GRANDAD'S PRIDE
From the Grandad's Camper series
by Harry Woodgate ; illustrated by Harry Woodgate
The protagonists of Grandad’s Camper (2021) return in this tale of love, identity, and community.
On their last visit to their White Grandad, brown-skinned Milly convinced him to fix up his old van and take it to the beach. This time, Milly is joined by their parents—one White, the other brown-skinned. Milly learns about how Grandad and his late partner, Gramps (depicted as brown-skinned in flashbacks), would travel in their van to march and dance in Pride events around the country. Granddad is convinced he’s too old to attend Pride now, but Milly rouses their family and their town to put on a local Pride celebration, with volunteers creating banners, making costumes, baking treats, and putting on a drag show. Readers familiar with Milly and Grandad will welcome this sophomore outing, and the book will be in especially heavy rotation in libraries during Pride Month. Woodgate’s upbeat art brims with color and, aptly, rainbow motifs, depicting a supportive community diverse in race, ability, and self-expression. This is a quiet yet moving read with a powerful message: You don’t need corporate sponsorship or larger-than-life events to celebrate Pride; all you need is love. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A winner from beginning to end—and affirmation that Pride belongs in every community.
(Picture book. 4-8)