforms to amplify the voices of others or support them. Allies acknowledges that we live in an imperfect world, but it offers hope that we can create a more equitable one. (Age Young Adult)
SEX ED: AN INCLUSIVE TEENAGE GUIDE TO SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS
The School Of Sexuality Education
Walker Books 2021 (PBK) 256PP £9.99 ISBN 9781406399080
The School of Sexuality Education is a UK-based educational facilitation organisation. With chapters that explore discrimination, gender and sexuality, the physical body, consent, relationships, sexual and reproductive health, as well as digital literacy and body image, this truly inclusive guide is framed in accessible yet comprehensive language. The tone is both light and serious, and carefully respectful of its audience. Essential reading for anyone who wants to have open and honest conversations about the things that matter when it comes to relationships, connections and positive sexual experiences. (Non-fiction, Age 12–14, Young Adult)
The Pride Reading Guide from Children’s Books Ireland and An Post is available in libraries and bookshops around Ireland. It is also free to download from childrensbooksireland.ie and anpost.com/aboutbrod.
