Member Reviews

This book is a beautiful way to help LGBT+ people find their flags as well as their history and can be for any age. The art is amazing and fun. I HIGHLY recommend as a way to get a light history lesson.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the e-copy of this book.
This is such a great read. It provides quick and easy access to the different pride flags and their meanings.
I'll be getting a copy of this for my kids.
There is some repetition, but still very informative.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so informative and so fun and I could see it being in an elementary class if I had one tomorrow. The illustrations in this text help display every flag clearly while going over many LGBTQIA+ people peoples identities and the definitions of those identities page by page.

I learned lots from this text and especially enjoyed the nods to history and who created each flag.

Whether you are an ally, queer, etc there is much to learn, but in a really digestible and approachable way which I loved.

Lastly, this book seems extremely accessible for children and I appreciate the discussion questions found in the back and colouring activity as well!

Was this review helpful?

This publisher has become my go-to for any non-fiction LGBTQIA+ books.

"The Big Book of Pride Flags" is a short introduction to various flags used by the LGBTQIA+ community as well as their history and the meaning behind each shape and color. It uses very simple language, doesn't go into too much detail, or strays away from the topic.

This book would make a great starting point for children wanting to know more about these flags and their meaning. I particularly liked the inclusive illustrations and the section at the very end where the reader is prompted to create a new flag. It's a wonderful touch, just proving that history is in the making and that we all shape it through creativity and action.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for providing this review copy.

Was this review helpful?

I have mixed opinions on this book. I love the illustrations and I also love that kids these days can have a more expansive and open look into the LGBTQ+ community. That being said, I do think that this book is just a lot of general information and could've done more to be more exciting to kids. It felt like the pretty illustrations were just paired with google definitions of each flag. I also felt like a couple of the definitions were not using as inclusive language as they could. I think in general, this book is a great idea and can be helpful in a base knowledge of each pride flag, but I was a little disappointed by it.

Was this review helpful?

An acceptable introductory book to basic Pride flags for children. A bit more of a description to each flag would have been ideal, but what was provided was still acceptable, considering this book is for kids. Would be great to see this book in local libraries or available in elementary schools.

(Received a copy of this eBook from NetGalley, thank you!)

Was this review helpful?

I recived an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall I enjoyed the writing and art styles. I also found the book to be quite diverse.
However, for the desired audience I think the book would have benefited from a glossary for some of the terms used because it is supposed to be an introductory book for a younger audience. I would recommend this book for anyone looking to understand a bit of the history behind various pride flags

Was this review helpful?

As a primer for pride flags this book is a perfect choice. The information is direct and concise, explaining each flag in a way that is easy to understand. A good number of flags are covered and there were some I was not familiar with so it was educational for me too!

For each flag covered the book provides short histories and explanations of each color. The last section that covers the history of the pride flag is a bit repetitive, as the same information is covered on the respective flag pages. I agree with other reviewer feedback that some explanations could use some tweaking, but the simplified definitions are fine I think for children or older generations that are just starting to learn about gender identities.

The most charming aspect of this book is the colorful illustrations, which included people of color, disabled people, and really people of a wide range of ages and appearances. My favorite part was the area where children can design their own flag, which is a great learning tool and outlet for self-expression. It’s little touches like these that make the book stand out.

The book is accessible and inclusive which makes me really happy. It can be great for parents and educators for teaching about different identities. As a parent, I fully plan to share this book with my kids.

Was this review helpful?

I have some issues with this book. On the one hand, I don't like the differences that are shown between the way aromanticism and asexuality are described. It's not the same to say "little interest" (or something like that) or "lack" of interest. On the other hand, the pansexual flag is included, and I'm sorry, but I'm one of those people that believe that pansexuality does not exist and that it is transphobic. Overall this is not a bad book, and having this is better than having nothing, but I believe that work needs to be done still on this matter.

Was this review helpful?

L'idea è molto carina e i disegni sono fantastici, ma non posso fare a meno di pensare due cose: l'esposizione non segue nessun senso logico (perchè staccare di diverse pagine cose che c'entrano l'una con l'altra?) e alcune bandiere, tipo quella bisessuale o pan, sono spiegate in maniera errata.

ps da bisessuale apprezzo molto lo sforzo ma forse risento di più di questi errori concettuali

Was this review helpful?

I think this was a wonderful introduction to pride and the meaning behind the designs of some of the more well-known flags. It gives younger students a simple and easy explanation that can lead to further research about a specific identity and its history. The art is pleasing and I love the integration of all the flags into everyday usage from hats to mugs and keychains, as well as the representation across all genders, abilities, and ethnicities.

My only critical comment is I think two of the pennant designs got switched (the rainbow pride flag and the progress pride flag are switched on the explanation page), since all the other pages pennant flags match their description.

Was this review helpful?

I'm having trouble finding words to describe how much I loved this book. It's not only filled with beautiful illustrations that make me feel so much joy just from looking at them, but it's also written in an accessible way that is easy to understand for the audience no matter their age. I love the fact that it does not only gives descriptions of different pride flags but takes the reader through their history and evolution. This was incredibly fun and informative read. I can't wait to get this book so I can show it to my little nieces and display it on my bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kinglsey Publishers who provided an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

1. This book is beautifully illustrated. I'm legit impressed, but also relieved because the illustrations can't hold it back, as has been the case for many LGBTQ+ children's books.

2. I saw some flags even I didn't know about, which was awesome. I also loved learning about the origins of each flag, as I mostly only knew about a few of them.

3. I love the part at the end where kids can design their own pride flag! It's literally the perfect exercise to emphasize the importance of having a flag that represents your identity and gives kids a taste of that while creating a safe place for it. 🌈✨

Was this review helpful?

I really like the concept of The Big Book of Pride Flags - a book of different Pride flags, including some history of their creation and evolution, with specific credit given where known.

The range of different sexual and gender identities shown is good. I wasn't quite sure of the age range this is aimed at - as the text is quite simple, but there are some concepts that may have benefitted from more explanation if this is designed as a more introductory text.

Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style - with a couple of exceptions (the genderqueer illustrations and the butch lesbian being my favourites). Maybe it will look better in print rather than digitally, but I thought the textures were quite flat and parts were a bit repetitive (especially the backgrounds). And as a bookseller I'd like more from a picture/illustrated book for this price point. On the plus side, there's a fairly diverse representation of people, and the use of colour is pleasant and eye catching. The activities at the back that help young people engage more with the material are a nice touch.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for review.

The Big Book of Pride Flags is a very informative and beautifully illustrated picture book for young readers.
I learned a lot about many different flags that I had little to no information on beforehand. I see this book as a great learning tool for our future generations. I also loved the interactive activity you could participate in at the end of the book.

I did find the layout to be a bit sloppy on my kindle. The history of the pride flag was also repeated at the beginning and again at the end which was a bit repetitive.

Was this review helpful?

I love all the Jessica Kingsley books -- they're bright, fun, accessible, and informative! Children deserve informative books about their experiences and identities -- this book delivers some great explanations of the flags and the identities they represent. There's also a short and sweet history lesson at the end of the book!

Was this review helpful?

A fabulous book. Easy to read and understand what each flag represents. A bit of history on how each flag came to be

Enjoyed learning about each flag and hope to bring this one to my students. (I would love to see a braille copy of this one!)

Was this review helpful?

I think this book introduces the lgbtq+ terminology in a fun and informative way. Teaching children about the flags and the history and reasons behind them is really interesting and I think they will enjoy learning about them. The illustrations of the flags are great, really colourful and will draw many children into reading. However, I felt some illustrations were too 'stereotypical' which is why I haven't given this book five stars.

I liked the fact that there were comprehension questions at the back; this, along with the subject matter, is why I would recommend it for use in PSHE or non-fiction English guided reading sessions. I also thought the design your own flag was a good addition to the book as children can show their individuality through this activity.

All in all, a great book about an important, relevant subject.

Was this review helpful?

This is a wonderful book with introductions to many different pride flags. My only addition would be that I would love to see more about the descriptions of each sexuality or identity, though I understand the reasoning for the focus on the flag and colors. I enjoyed the illustrations and the representation of all different colors and genders of people.

Was this review helpful?

I thought this was a great introduction book to the pride flags, their meanings, and their history! I loved the artwork as well.

Was this review helpful?