True Colors: Kid Books for Pride 2022!

Meet the Ploofers. They’ve been busy practicing something very special to do all together at the same time. But something goes wrong when one little Ploofer does something different. At first this upsets the rest of the group until one individual shows up and helps them see the beauty in being different. With adorable illustrations and simple text, this lighthearted story shows kids how to accept and value the uniqueness in us all.

It’s time for the Pride parade, and one family is having a great time celebrating until the unthinkable happens—they lose their beloved puppy! Luckily lots of other attendees at the parade are happy to help out. This rhyming alphabet book provides a lively, joyful introduction to this annual celebration and demonstrates the true spirit of Pride.

“Boys play monster trucks with glee, 

Girls bake cakes and serve hot tea. 

Girls like pom-poms, pink and jewels, 

Boys like fighting pirate duels.” 

…Except when they don’t. This fun, whimsical rhyming picture book breaks down the stereotypes of traditional “boy” and “girl” activities. It celebrates the individuality of every kid, regardless of gender, and shows that it’s okay for kids to play however they want to. 

Young Gilbert loves to visit his grandmother’s clothing store and draw beautiful costumes and gowns while she sews. But one day his father takes away his art supplies and gives him things like building blocks and erector sets to play with instead. Gilbert’s colorful, sparkly personality fades like the gray, dull landscape of his hometown. He vows one day to go somewhere “filled with color.” And he does—set in 1970s San Francisco, this is the true story of how Gilbert Baker left his gray life behind and unfurled a world of color by creating the iconic rainbow Pride flag.

Three years ago, Ash’s mom left home and never came back. Now he lives in her childhood home, surrounded by her old things, and a shed where she spent her childhood creating a fantasy haven just for girls called Koretris. When, using a spell book, Ash and his friends are transported to the imaginary world, he discovers a real place, filled with real creatures and real dangers. But Ash has always been called a boy. If Koretris is real, what could it mean if he  was allowed in? This smart graphic novel explores gender identity in a unique adventurous way.  

This charming, inclusive comic follows a blacksmith apprentice, Greta, after she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. She discovers the dying art of caring for tea dragons from kindly tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. Then she befriends the pair, as well as the timid Minette as she learns more and more about how this enchanting craft enriches lives, including her own. The story is the first in a series featuring a cast of characters that reflects the diversity of its readers.