A 2025 American Library Association Stonewall Children's Honor Book!

ALA Rainbow Book List - Top 10 Titles for Younger Readers, 2025

"A Black nonbinary child finds ways to navigate their sensory sensitivities during Pride . . . Joyfully affirming" - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Marley is a little nonbinary kid with BIG anxieties. Crowds? Pass. Loud noises? No, thanks! But when their Zaza is up for an award at the Pride parade, they want to go to support their beloved grandparent. Can Marley overcome their fears and even find a new sense of belonging?

• Features endmatter about the history of Pride and a glossary of terms to help adults answer kids' questions about the LGBTQ+ community.
• Shows coping mechanisms for social anxiety and sensory sensitivities.

About the Author
Joelle Retener (they/them) is a Kreyol American children's author from the Washington, DC, metro area. A proud Spelman College graduate, Joelle is passionate about sharing stories that celebrate Black pride and Queer joy. When they are not writing, you can find them gardening or tending to their small homestead. Joelle lives in a cabin in the woods with their partner and three tiny humans.

DeAnn Wiley (she/her) is a self-taught illustrator with a Master's degree in counseling psychology, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She advocates for social justice from the intersection of multiple identities - Black, Woman, Queer, and disabled - and she stands in solidarity with communities of which she is not a member. When she is not painting, she's learning, growing, and healing, with each phase of her journey depicted in her art. DeAnn is the illustrator of Sarah Rising, the Sunday Adventures series, and her author-illustrator debut, Homegrown

Reviews

"A Black nonbinary child finds ways to navigate their sensory sensitivities during Pride . . . Joyfully affirming" - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This sensitive work will be a valuable teaching tool to support children with questions concerning themselves or their friends" - School Library Journal

"Retener celebrates the communal spirit of Pride in this lively intersectional jaunt, which respects Marley's boundaries through open communication" - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"From its bright and colourful cover, Marley's Pride is a whirlwind of cheer and a celebration of being trans, Black and neurodivergent." - Inis Magazine
"A helpful and sensitive book to support children with questions they might have about LGBTQ+ issues" - JUNO magazine

"Here's a Pride Month picture book that gets it right . . . Marley's journey of managing anxiety and finding their people will engage young readers on a deeper level, giving context and cause to the all the symbology that colors Pride" - Booklist, starred review

"A rich, inclusive picture book for 5+, particularly focused on nonbinary identities, which treats sensory issues with warm understanding" - The Guardian

ALA Rainbow Book List - Top 10 Titles for Younger Readers, 2025


Awards
Joint winner of American Library Association Stonewall Children's Honor Book 2025. Commended for Bookstagang, Best Bookshelf Builders of 2024 2024.



Book Information
ISBN 9798888590751
Author Joelle Retener
Format Paperback
Page Count 32
Imprint Barefoot Books Ltd
Publisher Barefoot Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 168g
Dimensions(mm) 248mm * 254mm * 9mm