The ABCs of Queer History

by Seema Yasmin (Author) Lucy Kirk (Illustrator)

The ABCs of Queer History
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

A Through-the-Alphabet Celebration of Queer History in the US, from the Publisher of the New York Times Bestseller The ABCs of Black History
 
In a beautiful picture book brimming with P for Pride, writer and poet Seema Yasmin and illustrator Lucy Kirk celebrate all the joys and challenges of queer history in the United States through lively, rhyming verse and bright, colorful illustrations.

This is a book of people, of ideas, of accomplishments and events. It’s a book about Allies and Ancestors, about Belonging and Being accepted, about Hope, Knowledge, and Love. About historic moments like Stonewall, and how it changed the world. And all about Trailblazers, like Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, Harvey Milk, Barbara Jordan, George Takei, Elliot Page, and Sally Ride.

And ultimately, it’s a book to help kids learn a different kind of ABCs—not just words like apple, ball or cat, but rather the essence of what it means to be diverse, to be equitable, to be inclusive. That no one counts unless we all count, and how we must open our eyes and ears, minds and hearts, to hear everyone’s story and understand and celebrate their experience.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

Insightful and validating.

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up--A picture book for older elementary students, this volume opens with 57 pages of ABCs focused more on inspirational words than history: A standing for "abundant" and "ally," and Z for "zeal" and "zillions." The artwork is bright and colorful, depicting a multitude of people, historical figures and generic characters. The keywords are in bold type. Historical facts are sprinkled throughout, seemingly at random. For instance, D is for "dance," which includes a brief mention of Josephine Baker, along with an illustration of the dance icon. Eight pages of back matter provide more depth and context on the famous figures mentioned. However, the lack of an index makes it difficult to find the information. Without it, there is no way to know that Baker is under "D," Audre Lorde is under "F," or George Takei is under "O." VERDICT Baffling organization makes it difficult to recommend this book as a reference for queer history, but it works for curious browsers.--Chance Lee Joyner

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

 

 

Seema Yasmin
Seema Yasmin is a medical doctor, author, and Emmy award-winning journalist. Her books paint vivid pictures about ourselves and how we interact with the world around us and include What the Fact?!: Finding the Truth in All the Noise, Muslim Women are Everything, the poetry collection If God Is a Virus, and more. Please visit SeemaYasmin.com.

Lucy Kirk is a freelance illustrator and ceramist based in Bristol, UK. Since graduating from Brighton University in 2012, she has worked with a wide range of different clients and varied projects. These include editorial illustrations, book illustrations, print and pattern designs, murals, fashion, and ceramic designs. Her work is playful and refreshing with an edgy humor.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781523518548
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Workman Publishing
Publication date
April 30, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF013010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Concepts | Alphabet
JNF025250 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/21st Century
JNF053080 - Juvenile Nonfiction | LGBT
JNF071000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Activism & Volunteering
JNF053270 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Civil & Human Rights
Library of Congress categories
-

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