Out on the Shelves: What’s on for kids

Out on the Shelves is an online reading resource that aims to connect rainbow young people with the stories that represent them, listing books with positive rainbow representation in them.

June is the Out on the Shelves Campaign Month where libraries around the country are encouraged to see who can create the most out-there displays, activities, and programmes. Several of our Wellington City Libraries branches have won awards in the nationwide Out on the Shelves Display Competition in the past, so be sure to drop into your local library to check out this year’s offerings!

Here are some of our past offerings:

If you and your tamariki have recently enjoyed a book with rainbow themes and it doesn’t appear on the Out on the Shelves booklists, why not make a submission? Out on the Shelves relies on user submissions to keep their booklists current, and to make sure that they’re recommending books that people enjoy!

They also have a Rainbow Writing Competition, and you can submit reviews of books you’ve read too.

If you’re looking for some rainbow reading inspiration, just head on over to the homepage of our catalogue. At the moment the carousel of recommended books displaying there includes a selection of Out on the Shelves recommendations for kids. Or check out this previous blog post of ours for a curated booklist.

To celebrate Out on the Shelves, Johnsonville Library have planned a few special events for you and your whānau. We hope to see you there!

Rainbow background, title Dress up Family storytimeDress Up Family Storytime

Dress in your favourite costume and join us to make some accessories before the stories begin.​

For ages 2+​ with their caregivers.

Logo reading The Glamaphones


Out on the Shelves Musical Performance: The Glamaphones

Celebrate Out on the Shelves at Johnsonville Library with the Glamaphones, Wellington’s rainbow community choir.

The Glamaphones have an emphasis on participation, inclusion, and building LGBTQI+ community. They sing a range of music including pop, classical, spirituals, world, choral, musical, and jazz classics.

Nau mai rā tātou katoa | Everybody is welcome.

rainbow background, title dress up preschool storytime


Dress Up Preschool Storytime

Dress in your favourite costume and join us to make some accessories before the stories begin.​

For ages 2-4​ with their caregivers.

Exciting New Books in the Kid’s Collection

We have piles of new books for kids of all ages in our collection this month, everything from the next chapter of your favourite series, to beautiful picture books to read together, or exciting non-fiction titles to learn about the world.  We’ve selected a handful here to share with you, with titles for kids of all ages.

Sleepy Sheepy / Cummins, Lucy Ruth
Sleepy Sheepy was not sleepy
But it was time for bed
(At least, that’s what the clock said.)
But Sleepy Sheepy would not sleepy.
He was wired. And absolutely not tired!
In fact, he was WIDE-AWAKE.

Despite his name, Sleepy Sheepy is NOT sleepy. He’d much rather build with blocks or knit socks than go to sleep. Will Ma and Pa Sheepy ever get their sheepy to go to sleepy?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The fantastic Bureau of Imagination / Montague, Brad
“Every day, special figment agent Sparky delivers all the mail the FBI receives to the proper department, like the Office of the Unexplainable or the Department of Dreams. It’s a big job, but Sparky keeps everything running smoothly . . . until disaster strikes when the Cave of Untold Stories overflows and threatens to topple the whole bureau. And now, dear reader, will you join the effort and become a special agent before it’s too late? The FBI is counting on you!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Fish and Crab / Coppo, Marianna
“Fish and Crab are best friends, always there for each other. When it’s time for bed, Crab is ready to go to sleep, but Fish is still wide awake, wondering: What is that noise–that ooh, ooh? What if aliens abduct us as we sleep? What if it rains frogs? What if . . . so many things?!

At once relatable and reassuring, Fish and Crab shows the youngest of readers that it is okay to embrace the full spectrum of our feelings–not just at bedtime, but anytime. And that even the biggest worries and “what ifs” are easier to cope with–and move on from–when someone you love and trust is there to listen.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Sir Ladybug and the Queen Bee / Tabor, Corey R.
“Sir Ladybug–the duke of the dandelion patch, champion of truth and justice–is on a new quest! He and his herald, Pell, and his trusty squire, Sterling, will have to be extra-clever to outwit the mean Queen Bee.

Woven seamlessly into this funny and surprising story are the themes of friendship, bravery, teamwork, creative thinking, and helping others. With warmth and heart, surprising and delightful asides, and a memorable cast of characters, this series will appeal to avid and reluctant readers alike.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Isla to island / Castellanos, Alexis
“Marisol loves her colorful island home. Cuba is vibrant with flowers and food and people…but things are changing. The home Marisol loves is no longer safe–and then it’s no longer her home at all. Her parents are sending her to the United States. Alone.

Nothing about Marisol’s new life in cold, gray Brooklyn feels like home–not the language, school, or even her foster parents. But Marisol starts to realize that home isn’t always a place. And finding her way can be as simple as staying true to herself.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Glitter boy / Eagleton, Ian
“Eleven-year-old James loves dancing, poetry, and Mariah Carey. But he’s being bullied by a boy at school, and as the secrets build up, James begins to lose his spark. Can he find the strength to let the truths out?” (Catalogue)

Where the black flowers bloom / Smith, Ronald L.
“When ghoulish creatures kill twelve-year-old Asha’s guardian, her dying words launch Asha on a quest to stop an ancient evil, and along the way, she uncovers shocking secrets about the family she never knew and begins to find her place in the world as she discovers her own untapped powers.” (Catalogue)

The monkey who fell from the future / Welford, Ross
“Centuries after a catastrophic meteor collision, nature has retaken the earth. In a small town in what was once England, young Ocean Mooney and the monkey-owning Duke Smiff have just dug up a 400 year-old tablet computer. Meanwhile, in the present day, Thomas Reeve and his genius cousin Kylie create the Time Tablet – a device which they hope will allow them to communicate with the future. But when the Time Tablet malfunctions live on television, Thomas and Kylie are sucked into the year 2425 – and have only 24 hours to return home, and save the future of humanity.” (Catalogue)

Around the world in 80 musical instruments / Dickmann, Nancy
“A visual celebration of the huge variety of instruments played across the world, from those you know to those you almost certainly don’t. Grouped into percussion instruments, wind, and string, as well as the weird and wonderful that defy categorization, readers will discover how they are all related to each other in ‘families’, and enjoy exploring the musical family tree as a fold-out poster.” (Catalogue)

The most exciting book of science, inventions, & space ever / Watts, Claire
“Meet the Brainwaves, hilarious little mischief-makers who will be your guides to a marvellous range of mindblowing science topics – from the wisest and wackiest inventions the world has ever seen to the adventures of pioneering astronauts, plus all the core information you need to know, such as the periodic table, energy, forces, and matter. These pint-sized pals will jump aboard the invention of the car, take you on a madcap holiday to Mars and outer space, and will even shrink down to atomic level to explore the most basic building blocks of science.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Girls who slay monsters : daring tales of Ireland’s forgotten goddesses / Ryan, Ellen
“There was a time when tales of Ireland’s mythical goddesses – their astonishing powers, bravery, and unbreakable bonds with nature – were famous, in Ireland and beyond. But over time, these stories were lost, often replaced or rewritten to make room for male warriors and kings. Until Now. Girls Who Slay Monsters brings these heroes of Irish mythology back to vibrant, magical life. From Éire, Ireland’s fierce namesake, and BÉ Binn, a giant who overcame her bullies, to Badb, a gleefully gruesome death prophet, and BÉ Mannair, a gender-fluid spy who challenged an entire army. These are goddesses of many shapes, skin shades and sizes, from every corner of ancient Ireland, whose daring still inspires today. Stand by their sides as they wield magic, fight monsters, and protect the powerless – and you might just discover that you, too, are a force of nature.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

For more new items in the catalogue, go to:  What’s new & Popular / May 2023 (wcl.govt.nz)

Read with Pride for Kids!

Now that Wellington Pride is over you may be wondering how to introduce tamariki to LGBTQIA+ stories. Why teach children about the LGBT community, you may ask? Firstly, it helps teach children about the diverse people they will meet during their lifetimes, and it also helps them understand family structures different to their own and learn about the rainbow community.

Also, many tamariki have family members who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or may be a part of the community themselves, and we think all of our readers should be able to find books on our shelves that reflect their experiences of the world.

Our libraries have many excellent books for tamariki of all ages to learn about the LGBT community, so we’ve made a list to get you started. You can also ask our friendly librarians to point you in the right direction if you’d like additional suggestions, or if you know of a great LGBT book for kids that we don’t have, you can recommend it to our selectors here!

Picture Books:

Julián is a mermaid / Love, Jessica

“One day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Abuela think about how Julian sees himself?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

My shadow is pink / Stuart, Scott

“Inspired by the author’s own little boy, ‘Shadow’s’ main character likes princesses, fairies and things ‘not for boys’ and he soon learns (through the support of his dad) that everyone has a shadow that they sometimes feel they need to hide. This is an important book for a new generation of children (and adults alike) which exemplifies the concepts of unconditional love, respect and positive parenting.” (Catalogue)

Heather has two mummies / Newman, Lesléa

“When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because “the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The name I call myself / Namir, Hasan

“This sophisticated picture book depicts Ari’s gender journey from childhood to adolescence as they discover who they really are. Throughout this beautiful and engaging picture book, we watch Ari grow up before our very eyes as they navigate the ins and outs of their gender identity. Who will Ari become?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Children’s Fiction:

Proud of me / Hagger-Holt, Sarah

“Becky and Josh are almost-twins, with two mums and the same anonymous donor dad. Josh can’t wait until he’s eighteen, the legal age when he can finally contact his father, and he’ll do anything to find out more, even if it involves lying. Becky can’t stop thinking about her new friend, Carli. Could her feelings for Carli be a sign of something more? Becky and Josh both want their parents to be proud of them, but right now, they’re struggling to even accept themselves.” (Catalogue)

Unicorn power / Tamaki, Mariko

“Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin–Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley–love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen. and go on supernatural adventures.  This adaption of the graphic novels features same-sex parents, and trans and lesbian characters.”  (Adapted from Catalogue)

Better Nate than ever / Federle, Tim

“An eighth-grader who dreams of performing in a Broadway musical concocts a plan to run away to New York and audition for the role of Elliot in the musical version of “E.T.”” (Catalogue)

Answers in the pages / Levithan, David

“When Donovan leaves a school book on the kitchen counter he doesn’t think anything of it. But soon the entire town is freaking out about whether the book’s main characters are gay, Donovan’s mom is trying to get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the middle. Donovan doesn’t really know if the two boys fall in love at the end or not–but he does know this: even if they do, it shouldn’t matter. The book should not be banned from school. (Adapted from Catalogue)

Wellington Pride Festival 13 – 27 March 2021

colorful rainbows photo, Textures, Candy, multi colored, large group of objects, full frame, backgrounds, abundance, variation, choice, no people, sphere, high angle view, indoors, still life, close-up, celebration, fun, shape, design, pattern, arts culture and entertainment, shiny, 4K, CC0, public domain, royalty freeThe Wellington Pride Festival | Tū Whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara is an annual two week festival, the beginnings of which started 34+ years ago! It’s a celebration of our LGBTQIA+ Community across Wellington.

Wellington Pride Festival traces its history back to the first Newtown Lesbian and Gay Fair in 1986, which was organised as part of the campaign for the Homosexual Law Reform Bill which passed on July 9th, 1986. This Act decriminalised relationships between men aged 16 and over, and meant that the gay community couldn’t be discriminated against.

Since then, Wellington has been home to rainbow festivals, parties, and other events which have celebrated, represented, and supported the LGBTQIA+ community, including adults, youth and children.


Did you know?

flag, gay, pride, various, blue, color, dom, green, lGBT, march, orange, purple, rainbow, red, yellow, multi colored, striped, day, group of people, people, outdoors, protection, nature, real people, patriotism, crowd, umbrella, incidental people, wind, 4K, CC0, public domain, royalty freeThe rainbow flag – the symbol of gay pride –  was created in 1978 by artist, designer, Vietnam War veteran Gilbert Baker. He was commissioned to create a flag for San Francisco’s annual pride parade.

“What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us.
It’s all the colors.
It represents all the genders.
It represents all the races.
It’s the rainbow of humanity” – Gilbert Baker


Have you seen?

Image result for carmen rupe

Image: stuff.co.nz

Image result for carmen pedestrian traffic lights

Image: Wikipedia Commons

Have you noticed the pedestrian crossing images on traffic lights around Cuba Street, Wellington? Instead of the usual ‘green walking man’ they depict an image of Carmen Rupe, who was a tireless gay rights advocate and popular performer in and around Wellington. Carmen passed away in 2011 aged 75 years old.


Get Involved

National Schools Pride Week happens yearly in term 2. This year: 14 – 20 June 2021. This event is organised by Inside Out, which supports rainbow young people throughout Aotearoa to have a sense of belonging in their schools and communities.

Talk to your teacher, and register your school HERE


Some links:

Out on the Shelves – an online reading resource connecting rainbow young people with the stories that represent them.

Rainbow Youth – provide support, information, resources & advocacy for Aotearoa’s
queer, gender diverse, takatāpui and intersex youth.

Bullying Free NZ – LGBTQIA+

National Library of NZ – Queer History


Some reading:

Wellington City Libraries have loads of books and online resources about gender, sexuality, diversity and community acceptance. I simply typed in ‘GENDER JUVENILE’ into the the search engine and came up with seven pages of fiction, non-fiction, picture books, board books and e-books to chose from! Wellington City Libraries – Gender Juvenile

Book Jacket for: What Riley woreBook Jacket for: Princess KevinBook Jacket for: Understanding sexuality : what it means to be lesbian, gay or bisexualBook Jacket for: Pink is for boys

Pride festival books for families and children

Pride Festival week is here! Celebrate diversity and differences: Saturday 24th February 2018 to Sunday 4th March 2018.

This week celebrates people and families in our communities. Not all families are made up of a mummy and a daddy – there are lots of different types of families out there, and the Pride Festival is for everyone to celebrate families in all their forms. These different families are often called Rainbow Families.

Would you like to find out more about rainbow families? Here’s some good books to start with:

Heather has two mommies by Leslea Newman

This is about a young girl who has two mummies. Heather at first struggles with not having a daddy, and then she finds at playgroup that there are lots of different kinds of families. This is a book for younger children.

 

 

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads by Johnny Valentine

This is a story about 2 children who compare families. One comes from a traditional family and the other comes from a family with 2 blue dads and they try to figure out what the differences are with having 2 blue dads.

 

And Tango makes 3 by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

This is a true story about two male penguins in New York city zoo. They fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg.
Some people when they come from families that are different sometimes get teased or picked on for being different from others. Some people are picked on and teased because they seem different to us. I The next two books are about characters who are in that situation and how they triumph over it.

 

The sissy duckling by Harvey Fierstein

This is the story about Elmer the duck who is teased because he is different from others. He proves himself by surviving the harsh winter and saving his dad.
This book is aimed at younger children.

 

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

This is the story of a gentle Bull named Ferdinand who is forced to fight in the bull ring in Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

Event! Event! Event!

Celebrate Pride festival with us! There is a special storytime in Wellington Central Library celebrating Rainbow Families.

This special storytime event will be presented by the fabulous Drag Queen LaQuisha St Redfern and friends featuring books from our library collection. These Rainbow Storytime events help to teach children about acceptance with themes of family, love and friendship, being different and belonging, being unique and accepted and are for children, families and anyone who likes a good story!

Where: Wellington Central Library

When: Saturday 3rd March, 2-2.30pm

Rainbow Storytimes!

Come and listen to some wonderful Rainbow Stories at Wellington Central Library presented by Wellington’s favourite Drag Queen, the fabulous LaQuisha St Refern and friends. Celebrate our Rainbow Families with this special fun storytime  event for children, their families and anyone who likes stories!

What: Rainbow Storytimes

Where: Wellington Central Library

When: Saturday 3rd March, 2 – 2.30pm