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above: designer Gilbert Baker creating the very first Rainbow Flags
PRIDE The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag -written by Rob Sanders & illustrated by Steven Salerno published by Random House, 2018.
On June 25th 1978 a new flag was unfurled in San Francisco… a flag with rich, beaming rainbow colors that would become a symbol of hope and pride for millions of LGBTQ people across the world. The inspiring story of activist Harvey Milk, designer Gilbert Baker and their roles in the birth of the symbolic, rainbow colored Gay Pride Flag.
“Salerno's retro style—detailed but fluid drawings of figures set against paisley-patterned backgrounds—gives fitting, '70s-era bohemian undertones” -Kirkus Reviews
“A poignant and uplifting biography” -Publishers Weekly
“With its emphasis on pride and hope, this title will make a strong addition to classroom and school library collections to support discussions of character and equality. Recommended for all collections… The illustrations are vibrant and lively, taking inspiration from 1970s fashions and styles while emphasizing the effectiveness of symbols” -School Library Journal
"Salerno’s strong art has a colorful seventies vibe…” -Booklist
"Pride is a beacon of (technicolor) light" -Entertainment Weekly
"I couldn't be more thrilled the world now has this book"
-Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of MILK
"A tribute to a leader under treated in young people's literature"
-The Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books
-A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD Selection
-Amazon Best Nonfiction Children’s Books of 2018
-Brightly’s 20 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018
-The 2018 Nerdies: Nonfiction Picture Books
-The 2019 Rainbow Book List
-The 2022 AISLE/Monarch Award K-3
-CCBC Choices 2019: Historical People, Places, Events
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above: The cover of PRIDE -depicting activist Harvey Milk leading a protect march waving the first Rainbow flag…
- A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD Selection
see Steven’s complete list of published picture books to date
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above: a portion of the decorative ink drawing -a sort of organic random paisley pattern, that was created as a background texture which appears in many of the illustrations in different color themes.
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above: scene detail -of Harvey Milk and other gay rights activists in San Francisco, unfurling the first Rainbow Flag.
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above: a preliminary sketch of Harvey Milk -corresponding to the finished illustration seen on the left.
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above: a detail view of Harvey Milk -when campaigning for public office in San Francisco in the mid-1970’s
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above: scene detail of various people from across society proudly displaying their support for gay rights.
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above: scene of the candle light vigil winding through the streets of San Francisco by many thousands of people honoring the sudden loss of activist Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, both murdered.
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above: On June 26th 2015 the White House was awash in the bold colors of the symbolic Rainbow Flag.