For the LGBTQ+ community, Pride is about embracing yourself wholeheartedly, no matter what others think or believe. What better lesson to share with your children? These Three to Read Jr. picks place queer experiences front and center, showing young readers the power of finding community and being yourself.
EARLY READERS
O.K. Is Gay by Vincent X. Kirsch
SUMMARY:
Olivio “O.K.” Kipling has an announcement to make: He’s in love with George! But when he tries to tell his friends, everyone keeps interrupting him — they think they already know what he’s going to say. After multiple tries, O.K. laments that “people know a lot about him, but no one knows the best part.” Luckily, a special someone helps him finally share his feelings with the world.
WHY:
Through charming illustrations and a variety of fascinating factoids about his main character, Vincent X. Kirsch brings O.K.’s world to life. O.K. is an excellent artist, a tarantula owner, and a fan of the ballet. His friends know him so well that they forget to give him space to share what’s on his mind! O.K. Is Gay reminds us that even with those we love, there’s always more to discover. At the end of the day, we get to define ourselves.
ELEMENTARY READERS
Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Levi Hastings
SUMMARY:
In an era when queerness was criminalized, the LGBTQ+ community was forced to hide their identities. Since they could not find each other openly, they turned to a friend for help: Dorothy. But who exactly was Dorothy? Was she someone’s friend, or a family member? A writer, or a girl from Kansas? Whether or not she actually existed, she helped bring people together even as society tried to force them apart.
WHY:
LGBTQ+ rights have come a long way over the years. Not long ago, however, queer people were forced to hide who they were or face persecution. Kyle Lukoff provides young readers with an important, digestible history lesson about the covert ways the LGBTQ+ community identified themselves and each other. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Hastings, Are You a Friend of Dorothy? demonstrates how community can flourish against the odds.
MIDDLE GRADE READERS
Athlete Is Agender: True Stories of LGBTQ+ People in Sports, Edited by Katherine Locke and Nicole Melleby
SUMMARY:
From Billie Jean King to CeCe Telfer, queer athletes have made waves throughout the history of sports. Athlete Is Agender compiles stories from sports stars and children’s book authors into a celebration of the achievements of LGBTQ+ athletes. These personal profiles and testimonials show readers that sports can mean so much more than winning. It can also provide people a safe space to be themselves, regardless of their gender or sexuality.
WHY:
Athlete Is Agender arrives at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack and trans and nonbinary athletes face continued backlash and discrimination. This incredible resource not only teaches young athletes about their favorite sports stars, but provides them the tools to support themselves and their queer teammates. From short primers on pronouns and Title IX to tips for starting LGBTQ+ student organizations, readers will learn how to build an inclusive, welcoming space on the field or the court. After all, no matter what sport they play or how they identify, all athletes are united by the love of the game.
Thanks for joining us for this week’s Three to Read, Jr.! Be sure to tune in again next week to find your little bookworm’s new favorite read.
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