Rainbow

April 1, 2019
In a festive introduction to Pride that doubles as a color primer, Genhart shows readers the meaning behind each hue in the rainbow flag: “Every color means something.” Scenes by Passchier show diverse, smiling figures taking part in everyday activities. Two parents and their child explore a forest brightly colored in shades of green (“Green is nature”), and families visit an outdoor market with blue booths (“Blue is harmony”). Rainbows, Genhart writes, are universally loved: they “make the world smile.” In a final spread, families are seen waving Pride flags and walking together in solidarity (“Be happy. Be love. Be proud”). A joyous tribute to LGBTQ families. Ages 3–5.

May 1, 2019

Toddler-PreS-Clinical psychologist Genhart's latest book introduces some of the youngest readers to the symbolism behind each stripe of the famous rainbow flag. Confetti endpapers lead to an opening scene with a cluster of flags held aloft. A page turn reveals an exuberant, racially diverse group of kids each holding up a rainbow flag of their own. Subsequent spreads go through the colors one after the other. Each spread also depicts same-sex couples (some interracial) lovingly interacting with their children. The result is a joyful celebration of rainbow families and the way the day-to-day brings out the six meanings of the flag: life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit. Passchier's colorful cartoon style casts many characters in the same simplistic mold. Still, the scenes shine a noteworthy and positive light on LGBTQIA+ parenting. The illustrations also augment Genhart's economical text to expand the story, striking a good balance between depicting families in isolated scenes and as part of a larger, not exclusively LGBTQIA+ community. A final page goes further to suggest global pride via several flag-waving individuals in front of cultural landmarks. Though excellent for anytime sharing, the text functions as a wonderful bridge between Stevenson's Pride Colors, Sanders and Salerno's Pride, and Pitman and Clifton-Brown's Sewing the Rainbow -the latter two of which expand on the flag's origins for older readers. VERDICT A win for LBGTQIA+ families and libraries seeking to diversify their shelves.-Alec Chunn, Eugene Public Library, OR

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2019
A pleasant look at the rainbow flag.Tailor-made for LGBTQ-pride storytimes, this self-described "first book of pride" looks at the six-color rainbow flag and dissects the meaning behind each color. Genhart's text is set primarily in single sentences across each double-page spread, with a longer summation on the final page. Fans of Todd Parr's books will find the formatting (if not the colors) familiar. Like Parr's work, the text is simple, with one or two multisyllabic words per page, which nicely allows for breakaway moments to "clap out" syllables or have a discussion about a reach word. Passchier's illustrations--bright, serviceable, and most likely digital--capture a range of skin tones and ethnicities but, sadly, not a range of ages among adults depicted. LGBTQ grandparents, for instance, won't find themselves, as all the characters appear as either children or young caregivers. The illustrations adequately enhance the text throughout, although the image for violet's representation of "spirit" (a smiling child finger painting in a purple room) may have adult readers pausing to make the connection. A page of international pride further along in the book is lovely but aspirational, as some of the suggested nations (Egypt, for example) still struggle with LGBTQ acceptance compared to Western Europe and the United States.A welcome addition to rainbow bookshelves and a potential workhorse in June. (Picture book. 2-5)

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May 15, 2019
Preschool-G In this book of love, hope, diversity, and acceptance, each stripe of the rainbow flag gets a full double-page spread describing what its color symbolizes within the context of LGBTQ+ pride. Red means life is presented along with an interracial gay couple holding their newborn baby in the hospital. The other colors?standing for healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit?likewise show happy scenes that depict children being supported by their same-sex parents in sweet moments from everyday life. One family eats breakfast together in the countryside; another takes a trip to the farmers market. A spread near the end shows a series of smiling, racially diverse families posing in front of global landmarks, waving rainbow flags to say, This is who I am, and I stand proud! Illustrator Passchier uses their bright, playful style to illuminate Genhart's simple yet impactful words. Together, their forthright and upbeat presentation creates a positive tool for celebrating a wide range of human diversity and all kinds of familial love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2019
"Rainbows! / Every color means something." Following an interpretation of each stripe ("Red means life," "Orange is healing," etc.), an omniscient narrator concludes, "Rainbows sing out. / Be happy. Be love. Be proud." The text is uplifting but vague: to understand the book's LGBTQ+ message, young readers must rely on the illustrations, which show gay and lesbian couples delighting in their kids' company.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)