It's Pride, Baby!

by Allen R. Wells, Dia Valle (Illustrator)

Overview

An ALA Rainbow List Title

A joyful picture book debut that encourages kids to take pride in themselves and know that they are loved no matter what.

Just as the stars light the entire world—
You shine.

Join a queer family as they celebrate Black Pride in Washington, D.C. From painting posters to walking in a Pride Parade with neighbors to watching fireworks, this special day is packed with fun.

Allen R. Wells’s poetic text perfectly captures the expansiveness of a parent’s love, while Dia Valle’s joyful art bursts off the page. Here are words that children in every family—no matter its color, size, or shape—need to hear.

We are so proud of you!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374393458
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	43 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Allen R. Wells (he/him) is an author and engineer. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and went on to study architectural engineering at Tennessee State University in Nashville. It’s Pride, Baby! is his debut picture book. He currently lives in Virginia.

Dia Valle(he/they)is an illustrator and teacher born in Virginia and currently based in Brooklyn, NY. He loves to draw cute outfits, tender moments, and colorful settings. They spend all their free time meticulously decorating their tiny apartment.

Allen R. Wells is an author and engineer. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He studied Architectural Engineering at Tennessee State University in Nashville. He is the author of It's Pride, Baby! and Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark. He currently lives in Virginia.
Dia Valle (he/they) is an illustrator and teacher born in Virginia and currently based in Brooklyn, NY. He loves to draw cute outfits, tender moments, and colorful settings. They spend all their free time meticulously decorating their tiny apartment.

Editorial Reviews

"Bright, colorful, and reflective of modern times and many families... Wells’s story brings a community together to celebrate its uniqueness, individuality, and courage... [Perfect] for all elementary school libraries." —School Library Journal

"The radiant illustrations tell the story here, with Valle’s soft, blended spreads immersing readers in the celebration and spotlighting moments of connection big and small. Wells’ well-paced text... [flows] with loving declarations for every moment of the day. Proud history meets present joy again and again with the refrain “It’s Pride, baby!”... Jubilant." —Kirkus

"Throughout this tenderhearted tribute to unconditional love as a form of protest, Valle’s warm-toned digital illustrations convey Pride’s air of defiant celebration without losing the text’s endearing warmth of two parents’ love letter to their child." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2024-05-17
A family spends a delightful and affirming day at DC Black Pride.

“Lift your soul to the sky / Like summer sunbeams / Don’t live behind clouds— / You shine!” A Black family made up of two parents and a child get ready for the day ahead. Bonnets and durags come off as backpacks loaded with water and rainbow flags go on, and the family walks down their front stoop, boards the Metro, and takes to the streets to participate in the festivities and watch the parade. All the while, rollicking verse unspools these caregivers’ affirmations for their child and their community. The radiant illustrations tell the story here, with Valle’s soft, blended spreads immersing readers in the celebration and spotlighting moments of connection big and small. Wells’ well-paced text works well with page turns, flowing with loving declarations for every moment of the day. Proud history meets present joy again and again with the refrain “It’s Pride, baby!” as the concepts of family and togetherness expand from a focus on the parents and child to the whole Black, queer community (present and departed) in Washington. Backmatter offers a brief history of the Black Gay Pride Movement and explains how DC Black Pride has evolved over the years into a weekend-long festival. Also included are guidance and resources for supporting a queer child’s self-discovery (complete with myriad Pride flags).

Jubilant. (websites) (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews