Every year on June 28th, the United States commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a foundational event in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. On this date in 1969, a group of queer, trans, and ally protesters stood up to the persistent police harassment and brutality that the New York City LGBTQIA+ community was facing at that time. This, in turn, led to six days of protests and community action that put queer and trans rights in the national conversation, and inspired the very first Pride event the following year.
To pay tribute to this watershed moment, we’ve gathered five children’s books that cover the history of the Stonewall Uprising and how it has influenced — and continues to influence — LGBTQIA+ communities and the fight for queer and trans rights to this day.
Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders, Illustrated by Jamey Christoph
Told from the point of view of the Stonewall Inn itself, the building(s) — built in the 1840s as two separate stables — describe their colorful history throughout the years: converted to a bakery, then a restaurant, all as the surrounding Greenwich Village of NYC became known as a place of inclusivity. In the 60’s, the building found itself host to the Stonewall Inn, a club for the then-mostly-underground LGBTQIA+ community. It was a place where queer and trans people could go to be who they were.
The choice to narrate from the buildings’ point of view is inspired: it allows for a broad point of view of events that still feels personal and warm. This was the first widely available picture book on Stonewall in the 50 years since the uprising, and it lives up to that responsibility by being a timeless account of the event.
One Day in June: A Story Inspired by the Life and Activism of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline, Illustrated by Charlot Kristensen
Say it with us: gay and trans people of color led the Stonewall Uprising. Along with Stormé DeLarverie and Sylvia Rivera, the iconic Marsha P. Johnson is frequently credited as one of the activists who galvanized the community present on June 28th, 1969, into resisting. Told from the perspective of an adult caregiver and a child attending the Black Trans Lives Matter rally in 2020, readers listen along with the youngster as the story of Marsha and her courage, style, and kindness is told with loving reverence.
In addition to her contributions to the Uprising, Marsha’s too-brief life is honored for her advocacy and humanitarianism as well. This culminates in a powerful statement on how the positive effects of Marsha’s work and life have rippled through time, as well as a broader statement on the power and pricelessness of black trans lives.
The ABCs of Queer History by Dr. Seema Yasmin, Illustrated by Lucy Kirk
Stonewall is but one of the formative moments in the queer and trans revolution, and Pride is a perfect time to explore how these events have come together to further the lives and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Told through rhyming couplets organized into an alphabetical format, young readers can learn about influential figures and landmark moments from queer history, such as the Uprising, Harvey Milk, and Audre Lorde.
The book also acts as a mission statement on why learning queer history matters — noting that there have “always” been “ancestors” of the queer community — and a celebration of the contributions that LGBTQIA+ individuals make and have made to the arts, sciences, politics, and humanity.
The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights by Archie Bongiovanni, Illustrated by A. Andrews
As Natalia and her friends, Jax and Rashad, help her abuela move into a senior living facility, the teen discovers a photo she’s never seen before of Abuela as a young woman. Her abuela explains that it’s a photo of her and her girlfriend in 1969; the pair were not out at the time, due to the extremely hostile attitudes towards gay, queer, and trans folks by the public at large.
Following the format of the other History Comics series, the teens then travel back in time with Abuela and experience the events of the Stonewall Uprising and the days leading up to it firsthand. While this title uses the less-accepted term “Stonewall Riots” — Stonewall veterans have overwhelmingly expressed a preference for the use of “Uprising” or “Rebellion,” as the word “riot” was used by police at the time to justify their use of unnecessary force — it still acts as an immersive look at the Uprising and some of its most prominent figures.
‘Twas the Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick, Illustrated by Juana Medina
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase before: Pride started as a protest. In this reimagining of the classic Christmas poem, a queer family readies for bed on the night before Pride, and two moms agree to tell their children about the history of Pride, all the way back to the Stonewall Uprising.
In child-friendly yet refreshingly honest language, the story of the Uprising and how it has led to modern Pride is explored as readers get glimpses of how other families and individuals are preparing for the celebration the following day. With impressively expansive backmatter and a story that critically yet joyfully draws the connection between queer history and present, this lovely title will get kids excited for their own Pride celebrations while informing them of how much is owed to queer and trans pioneers.
We hope that you and your young readers enjoy these reads and that they inspire you to learn even more about the Stonewall Uprising and queer history. Happy reading, and Happy Pride!
Looking for more titles that celebrate Pride and queer history? Check out our article on Picture Books That Will Make Little Readers Excited for Pride!
For all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
