Happy Pride 2022 — This And Every Month
From the Solidarity Team
At Storytime Solidarity every month is Pride. Just as we don’t wish to limit our anti-racist work to February, we won’t limit our LGBTQIA2S+ content to June. We publish and promote affirming queer content as often as possible and it’s so wonderful to see so much of our work here in one place.
You can never have too many drag queens!
Bella Noche was the first Drag Queen we had the privilege of interviewing for Storytime Solidarity! She shared about her amazing work with Drag Queen Story Hour (she leads the Long Island Chapter), explained the best pronouns for DQs, and shared about how we can get library boards and administration on board with this program that teaches all children the value in being their true selves.
A Fabulous Interview with Bella Noche: Drag Queen Story Hour
We had the absolute delight of Talking with Lil Miss Hot Mess about her work and were absolutely gushing about the diversity she shared in THE HIPS ON THE DRAG QUEENS GO SWISH SWISH SWISH and her newest IF YOU’RE A DRAG QUEEN AND YOU KNOW IT! We love her beautiful books and need to give a special shoutout to Olga De Dios for the gorgeous and inclusive illustrations.
Lil Miss Hot Mess: Children’s Author and Drag Queen Story Hour Extraordinaire!
Children’s author and illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg talks about her career, the importance of supporting living authors and creators and especially her book, MERMAIDS ON PARADE a real event and longtime safe haven for queer folks. Her richly illustrated book shows all kinds of wonderful people enjoying their day as mermaids!
MERMAIDS ON PARADE with Melanie Hope Greenberg
Our rainbow whānau live everyday lives, so this selection is all about books on everyday families doing everyday things — and some are members of the rainbow community. Sometimes, the representation is quietly in the background, in the illustrations.
- GASPARD THE FOX by Zeb Soanes and James Mayhew.
- BEDTIME, NOT PLAYTIME and EARLY ONE MORNING by Lawrence Schimel and Elīna Brasliņa.
- FRED GETS DRESSED by Peter Brown.
- LOVE MAKES A FAMILY by Sophie Beer.
- THINGS IN THE SEA ARE TOUCHING ME! by Linda Jane Keegan and Minky Stapleton.
- BATHE THE CAT by Alice B. McGinty and David Roberts.
- A PLAN FOR POPS by Heather Smith and Brooke Kerrigan.
- GRANDAD’S CAMPER by Harry Woodgate.
- HARRIET GETS CARRIED AWAY by Jessie Sima.
- A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY by Sara O’Leary and Qin Leng.
- STELLA BRINGS THE FAMILY by Miriam B. Schiffer and Holly Clifton-Brown.
- THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF ESTHER THE WONDER PIG by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, Caprice Crane, and Cori Doerrfeld.
- ONE FAMILY by George Shannon and Blanca Gomez.
- WHAT RILEY WORE by Elana K. Arnold and Linda Davick.
- NEN AND THE LONELY FISHERMAN by Ian Eagleton and James Mayhew.
- MY FOOTPRINTS by Bao Phi and Basia Tran.
- JULIÁN AT THE WEDDING by Jessica Love.
PS: This is one way to include rainbow/PRIDE reads in your storytimes, without advertising a Pride program.
~ Anne.
Looking for More?
Check out our Books We Love for an amazing and growing selection of LGBTQIA+ picture book recommendations and books about all kinds of other tough to find topics!
These websites were recommended by the Storytime Solidarity community:
- Mombian: An excellent resource that covers everything from current politics (including the recent Roe v. Wade Reversal) to external resources providing even more specific support for queer families of every type.
- Guide For Selecting Anti-bias Children’s Books
The Solidarity Team does our best to keep our resources section updated. If you notice something missing — or feel we’ve included something problematic that you would like removed — please reach out and let us know!
I asked my niece (7) for feedback about this beautiful book. She informed me that it was “fine” but that she didn’t care for books about weddings: “too much kissing.”
I love that she’s been exposed to so much affirming LGBT+ content, including having a queer aunt, that she didn’t even notice it was two men getting married. She knows people marry the person they love.
-Kate (she/they)
Representation Matters: For Everyone
What are we doing when we show all children that trans children matter? We’re telling trans kids that we see them and support them on their journeys. And we’re showing cis kids that there are as many wonderful ways to be as there are human beings.
This builds allies, confident kids, and a better word. Picture books are magical.
On what PRIDE 2022 means to me.
The brave example set by Kate and the Storytime Solidarity team has felt so refreshing to me, so freeing. After a year of working with everyone here — immersed in their shining authenticity — I feel more myself than ever before. And I am encouraged to start living that example for others. Happy Pride, everyone, today and every day! ~Ingrid Christina (she/they)
What’s the best way to celebrate PRIDE?
How to be an ally?
By incorporating LGBTQIA2S titles as part of your regular storytimes and readers advisory.
I wear rainbows regularly.
I read LGBTQIA2S books for storytime, as I don’t do themed sessions.
I do a lot of readers advisory, so include diverse reads of many types, as often as possible.
If you’re a teen or adult looking for romances, I’ll probably include some queer reads.
Our queer / rainbow community are people, whose existence shouldn’t be acknowledged just once a year.
They, and their every day, normal lives, should be incorporated seamlessly into our every day services.
On a personal note, I am so grateful for the growth in public awareness, and the expansion of the identities under the queer / rainbow / LGBTQIA+ banner.
May everyone’s coming out be as uneventful as that of some members of my whānau. May those whose coming out is more stressful, receive the support they deserve.
– Anne (she/her)
You can love whomever you will
You can travel any country where your heart leads
And know I will love you still
You can live by yourself, you can gather friends around,
You can choose one special one
And the only measure of your words and your deeds
Will be the love you leave behind when you’re done
– Erika (she/her)
– Adam (he/him)
And then, at 35, I learned I was autistic. And suddenly every rule I’d made for myself had to change. Because I finally understood that no matter how many rules I followed I would never be like everyone else. And one of the most important reasons to treat men as my default is that that was what one was supposed to do.
When I came out as queer my friends were less surprised than I was. I’ve been told I came out to myself last. I had thought that the non-men I found attractive were anomalies. Exceptions, not the rule.
I’m now in the first truly joyous romantic relationship of my life. My partner makes my world better in every imaginable way and I endeavor to do the same for them. I love cheering them on and seeing them blossom into the person they were always meant to be. If I’d fallen for compulsory heterosexuality I would have missed the best thing in my life.
Kate (she/they; The Lavender Librarian)
PS You may notice some new names. This is because the Solidarity team is growing quickly! I can’t wait to formally announce the newest additions to our Solidarity Team!
