The Rainbow Parade

by Emily Neilson

A sweet and celebratory story of a family's first time at Pride

One day in June, Mommy, Mama, and Emily take the train into the city to watch the Rainbow Parade. The three of them love how all the people in the street are so loud, proud, and colorful, but when Mama suggests they join the parade, Emily feels nervous. Standing on the sidewalk is one thing, but walking in the parade? Surely that takes something special.

This joyful and affirming picture book about a family's first Pride parade, reminds all readers that sometimes pride takes practice and there's no one way to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, Childrens, Family, Queer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 31, 2022

Reviews

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but nothing particularly special about either the art or the words. Obviously I'm glad this is out in the world though, more queer books for kids!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute! I didn’t know it was a picture book when I tagged it in Libby but I’m glad I read it. I didn’t know that libby has for Picture books a read along with the audio book which is really cool. I would buy this for a kid in my life life.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet I wanna cry. Makes me miss Ypsi Pride.

[Rereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 March Reading Challenge
Prompt: read a book with a rainbow and/or colors of the rainbow on the cover

This was a sweet, cute, and wonderfully drawn book. It captures the many emotions and actions that occur during the Pride Parade, and was a delight to read. Highly recommend.

[Bree Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, how ive missed children’s lit. This was one of the first to pop up on my Libby browse. I am so happy it exists and is out in the world. Though I will say while I adore the premise of our little heroine attending a pride parade with her Mama and Mommy, the execution of the story lacked any real excitement.

[TL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this in the @penguinkids pride giveaway on Instagram:). All my opinions are my own.
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Fun story about a family going to the pride parade and having a good time together :).

Some sweet moments too 💕

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a fun story about a queer family going to the San Francisco Pride parade; beautifully done.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this so much 😭

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily Neilson based this picture book on her memories of going to the pride parade as a kid with her two moms. ❤️

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well wasn’t this the most cutest little book to start off Pride 2022!! I can’t wait to buy and read this book to my little one when/if I’m ever blessed with one.

I did find it funny when the little girl said something along the lines of “people wear whatever they most feel like themselves in…even if it’s barely nothing.” 😂 It just made me think of how mature this author was when she was younger and how her moms explained things so well to her at such a young age (the book is supposed to be about her when she was younger, going to Pride parades).

But overall, really super cute book!! Definitely buying a copy for myself. Thanks Penguin Randomhouse Audio for the review copy!

[SamSamSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok well I didn't expect to LOVE this book but now I'm crying.
Even though I know better, I'm somehow always convinced that there aren't REALLY any queer couples who kids. Books like this give me hope for my own family one day

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sweet. I like the fact that it touches on the anxiety someone might feel (in this case, a child) about being in front of so many people. Not any kind of shame, but like, stage fright, I guess.

[Francesca]

A cute story with great representation. I appreciate the nods to found family as well as having your own family.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little book about a girl going to pride with her two moms. Based on the author/illustrator’s childhood memories of going to SF Pride.

[B Coffee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disgusting. Naked adults and adults in bondage gear are shown. Girl child is forced by her two mothers to partake in this event even though she has stated she was uncomfortable. Very irresponsible book. Makes the whole pride community look like pederasts. Not fair, especially after all the hard work it took for same sex marriage to be legal. I feel like only straight people think this is heartwarming. It's not. Listen to your fkin kid and don't make her uncomfortable. Also, don't expose your child to p*nography. Yknow, like pictures of full grown men in bondage gear.

The writer is probably straight or one of the New Queers (who will be married to a cis white man once this whole phase blows over... 😐)

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Loud, proud, and colorful." "Friend families." Oh my goodness I adore this book, and okc library for displaying it. So important, and fun, and inspired by real life (the author was the little girl, see photos in back).

[Kathleen]

Queer content: pride parade, two moms, BIPOC and disability representation in the images (not much disability rep, but someone with a cane and someone using a wheelchair)

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This colorful, vibrant, happy book celebrates Pride and all those who participate. I love this sweet story of a young child and her moms at the parade. All the warm fuzzies!

[Olivia Mannall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book for KS1 Children for Cambridge University's PGCE Summer Reading Challenge

I bought this book whilst in New York and have just got around to reading it. As one can probably guess from the title, it's a story about a Pride parade and about a little girl named Emily who is taken there for the first time by her two mothers. The story is based on the real life experiences of the author who attended the San Fransisco Pride Parade every year as a child.

I think this book is a fantastic introduction for young children to the concept of Pride and the LGBT community. As we all become more open and accepting to different sexualities and gender expressions, I don't believe in there ever being a time that is 'too early' to introduce children to the different ways in which people can love. As a bisexual myself, in the classroom I will aim to promote same-sex relationships as often as opposite sex ones, through the discussions we have in class and the media that we consume. Many children, after all, now have two mothers, two fathers, or non-binary parents. They deserve to feel as included in the discussions we have as those that have parents of the opposite sex.

The Rainbow Parade covers all aspects of the Pride parade in its words and its illustrations. Certain illustrations depict protests, including banners that say, 'Act Up, Fight Back, Fight Aids' and 'Black Trans Lives Matter' - issues that are present in the story but in the background. It's a great way to subtly introduce these ideas to children without overtly explaining them to those who may be too young to understand them. Just having those words present on the page in the illustrations can open up innocent conversations.

Overall, The Rainbow Parade is a story about acceptance. When Emily's mums ask her to join in with the parade, Emily says that she doesn't think she is 'loud enough or proud enough to be in the parade', to which her mother replies that she belongs 'in the Rainbow Parade just how you are!' Emily then spots many families, of all different races, sexualities and sizes marching together, hand in hand. This book is so inclusive and will make young children from any walk of life feel included and joyful. It's hard not to when reading it, given how bright and colourful every single page is!

If I were reading this out loud to children, I may change a word or two, such as 'sidewalk' to 'pavement' and 'y'all' to 'you'. After all, this book is written by an American author, and I would want British children to still be able to understand every word being spoken! Other than that though, I think this is a brilliant read for children as young as Early Years. It's a fantastic lesson in how to accept everybody that you meet and how to practice being proud of who you are!

[Ttgyrl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I checked this book out because it looked like a cute book based on the cover for my daughter and although I appreciate the sentiment of the author it doesn’t work for me as a kids book. As a Mom who wouldn’t take her kid to a Pride parade when they are little because I don’t think her seeing adults naked or in BDSM, etc. is something appropriate for her age, it’s not a kids book I want my daughter reading to learn about Pride. I love being accepting and I am all about letting others be themselves but I also don’t think kids should learn about sexually explicit acts or seeing strange adults nude until they are older and actually can understand the explanation. This book is accurate and the over arching message is great but I don’t think the images are appropriate for a kids book. There’s other kids books that do a better job of explaining Pride for kids. I think this is probably a great book for the author’s memories, and for folks that have a different style of parenting, or adults, but it’s not for me. I would��ve been upset if my daughter had grabbed this book on her own in the kids section.

[BookDrunkard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked this picture book. First of all, the illustrations are beautiful - the main family and all of the people they meet on the subway, on the street, and in the parade just pop off the page. The story itself feels like it could happen to anyone who is going to Pride for the first time. However, it follows a family who is taking their daughter to a Pride Parade for the first time. She enjoys it but when asked if she will participate in the parade at first, she is nervous. All it takes is a little practice!

I can't wait to see this on our shelves throughout the whole year - and prominently displayed during our Pride Month displays!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet picture book that highlights one girl's family trip to the Rainbow Parade in California each year to see people of all types and stripes walking celebratory in the parade, especially when the banner for GLTBQ families highlights what her family looks like with two moms.

The vivid colors of the rainbow are a perfect compliment to the upbeat story and I actually loved the page in which she details the endless waiting for the parade to start and then the fun that happens during and after (though I don't know if climbing out from behind the barriers to walk with everyone is a smart idea in this day and age!)

A wonderful tribute to the varying families that exist and a lovely memory she had growing up (Neilson includes a few pictures from her childhood at the very back).

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I liked this book a lot, and appreciate that it is based on the author's own experiences going to the Pride Parade as a child with her two moms (real life pics in the back!), and the illustration style is engaging, there are a couple of the images that I could see being questioned. I am usually big on pushing for all representation knowing I can answer/respond in an age appropriate way for elementary kids, but in the crowd scene a couple are such specific references that I'm not sure I could answer questions if they came up. And they very well might. So I am torn.

This could be paired with Pride Puppy.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (it was okay)

I wanted to like this book. But the page where people are "wearing whatever makes them feel most like themselves. Even is that means wearing hardly anything at all." just felt wrong to be in a picture book as there are naked characters (this I actually care less about) and men in bondage (this is what really made me feel like it was inappropriate). Then I looked more at this page and saw furries and I just don't ever want to have to explain what that is to a child.

I love the idea of being proud but I did not like the execution. There are far better pride books out that.

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on a county library board and this book was one of those read during a children's story time. So I figured I'd check it out and read it. It basically is about a little girl (looks like maybe 7yo) , being raised by two moms, who visits a pride parade in San Francisco. Really noting much to write about. Apparently the moms think it's ok to expose the kid to public nudity (if the nudity makes the person feel more like themselves). Jeez. The text itself is well-written and I really liked the illustrations but was weirded out to find out that all the illustrations were digitally created using AI. And I liked them better than most other NEW childrens books I see.

[Brittany Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the Rainbow Parade. I believe it is a great read for introducing your own children to the LGBTQ community whether you are an active member or an ally. I think it depicts an appropriate way of describing the pride parade to young children. However, I do not find this book suitable for reading to children at a school unless all parents agree they do not mind their children being taught certain topics at a young age. I personally don't agree with the introduction of controversial subjects being exposed to young children. I believe that it something the parent should have control over.

[FM Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. My 5 year old is hooked on it and likes to read it every night before bed. It does such a great job of capturing the experience of the pride parade in a kid friendly and relatable way, from the excitement to the boredom to the political to the random naked people. It totally prepared my kid for going to pride this weekend and made her so excited to go and be a part of it where otherwise I don’t think she would have really gotten the concept after 2 years of COVID and no big events. Great intro to the parade and the celebration

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beautiful and colorful cover with a smiling family really draws the reader into the book. Emily Neilson bases her story and illustrations on her experience of attending a Pride Parade with her two moms. She referred to it as "The Rainbow Parade", hence the title of her book. The three of them rode the train and the train began to fill with people dressed brightly and even as fairies. When they arrived to the sidewalk along Market Street they could hear the parade coming. This parade was like many of us might remember attending with their family. It included motorcycles, people dancing, singing, juggling, marching, and playing music. The three things she remembered was they were extra loud, super proud and were very colorful. People in the parade were giving out rainbow candy, stickers, and plastic necklaces. This became one of her favorite traditions with her family.

A wonderful story of a young lady who has extraordinary parents who taught her to love and accept ourselves and others for who they are.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family goes to a parade for the first time. What's not to like? Even better it is a colorful, loud, and proud Pride Parade. People of all shapes and colors are in the parade even families that look like Emily's. But when Mom says let's join the parade - Emily doesn't think that she's not loud or proud enough. Of course she is and it is a happy ending. Based on the author's own experiences of attending Pride in San Francisco when she was little.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

totally fine. there's a group trying to ban this from a library a couple towns over, so I figured I'd give it a read to see what the fuss was about. there are Bodies in this, oh no ! as a coworker just said, "Just because YOU don't want to read it doesn't mean other people shouldn't be allowed to read it." yep!
honestly it was so J that it was almost uninteresting, but that's the gentle nature of some books for kids I guess!