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Explore SCBWI Portfolio Showcase

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Deep Dive Into Nonfiction

2024

Florida

Cleve Jones' extraordinary life was pieced together, then stitched tightly into different types of quilts. From the blanket that his great-grandmother made for him as a boy, to the friends he gathered in San Francisco as young man, it is almost as if he was destined to bring the art of quilting to a new public awareness.Mentored by Harvey Milk, Jones debuted idea for the AIDS Memorial Quilt during a candlelight memorial for Milk in 1985 and created the first panel for the quilt in 1987. The AIDS memorial quilt, one of the largest public arts projects ever and an iconic symbol of hope that remembers 94,000 lost souls, is Jones' shining achievement. It has since toured the world and been seen by millions of people.This evocative biography is a touching tribute to Jones' life of advocacy and an inspiring message for young readers to take away. Includes a timeline of the quilt and other useful backmatter. 

Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt

Long before marriage  equality was the law of the land, two grooms stood on a wedding cake with their feet firmly planted in fluffy white frosting. That cake belonged to Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who were wed on September 1, 1971, becoming the first same-sex couple in America to be legally married. Their struggle to gain a marriage license in Minnesota and their subsequent appeals to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States is an undertold story of LGBTQ history. Presented in parallel stories--one describing how a wedding cake is made and the other telling how Michael and Jack's relationship was formed--makes for a beautiful book celebrating the love story of two pioneers who blazed a trail for marriage equality for us all. 

Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America's First Gay Wedding

Blaine’s a boy who loves to shine . . . well actually, he
loves to sparkle. Whether it's his uniform, his book bag, or even his
baseball cap, Blaine’s all about the bling. But when his bling rubs some people
the wrong way, and the bullying begins, Blaine—along with the entire
school—starts to lose his shine. Can Blaine's friends bring back his glimmer
and gleam by glittering up their own wardrobes? This delightful story proves
that anyone can love bling, and that happiness comes when allies
band together to throw glitter—not shade.

Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade

When Pete Buttigieg announced he was running for president,
he became the first openly gay candidate to run for the Democratic party’s
presidential nomination and the first millennial ever to pursue the office. But
before the nation knew him as “Mayor Pete,” he was a boy growing up in a Rust
Belt town, a kid who dreamed of being an astronaut, and a high schooler who
wondered about a life of public service. Without a doubt, no one could have
imagined who Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg, the boy who lived in a two-story
house on College Street, would become.

Through victories and defeats, and the changes that the
seasons bring, the young boy from South Bend grew into a man devoted to helping
others. Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg celebrates the life of an American who dared to be the
first and who imagined a better world for everyone.

Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg

This beautifully written and timely story shows a transgender
soldier's personal bravery as he faced daring challenges on the battlefield and
privately battled the restrictions and confines of gender. This book is
published in partnership with GLAAD to accelerate LGBTQ inclusivity and
acceptance.

The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier

Gravity has Ball down. How can he possibly compete with his high-flying friend, Balloon? Ball can't soar, or fly, or dip and dive. Balloon laughs in the face of gravity and leaves Ball grounded and alone. But it turns out that Ball has soon pretty cool moves of his own. It just takes a little patience and some help from a friend.

Ball &amp; Balloon

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, a turning point began in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement when the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City's Greenwich Village. Though Stonewall had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night with the empowered LGBTQ+ community in and around the Stonewall Inn began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States. Narrated by the Stonewall Inn itself, this powerful and timeless story introduces young readers to the beginning of one of America's largest civil rights movements--a movement that continues to this day.

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

A primer for peaceful protest, resistance, and activism. Protesting. Standing up for what's right. Uniting around the common good. Through sparse and lyrical writing, Rob Sanders introduces abstract concepts like "fighting for what you believe in" and turns them into something actionable. Jared Schorr's bold, bright illustrations bring the resistance to life making it clear that one person can make a difference. And together, we can accomplish anything.

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights

This just in: Rodzilla is on the loose! Marvel at the site of his chubby monstrosity. Gaze at his toothless grin. Take a whiff of . . . no, don't do that. Only a mother (and father) could love such a monster. Can any brave citizen save Megalopolis from this toddling terror? More news at 11:00.

RODZILLA

On June 25, 1978, history was made when a new flag unfurled in San Francisco. From that moment forward, the flag and its rich, beaming colors of the rainbow would serve as a symbol of hope and pride for the millions of LGBTQ+ individuals around the world. In this moving and inspiring story, young readers will trace the life of the Gay Pride flag: from its beginnings with social activist Harvey Milk, and designer Gilbert Baker to its spanning of the globe and its role in today's world. This remarkable true story is one of equality, pride, hope, and love.

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Ruby Rose loves to dance . . . while she brushes her teerh, while she's eating her breakfast, and even on her way to class. But there's no dancing at school. Or is there? With a little luck and a lot of rhythm, Ruby Rose finds a way to get everyone up on their dancing feet.

Ruby Rose--Off to School She Goes

Aliens from every planet rocket through thier silly bedtime routines--they sink into crater bubble baths and shimmy into deep-sleep suits, just like you (almost)!

Outer Space Bedtime Race

Three weathered cowboys--Dwight, Darryl, and Dub--are stuck out on the range at Christmastime, roping steers and wrestling longhorns. They sure are lonesome. But a wonderful surprise awaits them back at camp--and it's just what they need for a rip-roarin', merry-makin' cowboy Christmas.

Cowboy Christmas

Rob Sanders

About

Books

Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt

Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America's First Gay Wedding

Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade

Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg

The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier

Ball & Balloon

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights

RODZILLA

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Ruby Rose--Off to School She Goes

Outer Space Bedtime Race

Cowboy Christmas

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Explore SCBWI

Rob Sanders

Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt

Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America's First Gay Wedding

Bling Blaine: Throw Glitter, Not Shade

Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg

The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier

Ball &amp; Balloon

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights

RODZILLA

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Ruby Rose--Off to School She Goes

Outer Space Bedtime Race

Cowboy Christmas

Ball & Balloon