'Twas The Night Before Pride by Joanna McClintick and Juana Medina

'Twas The Night Before Pride

by Joanna McClintick and Juana Medina (illus.)

'Twas the Night Before Pride is a glittering celebration of queer families that puts Pride gently in perspective – honouring those in the LBGTQ+ community who fought against injustice and inequality.

Pride’s a day that means “Together, we are strong!” 

This joyful picture-book homage to a day of community and inclusion – and to the joys of anticipation – is also a comprehensive history. With bright, buoyant illustrations and lyrical, age-appropriate rhyme modeled on “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” it tackles difficult content such as the Stonewall Riots and the AIDS marches. 

On the night before Pride, families everywhere are preparing to partake. As one family packs snacks and makes signs, an older sibling shares the importance of the parade with the newest member of the family. Reflecting on the day, the siblings agree that the best thing about Pride is getting to be yourself. Debut author Joanna McClintic and Pura Belpré Award–winning author-illustrator Juana Medina create a new classic that pays homage to the beauty of families of all compositions – and of all-inclusive love.

Watch a behind-the-scenes video for 'Twas The Night Before Pride below:

International Dot Day - 2022

Celebrate International Dot Day on 15th-ish September!

International Dot Day, a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009. Now, every 15-ish September, more than 10 million teachers, librarians, and children in 170 countries participate in International Dot Day, making their mark by getting busy with writing, drawing, painting, or other creative outlets and sharing their Dot Day inspiration with others.

Join in the global celebrations on 15-ish September by hosting a reading of The Dot, throwing a creative dot-making event, or planning a weeklong series of activities — the possibilities are endless! 

To find out more and to discover other great ideas for making your mark on International Dot Day, visit http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/. 

Click here for your International Dot Day Classroom Guide

Click here for your International Dot Day Event Poster

Free resources for Refugee Week: 20-26th June

Key Stage 1 and above:

Gently build awareness in your classroom of the ongoing struggle of refugees across the world with our poignant and beautifully illustrated picture books.

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies and Rebecca Cobb is a powerful and necessary picture book – the journey of a child forced to become a refugee when war destroys everything she has ever known.

When the government refused to allow 3000 child refugees to enter this country in 2016, Nicola Davies was so angry she wrote a poem. The poem has become this book, movingly illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. A powerful aid for explaining the ongoing refugee crisis to younger readers.

“There are few modern children’s books that make you cry. This is one of them.” – The Times

“An excellent answer to the question of how to talk to children about war.” – The Guardian

Download Teachers’ Notes

Watch Nicola read The Day War Came

Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper and Gill Smith is a poetic, powerful story about a little brother and a big sister finding a new home and new hope after being rescued from a boat lost in the dark sea.

“With illustrations that find sweetness in sadness, this touching picture book is the resonant story of refugee siblings who have lost everything but each other.” – The Sunday Times

Download Teachers’ Notes
 

Key Stage 2 and above:

On the Move: Poems About Migration by the award-winning duo, Michael Rosen and Quentin Blake is a personal and uniquely affecting collection of poems about migration and displacement. Winner of the CLIPPA poetry award, this anthology is by turns charming, shocking and heartbreaking. 

“Blake’s haunting drawings complement Rosen’s compelling words beautifully in this very accessible volume.” – The Independent

Download Teachers’ Notes

Key Stage 3 and above:

The Waiting Place: When Home is Lost and a New One Not Yet Found by Dina Nayeri and Anna Bosch Miralpeix is an unflinching look at ten young lives suspended outside of time – and bravely proceeding anyway – inside the Katsikas refugee camp in Greece.

Download the Discussion Guide

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