Sewing the Rainbow

I love how this story teaches us about Gilbert Baker and his legacy, but is also unapologetically direct about the importance of letting kids be themselves even if their personalities don’t fit into some kind of society approved gender-specific boxes. Personalities are meant to shine, not be squashed and molded into a form that we think is appropriate. Written by Gayle E. Pitman, and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown, Sewing the Rainbow tells us the story of Gilbert Baker: of growing up in the early 1950’s in Kansas, being drafted into the army, and of discovering the freedom of being able to be oneself without limits. And it also tells the story that we are who we are and we should never feel ashamed of that.

Taken from the true story of icon Gilbert Baker, Sewing the Rainbow teaches us how he discovered a whole new world when he was stationed in San Francisco in the early 1970’s, which led him to go back to his early childhood dreams of sewing and creating beautiful colorful designs, dreams that were ripped apart at an early age by his father. In 1978 he designed the first rainbow flag, a symbol for the diversity of the LGBT community. This flag is still today a universal symbol.

The book comes with a great Reader Note for parents (and older children), which explains Gilbert Baker’s background in depth, as well as his important role in the gay liberation movement. As a family we are always on the look-out for books that don’t conform to a stereotypical white, middle-class, cis public’s viewpoint, as well as diverse literature to ensure that our kids not only feel represented, but that they understand that it’s normal to be different and to love and embrace difference. Sewing the Rainbow fits perfectly into the type of books that I love to read to our kids, and one that I hope will make it into the hands of all kinds of families, schools, and libraries.

And the illustrations are gorgeous, bright and colorful, perfect for the story. My kids loved showing me how well they knew the colors of the rainbow, and I really enjoyed explaining what each color represents in the flag.
(I also love that the author teaches in Sacramento where we currently live, and the illustrator is British, where I am originally from. It made me smile!).

Sewing the Rainbow will be released through the American Psychological Association/Magination Press on June 4th.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

I enjoyed this uplifting story and illustrations. It is very important that children see themselves in literature as well as diversity in books. I would not be able to use this book for classroom read aloud yet but I could recommend it to parents of students who have identified as LGBTQ. Thank you APA and Magination Press for the wonderful ARC through Net Galley.

Hooray, another picture book that shows that even though you feel as though you don't fit in, it is not you, it is the world around you that isn't letting you fit in. This sweet little picture book takes the story of Gilbert Baker from his beginnings in Kansas, where he was forced to give up his love of sewing and drawing, so that he would be a real man, to his time in San Francisco, in the Castro, where he could be who he wanted to be all along.

Oh, gosh, I love this book, but there is a big but. I will get to that towards the end of this review. In the meantime, let me gush about how absolutely fabulous this little picture book is. It so very simply tells the life of Baker, the man who designed the first rainbow flag for the LGBTQ community.

Until Gilbert created the flag, the pink triangle was the symbol of gay pride, even though it was a reclaimed symbol from the mark assigned to gay men in the concentration camps. A black triangle, so the story goes, was assigned to the lesbians, and when I was younger, that was the symbol that I was most familiar with.

It feels as though the flag has been around forever, but as this story tells, it only came about in 1978 when Supervisor Harvey Milk suggested it to Baker, who, until then, was just designing clothes and flags for the people of the community. As the comments at the end of the book point out, however, that was also the year the Harvey Milk was assassinated.

And this is really well done, explaining in very simple terms, how the flag came about, but here I come to the one niggling thing that is bothering me about the book, and it a little thing, because I'm probably the only one who would notice it, because I am a stickler for historical accuracy. As mentioned above, this story takes place from the 1950s-1978. The pictures of the the skyline include the <a href="http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM70P8" target="_blank">tweezer building</a>, which was built in 1986. Plus, the view from the Castro, which is where the story takes place, would not have looked out that way. It would have been looking at the pyramid building, which was around at that time.

Other than that minor fact, this is a great book, and I hope it is handed out in libraries and in schools so that children who are feeling that they don't fit in, know that it isn't them.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A really beautifully well done book (for any age) that tells an important piece of history in a way kids can totally understand. Sewing The Rainbow is exactly the kind of book that needs to be part of regular reading in classrooms: by being itself this book tells a true story and promotes tolerance of differences. Thank you for letting me be a part of reading and reviewing Sewing The Rainbow.

This is a beautifully and colorfully illustrated book about Gilbert Baker's life. As a child, Gilbert loved to draw dress designs and dreamed of one day creating real dresses. Perturbed by his son's gender-nonconformity, Gilbert's father tore up his drawings. Later, as a young man, Gilbert was drafted by the U.S. military and then honorably discharged for refusing to shoot a gun. He moved to San Francisco, where he found his community, taught himself to sew, and eventually created the iconic rainbow flag that became the universal symbol for the LGBTQ community.

I enjoyed this picture book biography of a person who is saved by others like him, who supported and celebrated the very interests and strengths for which he had previously been persecuted. This book about Gilbert Baker is much-needed; he is an important LGBTQ historical figure who is not often discussed. Little details in the text and illustrations of this story really bring it to life, such as the process of dying strips of fabric to make the flag. I greatly appreciated the author's note at the end of the book, although I would have liked even more detail within the story itself.

I had no idea! I had never heard the story of the rainbow flag, I just knew it was used by the gay community. This was actually a pretty interesting book, even if it was for very young kids. The end of the book features further info for older kids and adults. Illustrations were nice, too.

Cute book. I thought about giving it 4 stars because the picture book itself does not delve into why a flag was needed nor its monumental significance, but overall it is a good introduction to Baker and his legacy.

Gilbert was a little boy with great aspirations. His unique, sparkly, beautiful personality was something most people could not understand in the 1950s. But Gilbert knows what he wants, and he is not afraid to be different. So, he leaves the dull life that others wanted him to live, creating the life he really wants for himself.

This is the story of Gilbert Baker and the rainbow flag, told simply and in a very sweet way. It's a real story, and in the same time one that can teach children self acceptance, as well as accepting others.

Honest, and yet with an innocence aimed particularly at the target audience. I've gone on to mention this to my teacher son, and whilst LBGT teaching isn't taking place until kids are around 10yo, it's a book that he said he'd feel comfortable reading out to kids. Well done. And, also well done on the adults' section, giving them an education, too!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Magination Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* 'Sewing the Rainbow is a book for children with beautiful illustrations that tells the story of the creator of the Pride flag, Gilbert Baker. Whilst the story itself is quite simplistic and clearly intended for a young audience, the 'Reader (sic) Note' at the end of the book provides far more in-depth information for older readers, such as parents and teachers.

This short illustrated children's book tells the story of the man who made the pride flag. The beautiful illustrations tell an important story about being proud of who you are, even if, ESPECIALLY IF you are different.

Librarian: One of my favourite current trends in kids books is the abundance of picture book biographies. I’ve found them to be a great way to get kids curious about historical figures that they wouldn’t otherwise encounter. This book does that well. Though many children will recognise the rainbow flag, few will know the name of the man that created it. Hopefully this book will change that.
I will absolutely be recommending this book for purchase.
Reader: Obviously, I’m not the target audience for this book. But as an adult who reads A LOT of pictures books, I will say that this is a good one. The illustrations are nice and the story has a good “be yourself” type message, plus there are lots of little historical nods that adults will pick up on, even if kids won’t.

I had been meaning to read some books featuring LGBTQIA+ matters, before now, but as we all know - so many books and too little time! With June being Pride month, I feel this is an opportune time to read stories such as this one. Sadly, as I wrote this I learned that for the second year in a row President Trump has failed to recognise June as Pride Month.

"Sewing the Rainbow" is the story of Gilbert Baker and the creation of the rainbow flag, famously used by the gay community for decades now. There have been a few children's books that I had the pleasure of reading recently that focus on inclusivity and making sure children know that they shouldn't have to strive to fit into society, society should strive to make sure that they are accepted, no matter what. This also fits into that category.

Gilbert loved to draw at a young age, not drawing the stereotypical fire engines and soldiers but beautiful costumes and dreamed of becoming a designer. His father tried subtle ways of encouraging him to take part in "boys activities" but it didn't work. So, his father took away his art supplies leaving him crushed. Eventually, whilst stationed in San Francisco in the early 1970's, he realised that there was a world where he could live out the aspirations he held as a youngster. His first creation as a designer was the rainbow flag, which to this day is a universal symbol of diversity.

This is a beautiful book with an important message. Educating our children can only increase understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues. Informing them of these facts from a young age will hopefully mean that society will grow to be more inclusive. Gayle E. Pitman is a writer and a teacher based in Sacramento, California. Her writing focuses on gender and sexual orientation, and she has worked extensively with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Holly Clifton-Brown deserves a special mention here as the illustrations are perfect to help capture a child's imagination.

Many thanks to the American Psychological Association for an ARC.

Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag is a wonderful book! Children not only get to see the creativity behind the rainbow flag, but also what life was like for young Gilbert Baker. Gilbert always had a love of design and fashion, but his father wanted him to have nothing to do with it and act like a more traditional boy of the time. He was drafted into the army and that was what finally brought him to San Francisco, a place he could finally be himself and feel free.

I enjoyed learning the origin of the flag. When I was growing up the pink triangle was the symbol of gay rights, but that was taken from the upside down pink triangle that the Nazis made gay men wear during their reign of terror.

The 2 1/2 page reader note at the back of the book is amazingly written and full of a ton of information about the gay rights movement, the flag, and Gilbert Baker.

I adore Gayle E. Pitman's A Church for All. Although my job requires me to be conscious of everyone's right to an opinion and I understand not everyone feels the way I do, I do like to slip in a book or two here and there that might reach a child who needs to hear it.  Gayle E. Pitman writes those books and this is one of those books.

This is based on the creator of the Rainbow Flag, Gilbert Baker who was a sparkly, glittery boy whose dad could not accept that he wanted to be creative and colorful.  When he grew up, he moved to San Francisco where he made costumes for famous people and sewed banners for marches but there was one evil symbol in his city and he wanted to change that.  He got the idea to made a beautiful colorful flag to replace the symbol.  And it did.  When you see that Rainbow Flag, you know it is ok to be yourself.

The illustrations are wonderful.  There is an informative note about Gilbert Baker at the end of the book.

Sewing the Rainbow is not overtly in-your-face Gay Pride, but it gets the point across.  My hope in slipping this story in once in a while is that maybe there is a kid who feels they are sparkly and glittery and that they don't fit in and maybe they will remember this story and realize they are not alone.  Maybe they won't know it when they hear the story, but at a later time they will remember the story and remember the flag and realize they are not alone.  Or maybe there are kids who are just curious about the pretty flag with rainbow colors and their parents were uncomfortable with the question, but after hearing the story, they will now understand that it symbolizes that it's ok to be yourself.

I would like to thank Netgalley and American Psychological Association Magination Press for the galley copy of this book.

Information on Gilbert Baker – an American gay rights activist and designer of the rainbow flag. Baker's flag became widely associated with LGBT rights causes, a symbol of gay pride that has become ubiquitous in the decades since its debut. California state senator Scott Wiener said Baker "helped define the modern LGBT movement".

This book is a children's nonfiction about Gilbert Baker from a young age up til when he helped create the gay pride flag.

This is written for children. Simple, colorful and easy to follow along. I'd recommend it as a read out-loud for younger elementary kids because block of text may be too wordy. But for older kids they could read this on their own with ease.

There is mention of how his father didn't approve of him as a young child. But there isn't anything stated such as homophobic slurs, images, etc. "But one day, his father took away his art supplies and tore up his drawings." with images of the father destroying his art with an angry face. Very kid-friendly, especially, for parents who worry about their kids reading about hate.


"...where everything was gray and dull and flat, there was a little boy who was full of color and sparkle and glitter..."

Recommend? Yes!

Quotes are taken from a e-copy given through Netgalley. Words may not be the same as the final version. Downloaded from Netgalley freely for an honest review. Thanks!

This book makes my heart so happy. The color and rainbow imagery is very powerful, especially for children whose passions feel stifled. I would recommend this book as a resource for understanding the rainbow flag and the LGBTQIA+ community for kids.


I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sewing the Rainbow is the true story of Gilbert Baker who struggled to find his true self through childhood and young adulthood. Life in his small Kansas town was dull and grey. After being drafted to fight in a war, Gilbert was sent to San Franciso. There, things were more colorful.

He found a way to use his passion and his gifts to support his community. He became one of the banner and flag makers for many of the protests and marches in the city. Gilbert continued to add color by designing and sewing the rainbow flag, which became a symbol for a movement (thanks to a conversation with his friend, Harvey Milk).

Gilbert's story reminds us that we are created in the image of God, not in the image of each other. There is tension in the story between Gilbert looking up to his grandmother and his father forcing him to do more "boy things." It is every child's journey to live into the image of God within.