In 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, the first Pride march was held by members of the LGBTQIA+ community who wanted to commemorate the events of those six days. And while Pride was, is, and will always be a protest, it has also evolved to become a time of celebrating queer and trans love, family, community, and of course, pride. To recognize the importance of Pride, we’ve gathered nine children’s books that explore both the fun and historical significance of the event.
If It’s Pride And You Know It… by Andy Passchier
A delightful and colorful introduction to Pride for pre-readers, this board book adapts the popular kids’ song If You’re Happy and You Know It into an interactive look at some of the basics of Pride celebrations. Little readers can play with pull tabs and sliders to bring illustrations to life as they sing about waving flags, sharing stories, and wearing their favorite rainbow outfits to celebrate the Pride season. Culminating in a trip to the Pride parade, this adorable story is perfect for presenting some of the core elements of Pride to the littlest of bookworms; it even comes with a QR code to scan for a sing-along music track!
Rainbow Boy and the Pride Parade by Taylor Rouanzion, Illustrated by Stacey Chomiak
The little boy who acts as narrator of this story used to love rainbows, but not so much anymore. He worries that his love of rainbows and color makes him “different,” so his mom offers to take him to a place where everyone is a rainbow: a Pride parade. Counting from one to ten, the little boy spends the day with his parents marvelling at the expressions of love and joy, and feels a lot less alone by the car ride home. From the creators of Who You Will Be, this combination counting book and lesson in the importance of queer solidarity is one that will have kids excited to attend a Pride event of their own.
Under One Rainbow by Chris Ayala-Kronos, Illustrated by Sol Salinas
As the three young friends at the center of this tale arrive at their local Pride celebration, spirits are high! They are excited to laugh, dance, and have a great time celebrating the inclusivity of the queer community. That is, until storm clouds roll in and rain starts to fall, turning the world of bright color into a landscape of muted grays. Yet no one leaves, and rainbow umbrellas pop up to shelter folks, young and old, from the nasty weather. As the clouds part, a rainbow appears, and the celebration is in full swing again. A subtle metaphor for the importance of finding community and giving support in dark times, this book will encourage youngsters to have hope during dark times that clear skies will come again.
Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate
A sequel to the gorgeously heartwarming Grandad’s Camper, Grandad and Milly are back with another story of community solidarity and allyship. When Milly finds a rainbow flag in Grandad’s attic, he tells her the story of how he and his late partner, Gramps, used to attend Pride marches and parades when they were younger. When Milly asks if she can attend alongside him for the next one, he demurs, insisting that he is too old for Pride nowadays. Unwilling to let the happiness and togetherness of Pride pass her Grandad by, Milly reaches out to her community to organize the village’s first Pride celebration, bringing her neighbors together to show support and love for the queer community.
Pride by Eric Huang, Illustrated by Amy Phelps
In this informative title, narrator Brian introduces himself and his dads to the reader and invites them along as he, his family, and his friends prepare for the upcoming Pride celebration in their town. At school, they are learning about the history of Pride and queer historical figures, making signs to carry, and picking which colorful outfits to wear. Then there are all the fun events, like a Pride trail at the local museum and a drag story hour at the library. At last, everyone attends a march and Pride celebration, where they can take all that they’ve learned and celebrate how far the LGBTQIA+ community has come, as well as how far it will go.
A Kids Book About Pride by Kendall Clawson
One of the newest entries in the phenomenal A Kids Book About series by DK, this title offers a no-nonsense look at the historical roots, themes, and ideology behind Pride, from an explanation of what the acronym LGBTQIA+ means to a breakdown of why advocating for the rights of queer and trans people is so important to this day. Written in the series’ minimalist and empowering style, readers can learn about the queer luminaries who brought Pride into the light, the enduring courage of the LGBTQIA+ community’s continuing fight for equal rights, and the importance of celebrating Pride not only in June, but year-round.
My Little Golden Book About Pride by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan
The classic and beloved Golden Books imprint celebrates Pride with this educational and engaging look at the queer community of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, starting with the Pride flag. Explaining the meaning behind each color — yellow for sunlight, green for nature, purple for spirit, etc. — youngsters can learn about what Pride means, from the fight to observe it in the first place to the rich and diverse community it represents. The inspiring text and gorgeous art are sure to remind readers that Pride is about welcoming all people; after all, at its heart, Pride is “a reminder for everyone to be proud of who they are.”
Pride 1 2 3 by Michael Joosten, Illustrated by Wednesday Holmes
This joyful board book introduces baby bookworms to the message and importance of Pride through a simple 1-to-10 counting format. From one parade to ten waving flags, little ones can get a peek at a warmly illustrated Pride celebration that features DJs, divas, motorcycles, floats, signs, and a beautifully diverse display of intersectionality. Bursting with visual excitement and positivity, this sweet title pulls double duty as a primer for the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and a solid counting primer.
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, Illustrated by Kristyna Litten
We simply couldn’t leave this modern classic off our list. Told in cheerful rhyming couplets, the scene is set on a city getting ready for a very special day. As the parade begins, people of all kinds march down the street: women on motorcycles, people dressed in rainbows and waving flags, musicians and performers and children and animals. Some of them look different, some are dressed in their own way, but all of them are there to celebrate one thing: unity. For on this day in June, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or whom you love; all that matters is that you come and be proud of who you are, inside and out.
We hope that you and your young readers enjoy these Pride-ful books, and that they inspire you to get out and celebrate the season in your own way! Happy reading, and happy Pride!
Looking for more children’s books with LGBTQIA+ representation? Check out our article on Timely Children’s Books With Fantastic Transgender Representation.
For all of our reading recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
