by Harry Woodgate
Shortlisted Little Rebels Award 2024
"Pride is like a giant party where we celebrate the wonderful diversity of our communities and share the message that everyone should be treated with equality and respect" (Grandad).
Milly is back visiting her beloved Grandad (last seen in Grandad's Camper) in his seaside village and, together with Gilbert the dog, they're about to lean all about Pride, its history, its campaigning energy and its progressive, uplifting, love-fuelled messages. Milly is all fired up to take the camper van to Pride but Grandad says his partying days are over. Can Milly rally the local community to bring the Pride celebrations to Grandad?
How wonderful it is to see such flamboyant panoramas of Pride parades and marches which are also so very reflective of the celebrations we see in real life annually from Cornwall to The Highlands and across the globe. Children will love joining in on this book's journey and spotting all the wonderful details in Woodgate's illustrations (the box labelled 'Gilbert's Toys', the family portraits of Grandad and Gramps, Milly's toy octopus, the chip-foraging seagull...!)
'Finally- images of Pride that I recognise! I loved the double page spread of marches bejewelled with recognisable slogans from across place and time: 'Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners' (London 1980s) 'Act Up' 'Liberation Now' (New York late 80s) 'Repeal Paragraph 175' (Berlin, 1990s) 'Some People Are Gay Get Over It!) (Brighton, 2000s). The evolution of the rainbow flags are spot on and the later Prides, in particular, buzz with LGBTQIA+ diversity and are perfectly inclusive (disabled LGBTQ folk are well represented). The overall message of communities embracing the politics and fever-pitch-elation of Pride feels truly transformative in the world of UK children's literature.' (Fen, Letterbox Library staff).
By the winner (with Grandad's Camper) of the British Book Awards Nibbie for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Age 4-7, Paperback 27pp
Themes: Diverse Families Themes: LQBTQ+ Themes: Disabilities