Pride Month is all about celebrating love and friendship, and how far we've come in terms of the gay rights movement.
When it comes to explaining Pride to your child, it's best to make sure you understand its history, the facts and keep it as simple as possible. Here's our book list of recommended reads to help you and your children aged 5-8 celebrate Pride.
Book recommendations
A Little Bit Different by Claire Alexander
Meet the ploofers. The ploofers have been practicing something special which they all want to do at the exact same time - but wait! What's that? One of them does something different! When one little ploofer goes against the usual flow of things, the rest of them turn their backs on him. But all it takes is for one person to recognise the beauty in being different to spark a change in attitude of everyone.
Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin and Kate Alizadeh
The toddler and mommies take a morning bike ride to a farm stand, they visit a zoo in the afternoon, and in the evening there's the bath and storybook routine before the child is tucked cozily into bed.
There are seas for ships and kisses for lips, so we can whisper I love you!
Peanut Goes for Gold by Johnathan Van Ness
Peanut is a gender nonbinary guinea pig who does everything with their own personal flare. Whether it's cartwheeling during basketball practice or cutting their own hair, this little guinea pig puts their own special twist on life. So when Peanut decides to be a rhythmic gymnast, they come up with a routine that they know is absolutely perfect, because it is absolutely, one hundred percent Peanut.
Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack and Stevie Lewis
Once upon a time there lived a charming prince. His parents knew he couldn't rule the kingdom alone, so the three of them set out on a long journey across the land, to find him a suitable bride. But it soon became clear that the Prince was looking for something very special, and none of the princesses were right for him. Then, when a terrible dragon threatens the kingdom, the Prince meets a brave knight. Could this be the Prince's one true love?
BunnyBear by Andrea J. Loney and Carmen Saldaña
Although Bunnybear was born a bear, he feels more like a bunny. He prefers bouncing in the thicket to tramping in the forest, and in his heart he's fluffy and tiny, like a rabbit, instead of burly and loud, like a bear. The other bears don't understand him, and neither do the bunnies. Will Bunnybear ever find a friend who likes him just the way he is?
Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond Napoles, illustrated by Dylan Glynn
Find out about the courageous people throughout history who have paved the way for a safer, more inclusive society for LGBTQ individuals, and it's thanks to them that people just like Desmond can be free to be who they really are.
Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima
Harriet loves costumes. Her dads are throwing her a party and she's wearing her special penguin costume to run errands. Harriet can't believe it when she finds real penguins! She may look like a penguin, but she’s not so sure she belongs in the arctic. Can Harriet find her way back to her dads in time for her party?
