A Child's Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community

by Sarah Prager, Caitlin O'Dwyer (Illustrator)

The perfect primer for kids ages 8-12, this book celebrates love, hope, equality, and progress by taking an inspirational and essential look at the rich history and culture of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States and around the world. 

The history of the LGBTQIA+ community has often been overlooked, but it's one that is filled with heroes, struggles, triumph, and joy. A Child’s Introduction to Pride is full of remarkable stories of groundbreaking events and inspirational people, featuring profiles of dozens of queer icons from various time periods and walks of life. Young readers will meet members of the community who have made big contributions to politics—like Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson—as well as important people from the worlds of sports, music, literature, dance, science, and more. Kids will also be introduced to key terms like "gender" and "identity" while learning about the importance of coming out and what it means to be a good ally.

In addition to learning about the history of the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, A Child's Introduction to Pride offers a kid-friendly guide to understanding pronouns and intersectionality, as well as explorations of "gayborhoods," Featuring charming illustrations and a lively design that honors the vibrancy and inclusive nature of the wide-ranging LGBTQIA+ community, A Child's Introduction to Pride is a celebration of a movement that readers of all ages will love.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, History, Childrens

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Kristen M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is one of a nonfiction series numbering more than a dozen. It features a global sweep of history about LGBTQ+ people and issues from ancient times, through today. It has many biographical sketches about famous LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history, from Alexander the Great, to Sappho, to Marsha P. Johnson, to Billie Jean King, to Pete Buttigieg, and more. It broadly covers events affecting LGBTQ+ people such as the Holocaust, the Lavender Menace, marriage equality, and the intersection of the civil rights movement, among many others.

It has a helpful table of contents, an index, a glossary, and pages of resources for additional information. Every chapter includes a 'Hall of Fame' page that highlights the contributions of LGBTQ+ folx to various fields such as science, music, dance, literature, politics, and the arts.

[Bailee Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially bought this as a resource for work, but I really enjoyed reading it myself. I was totally unfamiliar with LGBTQ+ history as a kid & even as an adult who now identifies as part of the community, there’s so much I don’t know.

This is a picture book, but is definitely written for older elementary/middle grade kiddos. Very clear information, but I just think younger children would struggle to get through it

[Diego Dotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview about LGBTQ+ history and easy reading!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every kid needs to read this book, and every adult for their own inner kid:')

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A fantastic overview of LGBTQIA+ history that includes events and people from various places in the world. The book provides an introduction to LGBTQIA+ topics, contributions, and famous individuals, as well as a breakdown of events from ancient times, 1600s-1940s, 1950s-1960, 1970s-2020s, and a brief look at the present and future.

Prager does not shy away from the harsh realities of criminalization, homophobia, colonization, discrimination, and exclusion but also showcases instances of joy, empowerment, community, creativity, and resistance. While much of the book focuses on LGBT issues, some issues faced by non-binary and intersex individuals are also discussed.

Lovely artwork that nicely pairs with the text. Well formatted with breakout sections for additional information. I especially enjoyed the Think About It sections that encourage the reader to critically think about the topics presented.

At the back is a section that asks readers to reflect on what they read. There are also lists of places of interest in the US, additional resources, and further reading, as well as a glossary and an index.

A great overview for those looking to start diving into the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community.

[cara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Riddled with insulting oversimplifications and consequential errors. Immensely, immensely frustrating. Kids deserve so much better. At this point, I’ve encountered enough awful “overview” children’s books on LGBTQ topics to just say screw it—instead, offer them age-appropriate first-person, authentic narratives of LGBTQ experience. And for older kids: *accurate* contextual and historical information, which they’re probably better off seeking on their own—and from informed, academic-adjacent (at least) sources—rather than accepting all this spoonfed mush from ignorant, unskilled authors. Our communities are too important, too wondrous, too complex, /too rich in reality/ to settle for anti-intellectualism, for laziness, for convenient falsehoods.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to LGBTQIA+ history for younger readers. I think it might be better for older elementary students, not because of the content but because of reading level. It's not an early-grades book for readers who are just beginning, as there is a lot of text on the page and some more difficult vocabulary. It would be a great reference work for classrooms. I plan to use it in my high school Social Justice classroom.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

dense with text, but full of infographics and lovely art. US focused history, but has some global queer history. it's pretty thorough for kids, with explanations of gender terms and romantic preferences. the book wants its readers to come away knowing that we have always been here, and we will continue on.

[Blessing Dorcas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted and enlightening guide that introduces young readers to the rich history, culture, and heroes of the LGBTQIA+ community. Sarah Prager presents complex topics with clarity and warmth, making this an inspiring and inclusive read for families and educators alike.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and age conscious exploration of queer history and culture. An excellent addition to my collection.

[Jami Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative. I learned a lot about the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and the history behind it. I think this would be a good addition to my library.

[Aiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for grade school / early middle school readers. Text heavy but friendly & understandable, and with great illustrations.

[Eti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeous encyclopedia is absolutely a must-have for every collection. It offers both depth and breadth about LGBTQIA+ history and community, which is sure to spark even more conversations and questions and reading. The art is especially gorgeous, engaging, and eye-opening, and hugely appealing for readers. And you know I heart all the back-matter! As grown-ups, I feel like youth nonfiction is especially valuable to help us fill in the gaps from our education so this book is necessary for all of us.

[Paige Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has great information, but it lacks a story plot and easy words for a child to understand. So I will not suggest this book for Kindergarten teachers. Also this book is a LBTQ matter so things such as been vocalized on the news about loosing books like this one and it being added to the list of banned books. In reality this book is made for higher grade level students who are interested and curious about this book.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent and wordy introduction to Pride, LGBTQIA+ people through history, and more. I would recommend this to tweens and up based on the word difficulty.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive, which is nice to see in children's nonfiction. Especially appreciate the additional readings suggested in the back.