This Day in June

Gayle E. Pitman, PhD, is a professor of psychology and women's studies at Sacramento City College. Her teaching and writing focuses on gender and sexual orientation, and she has worked extensively with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) community. She is the author of This Day in June, When You Look Out the Window, and Sewing the Rainbow. She lives in California. Visit her at www.gaylepitman.com and follow her on Facebook: GaylePitmanAuthor, Twitter: GaylePitman, and Instagram: GaylePitman.Kristyna Litten studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. Kristyna is influenced by books and animation from Eastern Europe which has led to a fascination for illustrating and writing her own picture books. She prefers to draw quickly to give an energetic line quality to her illustrations, often adding color and other hand-produced textures digitally. She lives in England. Follow Kristyna on Facebook: KristynaLitten and Twitter: KristynaLitten.

Named one of the most important books of the last decade by The Advocate's amp quot 4 Under 4 amp quot listNamed one of the Top Most Challenged Books of 2 8 and Top Most Banned and Challenged Books of the Past Decade in 2 2 by American Library AssociationWinner of the 2 5 Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children's amp amp Young Adult Literature AwardA Top Ten Title, 2 5 American Library Association Rainbow ListWinner, 2 5 Notable Books for a Global Society Awardsamp quot The pride primer. amp quot  -The New Yorkeramp quot A beautifully illustrated, and beautifully explained, look at Pride through the eyes of a child. The book ends with the words, amp ldquo This day in June, we amp rsquo re all united! amp rdquo an inspiring message that should be just as uplifting for adults as it is affirming for youth. amp quot -Philadelphia Gay Newsamp ldquo This Day In June adds a bright spot for diversity on any bookshelf, and will help bring the true colors and beautiful experience of LGBT pride to life for school age children and their families. amp rdquo -Ellen Kahn, Director of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Family Project.amp quot Pitman, in her first book for children, salutes the LGBT parades that take place across the U.S. in June. Her couplets keep things marching steadily forward, but it amp rsquo s Litten amp rsquo s artwork that creates a sense of joyous excitement and showcases the diversity on display. amp quot -Publishers Weeklyamp ldquo This Day in June is the pride parade picture book queer parents have been waiting for since, oh, 97 . We amp rsquo ve needed something that captured the joy and exuberance of the event, and something that helped kids picture the glorious range of gender expression and queer fabulousness that is so righteously on display at Pride (and by contrast so absent in most of our kids amp rsquo everyday lives). We amp rsquo ve wanted a sweet, playful opportunity to talk in advance about what they amp rsquo ll see, what it amp rsquo ll be like. We amp rsquo ve wanted to help them get as excited as we do, in anticipation, and have a way to share it with their friends. amp rdquo -VillageQ.comamp ldquo Intended for children ages four through eight--but absolutely a book every PFLAGer will want on their shelf--the book serves as an excellent tool for teaching respect, understanding, and affirmation of LGBTQ people. amp rdquo -PFLAG Voice blogamp ldquo This beautifully illustrated book is a great addition to a school or personal library to add diversity in a responsible manner without contributing to stereotypes about LGBT people. amp rdquo -School Library Journalamp quot When you reach the last of this book, you will immediately turn to the beginning pages to read it all over again. amp quot -Pride Agendaamp quot The bouncy rhymes convey feelings and snapshots of parade scenes rather than a narrative storyline, but that doesn't lessen the book's impact. We're introduced to dykes on bikes, people in leather, drag queens and others of varying gender expressions, politicians, marching bands, and parents with their children. The diverse characters in Kristyna Litten's colorful illustrations jump and dance and swirl. amp quot -Bay Windowsamp quot The text of Gayle E. Pitman's flows like poetry from page to page and is partnered with the joyous illustrations by Kristyna Litten. amp quot -EDGE on the Netamp quot Curious children who are learning about gender, identity, and self-expression will love learning about the diverse and unwavering LGBT community in a colorful book that celebrates pride. Parents who are eager to talk to their kids about the ways in which people are different, or about LGBT Pride month in general will find that This Day In June provides excellent context and serves as a conversation starter. amp quot -One Equal Worldamp ldquo If you have never been to a pride parade, read this book to see what you are missing. amp rdquo -No Time for Flash Cards