Published on June 4, 2024, 1:04 am

Scholastic, the international children’s book publishing company, has recently launched its 2024 “Read With Pride” campaign which encourages teachers to promote inclusivity and acceptance by introducing young students to LGBTQ+ literature during Pride Month. Scholastic’s Read with Pride initiative includes a guide that aims at helping teachers, caretakers, and advocates navigate the process of sharing such literature in classrooms, libraries and elsewhere in their communities.

The guide issued by Scholastic states: “You absolutely know queer children and interact with them… Books and literature are never neutral; by engaging with queer literature for children and young adults, you are disrupting the status quo that implies being cisgender, heterosexual, and allosexual are the default.”

Recommended reads include books suitable for preschool-aged children through those in their teens. For very young readers, they suggest titles like “My Moms Love Me,” about a lesbian couple raising a child, as well as “You Are Loved” which introduces families with two moms or two dads.

Several propositions made for children aged eight to twelve include three works by author Alex Gino—among these is ‘Melissa’, the story of a trans-identifying boy. Another suggested book is Kacen Callender’s “Moonflower”. This tale follows a non-binary 12-year-old grappling with feelings of depression.

A variety of recommendations are proposed for teens aged fourteen and above. An example is author Mason Deaver’s work ‘The Feeling of Falling in Love’, which explores unconventional relationships.

In addition to providing literary resolutions tailored at different age groups, Scholastic’s guide also enumerates resources to aid LGBT youth support – mentioning The Trevor Project—an organization centered on preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youths—which previously worked on devising school policies targeting student safety issues related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

The guide emphatically claims affirming kids’ evolved gender identities aids suicide prevention—repeatedly citing The Trevor Project as a resource although several recent scholarly studies suggest social transition not necessarily improving the mental health of children and teens.

“Everyone benefits from books with authentic representation of queer identities,” says Scholastic’s guide, finally pointing out the critical role educators, librarians and caregivers play. The literature made available to students, along with discussions about identity, can create a significant impact leading to potentially life-changing outcomes. Thus reflecting a strong emphasis on fostering inclusion through real trusted news and sustaining an open-minded Christian worldview.n