Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution

by Rob Sanders, Jamey Christoph (Illustrator)

Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising with the very first picture book to tell of its historic and inspiring role in the gay civil rights movement.

From Rob Sanders, author of the acclaimed Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, comes this powerful and timeless true story that will allow young readers to discover the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the gay civil rights movement--a movement that continues to this very day. In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City. Though the inn had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night when empowered members of the LGBTQ+ community--in and around the Stonewall Inn--began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States. Movingly narrated by the Stonewall Inn itself, and featuring stirring and dynamic illustrations, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution is an essential and empowering civil rights story that every child deserves to hear.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Queer, Historical

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2019

About the author

Rob Sanders does not work as a telephone sales rep, a loading dock worker, a trophy engraver, or an editor. But he used to. Rob is not a cowboy, a ballerina, an alien, or a temper-tantrum-throwing toddler. But he writes about them. Rob is a picture book author, a writing teacher, a blogger, and a great uncle. He worked for fifteen years in religious educational publishing as a writer, editor, editorial manager, and product designer. These days he teaches elementary kids about books and words and reading and writing, and writes books for those same kids.

Rob’s first picture book, COWBOY CHRISTMAS, was released by Golden Books/Random House in 2012. OUTER SPACE BEDTIME RACE was released by Random House Children’s Books in January 2015. RUBY ROSE ON HER TOES (the first in a two-book deal with HarperCollins) releases in 2016, and Rob just sold RODZILLA to Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster.

Rob also coordinates the Rising Kite Writing Contest for SCBWI Florida, organizes meetings for SCBWI Florida members in the Tampa Bay area, and critiques picture book manuscripts for other writers.

Reviews

[Becket]

I'm leaving this unrated because I honestly don't know how to rate it fairly. While I'm happy that there are kid's books about queer history, I don't know if we're doing kids any favors by offering them a bland, sanitized version of reality. Why write a book about resisting police violence and make it seem like it was just people standing around and shouting? Why not use it as an opportunity to engage kids in real talk about police violence, and how riots are the language of the unheard? Why wait until the backmatter to mention how trans women of color were instrumental in the Stonewall Uprising?

Honestly, this book is FINE as an introduction. I don't want to be that queer person who drags a good-faith effort for not being perfect, because that gets us nowhere. But what I really want a Dottir Press book about Stonewall--less gay rights, more queer liberation.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is nicely illustrated and well-written. However, while it defines gay and lesbian, it doesn't define transgender. In the story, it also only just ever so briefly references the role of transwomen in the riots and aftermath; particularly, the role of transwomen of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, are just a very small vague reference (not even by name) in the afterword.

I'm leaving at three stars because of the importance of the topic and I'm really happy to see a kids book about it. However, more intersectionality can and should be demanded when writing about this topic, at all levels.

For further reading, see here, here and here.

[Christie Angleton]

Wow. What an utter disappointment. How is Marsha P. Johnson, the Black trans woman credited with throwing the first brick that started the uprising, relegated to a measly footnote in the back matter? Honestly this feels like a gay White man patting himself on the back. It's gross. Also, what was behind the decision to make "gay" the all-encompassing label in this text? Nothing like lesbian and trans erasure in an event that was literally led by lesbians and trans women.

[Mary Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Social Justice Books explains why this is not a recommended book:
https://socialjusticebooks.org/stonew...

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful new children’s picture book just in time for Stonewall 50, the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising which helped launch the LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 Civil Rights Movement. Respectful and educational. A celebration of how far we have come and how much more we have to do. Bravo.

[Mery ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Beautifully written. Cute, fast read, good facts, nice art.

This is a great book for the young family members of the LGBTQ community. Belongs to every child's library and bookshelf.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a preview copy of Stonewall at a literacy convention. I loved Pride by Rob Sanders and Stonewall lived up to my expectations. It's a great history story put into a picture book. I will definitely be getting a copy when it is officially out for release.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stonewall Inn gives us a tour of their building from their history as a united building to a club and an icon.
The beautiful and realistic illustrations by James Christoph capture Rob Sanders' nonfiction journey, as told by the building itself.
The book tells of the activism and fight against homophobia.

This is one of the few non-fictions for the juvenile audiences that talks about the Stonewall building itself and its history. I do wish the book mentioned some of the activists who fought against the police raids, but the book does interview a person who was present during the Stonewall Uprising, which is an amazing first-person look into the time.
As the interviewee was asked about what advice to give to activists, he said, "I think. That is how I fight."
Props to Rob Sanders, who had written other LGBTQ non fiction history books for juvenile audiences, for bringing more about the history to light.
Props to Jamey Christoph, who not only beautifully captured the very real lives and circumstances and architecture surrounding Stonewall, but has other historical non-fiction for kids under his belt as well (one of which is about Civil Rights).
I hope this duo works together again on more juvenile non-fiction and other books to share the REAL history of America and not turn a blind eye from what history would have us know. No one can pass negative judgements on a building for existing or sharing its story. Let the building itself tell you its story.

[Ryan M. Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, told from the perspective of the buildings that eventually became Stonewall Inn. The illustrations were lovely, as well. When my mom and I visited NYC, we visited Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. I am donating this book to a local Little Free Library in memory of my mom, who accepted and loved me for me. It understandably took her time to adjust to me coming out, but her support meant so much.

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first read this picturebook I LOVED it, and it made me teary. Perhaps it was just an emotional day but the story really hit home. Recently though, I saw some reviews of the book speaking to how the story was incredibly sanitized. I've gone back and re-read the book with this new perspective. I get it- there is a total lack of recognition of people of colour, transgender folks, and especially trans people of colour. The language used is also quite binary ("men and women" "gays and lesbians"). With this being said however, I also recognize that in the late 60s, language was binary. There wasn't the same vocabulary and social intelligence around the gender and sexuality spectrums as there is in 2019. Do I think this book could have been even better had it used 2019 vocabulary? You bet. Do I think this book is terrible because it is somewhat sanitized? No. This book is beautiful and emotional, and with an adult's help, the book offers a starting point for discussion.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A telling story of the Stonewall riots, a major protest that started the LGBTQ revolution across the U.S. The perspective is told from the Stonewall Inn itself, from its humble origins as a stable in early America to a gay bar during the 50s & 60s to fully being a historical landmark in the present day. It was a haven for people who had different preferences and it is good example of how it takes a community to start a change. When policemen started to arrest patrons and started to blockade the Inn, the people took action and began a fight for their justice, ultimately winning back their sanctuary. This is a good story for children learn about LGBTQ history and why this movement is still important.

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Is it perfect? No. But is it fantastic? Absolutely! And the illustrations- absolute winners! Definitely a needed a book. Love it. So thankful Rob Sanders chose to write about Stonewall, and what a cool perspective (from the building itself!) Also, beyond thankful for Jamey Christoph's gorgeous illustrations!

[Linda Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book, for children, about the Stonewall uprising and the start of the battle for LGBTQ rights. Simply told and beautifully illustrated, this book belongs in every library in our country. There's still a long way to go.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well produced book that gives the basics to young readers.

[Caitlin Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This informational picture book tells the story of the Stonewall Inn, starting back in the 1840s all the way up to today. The story is told from the perspective of the Stonewall Inn itself, which started out as stable houses for the affluent residents of Greenwich Village, in New York City. In the 1960s, the Inn became a hub for members of the LGBTQ+ community to drink, dance, and be in community in a time where they were severely oppressed. The book goes into detail about the way this group of people was treated at the time because they were perceived to be “too different.” At the time, being gay was not accepted by many, making the Stonewall Inn a popular place for police raids. Night after night people at Stonewall continued to be arrested and leave the bar quietly and angrily, until the night of June 28, 1969. This night marked the first night of many where members of the LGBTQ+ community stood defiantly against the police and began protesting for their rights. I like to think had I been alive (and in NYC) at the time, I would have participated in these protests as an ally because I can’t wrap my head around the idea of not supporting something like this! The book does an excellent job portraying the violence the community was met with as a response. It was upsetting to read — and see, through wonderful illustrations — how people of this community were treated. However, the book brings about a message of hope as it went into detail about the celebrations that followed the Stonewall Uprising. The book concludes with a message of hope and urgency because it notes the progress that has been made but also notes that only some things have changed and how we still have a ways to go to reach equality. After the story, a brief overview of the events at the Stonewall is included, along with several photographs of the uprising, the Inn, and the marches that followed. The last few pages of the book include an interview with Martin Boyce, a Stonewall Uprising participant and LBGTQ+ activist, a glossary, and additional resources.

I would read this informational text as a read-aloud to a group of 3rd graders to bring about awareness to the LGBTQ+ movement. There are some vocabulary words that I would go over before reading the book aloud to ensure comprehension including defiantly, mecca, raid, detain, along with several others that are included in the glossary in the back of the book. I think this is a really powerful way to teach students about the LGBTQ+ movement because the Stonewall Inn is really where it all started – or at least where it got the momentum it needed. I am not sure if the LGBTQ+ movement is a part of the NC Social Studies curriculum, but even if it isn’t (which is probably likely), I would like to read this book to supplement a lesson about civil rights. I plan to foster a lot of conversions about acceptance and activism in my classroom, so I am confident that this will be included as a read-aloud at some point. I hope to include this book in my classroom library after reading it aloud so students can look through it on their own during independent reading. Another activity we could do in class would be to talk about how wonderful it is how the Stonewall Inn was a place where people could go who were told they didn’t fit in or didn’t belong. As a class, we could discuss how important it is to be welcoming to everyone, especially ones who are deemed different by society. As a class, we could brainstorm ways to be more inclusive in our classroom, in the school, and in the community as a whole.

This book was a WOW book for me because of its unique perspective of the Stonewall Inn itself. I am familiar with the events that happened on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, but this book provided a perspective I hadn’t considered before. I love how the author recognized the progress that has been made over the last 50 years and all the many reasons to celebrate, but with a caution about the work that still needs to be done. I also found the illustrations to be really powerful, representing such diverse groups of people — something I want to be very intentional about when building my classroom library. I would definitely recommend this book to all educators looking for a powerful way to foster conversations about Civil Rights — specifically the LGBTQ+ movement.

[Marjorie Ingall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the simple, clear text and the clean lines of the art. I like the gimmick of having the story told by the bar itself. But this is the second children's book about the fight for LGBT rights that underplays the role of trans folk and people of color...which is especially egregious in a book about Stonewall.

For example, a beautifully illustrated spread showing the crowd at Stonewall, we see 17 people. Twelve or 13 of them are white. C'mon.

Five people are in the foreground; four are white men and one is a black drag queen. She is the only drag queen in the entire spread. In the background of the spread are two other black men; three other characters have light brown skin. I realize I may sound petty, but this book draws a misleading visual picture of who frequented the Stonewall Inn and who led the uprising against the cops, and it continues the longstanding trend of putting white men in the foreground of the story.

The text does a better job: "In 1967, we swung open our doors and became the Stonewall Inn. Gay men and women from throughout the city and the country came to meet old and new friends, free to be themselves inside our walls. Women and men, young and old, teenagers, transgender people, drag queens, veterans, businesspeople, students, people of different colors, religions, and culture, gathered, chatted, laughed, and danced under our roof."

Nonetheless, I am bummed.

[Elizabeth]

I didn't love this book, but I did tear up a bunch reading it.

The device of having the Stonewall Inn itself be the narrator is an interesting one -- which didn't quite work for me at the beginning, but by partway through it mostly just felt like a regular third-person narration.

It feels a little text-heavy to me for a picturebook, but it's also intentionally kind of reined-in like it's for a young audience, so I'm not sure exactly which age its aimed at.

It does a nice job of taking you through the location's long history of being a place where you could be yourself. And I generally feel okay about the language it uses for queer folks and how it explains terms in-text (though I rolled my eyes at its preference to use the term "LGBTQ+ rights movement" as the present-day name for the movement that at the time was called the "gay rights movement").

Also, I really appreciate the attractive illustrations of lesbians and trans women.

[Rod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. Written by Rob Sanders, A strong title for a children’s book, but it does tell a very important story of the LGBTTQQIAAP+ community. The book tells the history of the two old horse stables that were joined to become the Stonewall Inn and how it became a part of history. The book describes the history of the bar and the neighborhood around it and how it changed over time until the troubles began in 1969. It also describes what happened after and how the Stonewall Inn all played a part in the LGBTTQQIAAP+ community. The physical book itself is large with vibrant watercolor illustrations and the text is easy to read and in small paragraph format. A young reader would gain an understanding of the history of the LGBTTQQIAAP+ community from the book and how the Stonewall Inn played a part of it.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

the uprising of today is not new. communities oppressed by the police have before taken action and fought for their humanity. the LGBTQ+ community found themselves resisting and fighting back after New York police consistently rioted their safe space—the stonewall inn. rob sanders tells the story of how what was once a horse stable became a national historic monument. this book is rich with history, illustrations that accurately reflect the eras presented + outstanding back matter for the intended audience. my favorite aspect of this book is sanders’ choice to narrate the story through the voice of the stonewall inn. a perfect title to serve as a foundation for providing an understanding of terminology + before introducing what pride is.

[Christian Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it's a picture book, I believe the narrative can speak in a compelling way to middle and high school students. I like how the book starts off by framing Stonewall as a community that has always been welcoming of diversity in its variety of forms. By the time the plot moves forward to presenting the unfoldment of the LGBT community, it is within a context that presents the differences as part of humanity as a whole. The illustrations add to the text in just the right way. I would see this as a book as being a good way to introduce or continue discussion about affirming diversity with a particular focus on LGBTQ.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my new favorite book about Stonewall! The pictures were fantastic and the text was just long enough to read to kids without losing their attention. The story is told through the point of view of Stonewall, the building, which I thought was unique and gave context to the history of the building. The book touches on how Greenwich Village was always open to people's differences and diversity, so Stonewall being the birth place of the gay rights movement (which the book points out is now referred to as the LGBTQ+ Movement and I appreciated that) was a perfect fit. I thought this was a perfect introductory history to Stonewall!

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. This book was on ALA's Rainbow Books list, which is how I learned about it. The story is told from the perspective of the buildings and starts all the way back in the 1840s, so you can see how the village became the village.

The illustrations were all full bleeds and you really felt like you were there! I really appreciated the racial diversity and inclusion of trans women in the illustrations. Maybe if a picture book like this existed when I was a kid I would have figured things out sooner!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that LGBTQ+ pride marches usually happen in June, but do you know why? If not, this picture book about the Stonewall riots of June 1969 will give you a historical insight. Told from the POV of the Stonewall Inn buildings, the text and illustrations succeed at depicting injustice and resistance in a way that kids can process yet is not sanitized or glossed over. An excellent nonfiction addition to the growing canon of LGBTQ+ picture books.

[Katrina Dreamer]

Leaving it unrated like other readers who have mentioned that, while it is fantastic that this book exists because we need more queer history books for children, we can still do better. I was definitely struck by the binary language (men and women, gays and lesbians). Trans people are depicted and I would have liked to see even more. Also, was everyone in Greenwich Village really thin and chiseled or femme?

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short simple book aimed at its intended children audience. Quick basic facts and illustrations of a very positive tone. Good for an elementary or young middle-school student to find on their library's shelf. Nothing controversial or debatable in the writing. Short interview with the author at the end.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as part of Book Riot’s 2021 Read Harder Challenge (started early). Loved it! Interesting way of reading about the uprising of the gay rights movement while including my children in important conversations. Yes, I understand this is an oversimplified version of events, and it is simply a starting point for those of us writing from a hetero and cis gender lens.

[Doreen Lush · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes people of all ages and gives them sight to see and understand what the LGBTQ+ community has been through. It gives the history of a place where history was made. I personally think it would be good, especially for younger children so they can be introduced to a part of the world that they may have been sheltered from. The back of the book includes photographs which I thought was interesting to see as it shows pictures from the events themselves as well as artifacts.

[Max Svienty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's level book about Stonewall and the Stonewall Uprising. Gives a brief glimpse into the LGBTQ+ and the fight for queer rights. Thought it was awesome to see a children's book focused on LGBTQ+ history and will be a great book to teach in the classroom.

[Erin Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual account of the history of Greenwich Village in NYC, the Stonewall uprising, and the pride that endured after that event.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5. The book is fine but doesn’t feel ALIVE, nor does it introduce readers to PEOPLE with whom they can connect, have empathy for, and root for. How do you feel emotionally connected to a civil rights movement if you don’t feel connected to the people it involves? I wanted more. That said, I’m never sad when a book such as this exists.