Pride Colors

by Robin Stevenson

Through gentle rhymes and colorful photographs of adorable children, Pride Colors is a celebration of the deep unconditional love of a parent or caregiver for a young child. The profound message of this delightful board book is you are free to be yourself; you'll always be loved.

Celebrated author Robin Stevenson ends the book with an explanation of the meaning behind each color in the Pride flag.

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

28 pages, Board Book

First published March 12, 2019

About the author

Robin Stevenson is the award winning author of over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens. Her books have received starred reviews and have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader’s choice awards. Robin was the Book and Periodical Council of Canada’s Champion of Free Expression for 2022, and received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2023. She lives on the west coast of Canada.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride Colors is a decent little board book that both teaches colours and inclusiveness without being at all overbearing.



I didn't love all of the pages, but some were pretty cute, and I definitely love the subtle messaging here.



Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a DRC of this book.

[Zoë]

[Book #19 for my grad school Children's Lit class]

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

My baby's first LGBTQ book! And by a local Vancouver Island author no less. This board book is just beautiful. Lovely rhyming text about love, acceptance, opportunity, affection, and more centred on the meaning of the colours of the Pride flag. There are photos of racially diverse babies and toddlers and a couple pictures of queer couples with kids. The last page introduces the idea of the Pride parade. I can't wait to take my kid to Pride!!

Thank you to my librarian colleague Janet who got this book for me early in my pregnancy. 👼🏳️‍🌈📖

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might say, why do we need a picture book about Pride for children.

Because. Because there are children of Gay and Lesbian parents out there who would like to see themselves int he books they read, even if they don’t know how to ask for it.

Because there are children who need to know that there are others out there like them.

Because there are children whose parents love them, and take them to Pride with them, and it is part of them, so why not have a book celebrating it.

The pictures are delightful.





I wish there had been these books out when my daughter was small. I love how many books there are for children of LGBTQ parents. Recommended for everyone.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[RJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throw this on the baby-books-that-got-me-choked-up-at-my-desk pile!! I love that this book simply affirms both: "I love you just as you are" and "I love whoever you'll grow up to be". Smart, gentle, heart-warming.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book about colors and queer families. I like that it is explicitly about Pride and Pride day (at the end it has an explanation of Pride and the flag), but also just an affirming book about families and being yourself.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an digital ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great book that is perfect in times like these. It may seem unnecessary to have a board book with LGBTQ representation but there are plenty of children who are raised by same sex couples. While some people might deem that as abnormal, this book shows that it's very normal and there's nothing wrong these couples. The pictures are so lovely too. It's a book I would definitely want in my children's collections

[Katie Mauger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is seriously the cutest board book I have ever seen. I want to buy a copy for when/if I someday have a kid. Not only is it sweet and lovely representation for queer families, but it’s also something babies will love. The lyrical, rhyming text paired with the photos of real diverse babies and families will make this one that babies will want read over and over again.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new go to baby shower gifts. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 by Robin Stevenson has

✅ Bright colorful pages that provide an excellent introduction to colors

✅ Babies love looking at babies, not only does this book deliver lots of adorable kids, it has a diverse offering.

✅ Shows pictures of LGBTQ families

✅ It explains the meaning behind each color in the Pride flag

✅ Uplifting affirmations

This is truly a vibrant celebration of individuality.

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though this is a book about Pride Day, I found it to be a wonderful book about colors and love of your child. The children in the book are so cute and have the cutest costumes and clothing. This book tells of being yourself, love of parents and how special children are. I really liked this book and the message to the children.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I'm pretty critical about books that are for very young readers that address more mature subjects. But this book hits the mark beautifully.

It is a board book celebrating love in a rainbow of colors. The pages are bright and colorful, and the message is simple yet clear.

Great job, Robin Stevenson!

[Lee Födi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our son's favorite nightly reads, full of positive messages, bright colors, and photos of families. We're glad to have it as part of our collection!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart cannot take the adorableness. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 This is sweet and inclusive and even better, it is a legit for babies board book - nit something really written for adults. Little ones will learn colors from the bright, fun pages, and they will see happy images of all kinds of people. A billion stars.

[Susan Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that simultaneously teaches colors while teaching children that having 2 mommies or 2 daddys is okay and encourages children to love everyone and accept everyone for who they are.

[Shandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photography and short, sweet verse make this an adorable board book for queer and queer-supportive families. The photos are mostly of diverse babies and kids, but also include one of a family with two moms, and one of a family with two dads, guaranteed to make some people happy (like me!) and some decidedly not. If my library were open, I would likely display this a lot! ;) I wish something like this had been around when my kids were little!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little story for littles about unconditional love! Celebrates gay Pride with the rainbow. Loved the photos of littles and I am sure they will enjoy seeing them, too! Wonderful book about acceptance and being one's self. Love is Love!

I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A timely board book celebrating that love comes in different forms. Great photographs that will appeal to children. Loved the explanation of the pride flag colors and what they mean.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Love whoever you choose."

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A toddler and up board book about emotions and actions associated with each color of the pride flag with pictures of children.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride Colors is a Kirkus reviewed children's book. The book dedicates each page to a color of the rainbow Pride Flag. Each page contains real photographs of children wearing pride colors or same sex couples taking care of a child, often within a natural setting. Each page has rhyming words that correlate with the natural setting chosen for that particular color. The book aims to teach children that no matter who they are, they are loved. The book sends extremely positive messages to the reader and is written and designed in a way that creates a sense of calm and positivity.
Academically, this book can be used as an example of rhyming words. Students can have fun coming up with other words that may be able to also rhyme within the rhyming scheme used on each page. Also, academically speaking, this book is aimed towards beginning readers.
Content-wise, I think that the student response to this story would be varied based on many different factors. While I think it is so important to introduce students to the necessity of the inclusivity of LGBTQ+ culture, I wonder at what age this book would be appropriate. I think there would be some questions from students, like "Why are there two dads in that picture" etc... I think that all discussions about this book need to be very structured and modified with the intent of all students coming out with an appreciation, understanding, and incisive mindset when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.
I "read" this book by watching a YouTube read aloud. The reader on the video showed each page while they were reading so I was able to take in the images as well.

[Elizabeth]

This book of colors is structured around rhyming couplets: The first spread is heavy on the color, and the second spread has the rhyming line in a circle filled with the color, and a more obviously queer photo.

For example: "A bright red heart, a little star" in white text on a red page, opposite an image of a smiling child in a red rain jacket holding a red heart balloon. {page turn} "I love you just the way you are" in white letters in a red circle on a white page, opposite an image of a young child with a rainbow on their face.  (The kind you get when light reflects through a prism. This photo is such a delight.)

Some of the photos are quiet and some are exuberant, but they're all lovely. Fairly diverse. Pretty gay.

The rest of the couplets:

Cuddles in orange, a snuggle, a snooze. / Be yourself. Love who you choose.

Yellow sunshine, smiles so bright. / I'll hug you, kiss you, hold you tight.

Soft green grass, cool shady tree. / I'll love the person you grow up to be.

Sky so big, peaceful blue. / A whole wide world is here for you.

Purple glitter, dancing wild. / You are my very precious child.

Rainbow flags, Pride Day fun. I'll always love you, little one!

The back matter also lists the meaning of each color in the Pride flag on its stripe (though it uses the 6 color version and condenses the Magic/Art+Serenity of Turquoise+Indigo into "Peace, Harmony").

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride Colors is a fairly standard well written board book: It’s simple, is illustrated by big splotches of colors and photos of babies and young children, and is full of affirmations. The structure is simple: Something is labeled as a color, and an affirmation follows. This book encourages love, joy, and playfulness, and self/family acceptance. It just so happens that some photos include same sex couples, and the last page says, “Pride Day is fun.” The colors are were rainbow, as is the LGBTQ pride flag. A delightful board book bursting with love and encouragement for any child in any family. The representation is awesome, and Pride Colors does not hyper focus on the LGBTQ+ community in any way; it’s a great title for all families to read to build bonds of trust, safety, and fun. This book won the Lambda Literary Awards, given to books that explore LGBTQ+ themes. I am unsurprised. The colors are bold, facilitating color and language learning, the photos are bright and clear, depicting young kids and babies, just as young readers love, and the words are accessible, bouncy, and loving. It’s a pretty perfect standard board book.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little board book about the pride colors. This book was contested at my library, so I immediately went to read it; it does feature photographs of gay couples with their children, which I think is wonderful and normalizing, though it may tick off some closed-minded readers. I'd like to stress that as a board book, this is geared toward ages 0-3, and I find it to be very age-appropriate. The message that kids are loved just the way they are is a positive one.

Naming colors is also great for this age group to practice, and at the back of the book, there is a brief paragraph about pride month and what each color of the rainbow means. I think it's a solid pick for any modern library collection.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely little board book teaches children about colors. There are a lot of books aimed at little ones that do the same thing, but this book also includes diversity, different kinds of families, and a message of inclusivity that I found wonderful! My children are always looking for families that look like theirs in the books that we read, and they found this book delightful, even though they are "too old" for board books. This would be a great addition to any children's book collection, particularly for those who want to encourage an attitude of openness and diversity for their children.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is Love is Love is Love. The 'gentle rhymes' of this delightful board book have tremendous power to influence the young minds of our future. Accepting each other begins with accepting ourselves-- together we can make a safe, better world. This book is perfect for bedtime, or anytime. What a perfect gift too! I can see this being a great way for children and adults to bond and to share a special moment that will stay with them forever.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs of children and I think two photos of what looks like LGBTQ+ families! The book is okay but I don't love it. One of the pages shows two children holding hands and it reads "Be yourself. Love who you choose." Of course children can hold hands and love one another, but this page doesn't sit right with me as it seems to be placing sexuality on really young children's friendship. The pages rhyme but sometimes they don't seem to actually be saying that much or even making sense.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter which color of the rainbow is your favorite, you will be loved!

Author Robin Stevenson crafted a Board book, perfect for adopting and supportive parents. It's a great read aloud for littles, as it briefly explores the ideas of what objects in life are represented in the rainbow.
The photographs are bright and professional.

A perfect gift or shareable with a little for any family! Love is at the heart of this book!

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute short story for smaller children about pride. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple are all utilized with photos to tell the small something like "A bright red heart, a little star...I love you just the way you are." In the back of the book, the author talks about the pride flag and explains how each color represents a them like life, healing, sunlight, nature, peace and harmony, and spirit.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book is perfect . . . and it almost comes out right on my birthday! Lyrically written, concise text and lovely photographs with diversity in representation. Doesn't shy away at all from explicitly celebrating Pride and the history of the Pride flag and its color code. MUST add to any collection.

I received an e-ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, easy to read rhyme that walks through different colors on a pride flag. Aside from the last page where it actually mentions the pride flag, this book feels like any standard baby, I love you just the way you are photo run with a rhyme which makes it an simple throw in book for any lapsit or color themed storytime. Obviously, a lovely one for June's Pride celebrations.