I was browsing an online catalog and found several titles on GLBTQ+ themes. Some had a few pages to sample the goodies inside, but others had full text. I have picked a few and will be doing more in another review, but three per review should probably be a limit, otherwise your eyes will pop out at all the goodness in one place and not able to read!
When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built a Community by Gayle E. Pitman and Christopher Lyles is a first person, poetic account how a couple of friends (who fell in love and moved in together on Valentine’s Day) helped change their community. What these two people did was take a place they lived and helped the lack of community they felt (people did not fell two women should be together, women had few rights or chances) become more open. They found ways to put color in an otherwise not-so-colorful place. Pitman’s text compliments Lyle’s illustrations by mixing a combo of modern and classic. A story of love is colorfully and oddly, but perfectly, illustrated with spunk.
This Day in June is (as the publisher description says) an exuberant reflection of the LGBTQ+ community. And that is being kind as Gayle E. Pitman and Kristyna Litten give you the community in all its glory and then some. Short text but jump off the page excitement fills the book. We see how one parade in June brings together everyone who likes to have a good time, show their love, and celebrate the rainbow of goodness. This introduction to pride is not subtle, but then again, why should it be? This picture book is fun and a good addition to your collection. And while it might not be for everyone, it does have a little someone for everyone. It does not shy away from maybe the more “extreme” looks (Queens with mustaches/beards and full drag). I will be looking for more Pitman books as I have noticed a few more that were not in the catalog!
They’re So Flamboyant has the honor of double duty (and since there are a lot of birds in this book by Michael Genhart that’s a lot of doodie) by not only being a book about inclusion, exclusion and the fear and misunderstandings that brings about, but being a book about birds. This is obvious with the naming of the bird group (an unkindness of ravens, a flock of blue jays) but it also plays a role as a pun for what that group of birds does. The idea of being flamboyant is usually a negative term for a gay person, and the flamingo represent that by being very pink, proud, and have rainbows around them. Of course, the neighborhood is not too keen on this, and decides to act, but things are not always what they seem. And Tony Neal throws caution to the wind with colors everyplace, fun gems in the details of the illustrations and showing the results.