Written by: Michael Joosten

Illustrated by: Wednesday Holmes 

For ages: Infants and up (board book)

Language: English

Topics Covered: LGBTQ, Pride, Acceptance, Math, Counting Books, Board Books, Activism. 

Summary: 

This is a very sweet counting book that focuses on a Pride Parade.  The illustrations are super diverse, and celebrate the intersections of identity that one can find at these events.  Moving from one to ten, the reader sees all sorts of bright illustrations of dj’s performing, motorcycles riding in the parade, affirming signs, and families picnicking.

I really liked that the Pride flag used was the Philly Pride flag, the one with the black and brown stripes added.  This acknowledges specifically the Black and Brown members of the LGBTQ community, and that they are often marginalized and oppressed more that white LGBTQ individuals.  This is a board book, but it ensures from the beginning that readers will learn about the diversity of people, and how everyone should be celebrated for being exactly themselves.

We were kindly sent this book by Simon & Schuster, but all opinions are our own!

About the Author & the Illustrator:

Michael Joosten is a children’s book writer and editor living in New York with his nugget-like Chihuahua, Olive.

Wednesday Holmes is a London based artist, designer and disruptor. They create artwork inspired by and for queer people, aiming to use their art to make a difference and change minds. Wednesday has worked with a variety of clients including Chime for Change by Gucci, The Sad Ghost Club, BBC BodyPositive, The Positive Page, and the Albert Kennedy Trust. In 2019, the artist was also named by Out magazine as one of the Most Exciting Queers to Follow on Instagram. See more of Wednesday’s work here!