Alphabet Soup
Sylvie Shaffer
Acronyms and nicknames associated with the queer community - LGBT, GSA, Alphabet Soup Gang, LGBTQQIP2SAA, QUILTBAG - can sometimes feel confusing, gatekeep-y, or dance the line between sassy and sinister, depending on the intentions of those employing them (“Alphabet mafia,” I’m looking at you!) Still, these strings of letters and plays on the alphabet have long been a part of queer culture to the point that it’s surprising that there aren’t more queer ABC books!
But seriously, while ABC books have always had a place in the classroom, these abecedaries range widely in quality, and can lean predictable. Only on occasion do books employ this format to actually tell a cohesive story, (think: “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”) let alone one with both kid appeal and diverse, inclusive representation.
C is for Country' by Lil Nas X and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, and Pride Puppy by Robin Stevenson and illustrated by Julie McLaughlin, are two standout abecedaries published in 2021. Both stories - and yes, these books offer stories, not alphabetical listicles, are fantastic and deserving of a place in the classroom (or family or school library!) bookshelf. Each of the stories takes place over the course of a single day, following child-protagonists through busy and joyful days on a farm, and attending a pride parade (the titular Puppy in “Pride Puppy” gets separated from their family at the parade, but is thankfully quickly reunited.)
Don’t lower your expectations because “C is for Country” is a celebrity picture book, historically hit-or-miss. Nas’s word selection highlights his songwriting credentials, with lots of alliteration (E is for everybody. We can all share the shine.) and an easy cadence for reading aloud. The simple story of a day on a family farm does a fantastic job of balancing his brand of swagger (S is for Swag), his love of nature, and welcome depictions of a loving Black family enjoying quality time over the course of a day spent together. No “yaks” or “yo-yos” here: Lil Nas X’s “Y” is for “Y’all,” assuring young readers with the affirmation: “We’ve got love for everybody, no matter who you are, where you’re from, what you look like.” This powerful message is one all kids need and deserve. Yassss!
Each spread in Pride Puppy features incredibly diverse representation and operates as a search and find puzzle, with several of the lively and dynamic illustrations offering more than twenty hidden objects corresponding to that page’s letter. A handy index compiles most, but not all of the items; some are everyday objects - muffin, map, monkey - while others, such as “Marsha,” an image of Marsha P. Johnson on a parade attendee’s sign, can provide springboards for classroom or family conversations about LGBTQ+ history and culture. The hidden images also lend themselves to a variety of classroom activities, like having preliterate learners identify objects that start with the same letter sounds or challenging elementary students to write as many hidden objects as they can find, practicing spelling and handwriting. Both preliterate and students who can read benefit from the “close reading” these bright and busy illustrations invite.
Flamboyance, one of Lil Nas’ most well-known qualities, is highlighted on the book’s “F” spread, depicting a series of bright, outlandish OOTD (outfit of the day) Instagram posts: “F is for fringe. And feathers. And fake fur.” “I love that for me!” exclaims kid-Nas, modeling not just his incredible sense of style for young readers, but self-acceptance and even enthusiastic self-love. This would be a perfect mentor text to revise that old classroom standby of acrostic poems, where students go beyond simply using their names to list adjectives and into some deeper identity work: what do kids LOVE about and for themselves?
Gender representation, especially conveyed (or left ambiguous!) through each of these abecedaries’ illustrations is also worth noting. Lil Nas X’s child-self is equally happy playing in the mud as he is playing dress up, while the sister character (I’m assuming it’s a sister based just on hairstyle) wears gender neutral sneakers, overalls, and a T-shirt during daytime scenes. All the siblings wear identical green and yellow pajamas- no nightgowns here. In Pride Puppy’s illustrations, many parade attendees are decidedly (and delightfully!) queer-coded through dress, hairstyles, and body shapes, and the ambiguously gendered protagonist’s family is visibly queer, but one of the parents could be read as butch lesbian, or perhaps as trans…it doesn’t really matter, and that’s the point!
Here’s hoping this post inspires blog readers to use these two books with kids!
Inclusive (and Joyful!) stories like these ensure that all children see themselves, their families, and community members represented and celebrated.
