Cool Stuff For Queer Kids

A first step to honor Indigenous People’s Day
We used to call it "Columbus Day" here in the U.S. And while there's a growing movement to recognize the vast harms of colonialism, today is still a national holiday. It is an excellent time for me to acknowledge the Kizh, Tongva, and Chumash Nations, whose people...

The October 2021 LGBTQIA2+ History Month Contest!
Maybe you saw the video on TikTok. Or on Instagram. Or maybe you are seeing it here for the first time. I'm so delighted to share a "deleted scene" - just a bit of the amazing LGBTQIA2+ history I learned that didn't end up in No Way, They Were Gay? Here's Plato's full...

Trade Review Roundup for “Red and Green and Blue and White”
It's been very exciting to see my debut picture book, Red and Green and Blue and White, (publishing Oct 19, 2021 - less than a month away!) get some really awesome trade reviews... Of course, there's the incredible STARRED Publishers Weekly Review, that said: “Wind’s...

Join Melanie Gillman, Rob Sanders, and Me(!) for a Discussion of “LGBTQ+ History in Children’s Books” on Oct 12, 2021
I'm really delighted to be part of this conversation. We're going to have a panel discussion, and with the help of everyone attending, put together a crowd-sourced list of wonderful Kid Lit that covers and includes LGBTQ+ History! You can register for the free webinar...

“Ciel” and “Ciel in all Directions” – Two Middle Grade Novels about Gender Nonconforming Trans Kid Ciel, a YouTube Vlogger Just Starting High School
Ciel By Sophie LaBelle, Translated by David Homel Ciel is excited to start high school. A gender non-conforming trans kid, Ciel has a YouTube channel and dreams of getting a better camera to really make their mark. Ciel can always rely on their best friend, Stephie, a...

Join Me and Five Other Amazing Kid Lit Authors for a Free “Joy, Art, & Healing” Panel Discussion on Oct 3, 2021 at 1pm Pacific
So my friend Lori Synder's debut middle grade novel, The Circus at the End of the Sea, comes out on October 19, 2021. (An easy enough day for me to remember, as it's also the publication date of my debut picture book, Red and Green and Blue and White.) Lori is a force...

Eli Lieb Music Video: “Boys Who Like Boys”
Screen shots from Eli Lieb's Boys Who Like Boys music video. So fun. Enjoy! The light in me recognizes and acknowledges the light in you,Lee

Join me and Lexie Bean for an Instagram Live Interview about “The Ship We Built” on September 30, 2021 at 10am Pacific
I really loved "The Ship We Built" - and I'm super excited to have a book club discussion (For SCBWI's Equity and Inclusion Book Club) with Lexie Bean about it! To join in: 1) head over to follow SCBWI's Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/2) on...

My Debut Picture Book, “Red and Green and Blue and White,” Gets a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly!
The photo of me above was taken just after I'd seen the actual picture book for "Red and Green and Blue and White" and held it for the very first time. And the screen shot of the Starred Publishers Weekly Review is just... amazing. I started writing picture book...