The early reviews for The Rainbow Allies, the True Story of Kids Who Stood Against Hate are in and they’re lovely! Check out this page for a teacher guide, a Rainbow Allies bingo card, a one-page on how you can encourage kids to be allies, coloring pages, and updates on upcoming educational materials.
"This critical message of community, unconditional love, respect, and allyship will resonate particularly during these turbulent times of political and social unrest."
—The Bay Area Reporter
"Churnin's telling is sturdy and impassioned about the message, that everyone is welcome. It's worth repeating, again and again. A little good news, for once, amplified into an easy book to work into community, LGBTQIA+, politics, and civics units."
—School Library Journal
"Based on a true story, this touching picture book demonstrates that hate can always be overcome by love and community—and suggests some age-appropriate methods for being part of the solution."
—Foreword Reviews
"Deftly written and based on a real event, Rainbow Allies by author/storyteller Nancy Churnin is an inspiring picture book read for young readers and aspiring changemakers."
—Midwest Book Review
"A purposeful yet poignant exploration of Allyship.
—Kirkus Reviews
"Churnin's step-by-step narration and Evans's crisp neighborhood landscapes bolster this straightforward allyship-oriented picture book based on real events."
—Publishers Weekly
“Based on a true story, this is an empowering tale of allyship and community in the face of hate.”
—Mombian
"Perfect for children ages four to seven...The book concludes with excellent advice, tailored to children, about how to be an LGBTQ ally."
—Spirituality & Practice
[A]…”moving book about the power of community.”
—Book Riot by Laura Sackton
"On the surface, Churnin’s story is a simple tale about kindness, and young readers can relate to it that way. But there is something more here to be absorbed. While homophobia is unfortunately common in our society, children are not born with that ugly point of view. When they encounter such hatred, they can be puzzled or even scared. Rainbow Allies: The True Story of Kids Who Stood Against Hate demonstrates that a good way to respond is through positive, supportive action."
—What’s Not Wrong by Gary Anderson
A joy to share RAINBOW ALLIES with the stars of the book, Cari and Lauri Ryding at a wonderful celebration at Morse Institute Library in Natick, the town where it happened on November 23, 2024.. Sponsored by Spark Kindness and the Morse Institute Library, with rainbow flags provided by the Peace Flag Movement.
RSVP here to join Cari and Lauri Ryding, Spark Kindness, the Peace Flag Project and me at Morse Institute Library Nov. 23 in Natick: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/childrens-storytime-and-meet-and-greet-with-the-author-of-rainbow-allies-tickets-1036947567087
A description of the event: Children's Storytime and Meet-and-Greet with the Author of Rainbow Allies
Come join us for a free fun-filled storytime and a special meet-and-greet with author Nancy Churnin, who wrote the picture book Rainbow Allies.
Based on real-life events, Rainbow Allies is a children's story about how a Natick, Massachusetts neighborhood rallied together around Cari and Lauri--and their dogs, Twink and Scout--to make them feel welcomed and loved again after an act of hate. Written by multi-award-winning author Nancy Churnin, this book is an inspiring introduction to allyship for young readers and changemakers.
Kids and adults will have an opportunity to listen to a read-aloud, do crafts and coloring activities, enjoy refreshments, purchase PEACE flags, purchase books, and get their books signed by the author!
Read more about the book here: https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506488448/Rainbow-Allies
Hosted by Cari and Lauri Ryding, the real-life couple in the book, the Morse Institute Library, and Spark Kindness, a nonprofit organization that supports families, schools, organizations, coaches, artists, faith and community leaders in building a culture that empowers youth and promotes kindness and respect.
Sales of flags through the Peace Flag Movement and sales of the book through Ten Trees Books
Presenting at NCTE! My schedule:
Friday, Nov. 22 Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
415 Summer Street, Boston 02210
10:45 Affirming the Humanity of Diversity: How to Embrace, Center, and Celebrate Multiculturalism in All Classrooms through Picture Books, 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in Room 209 with Nathalie Alonso, Pamela Courtney, Vivian Kirkfield
12-1 Signing Festival of Lights, 16 Hanukkah Stories @highlightsforchildren booth 131 (anthology edited by Henry Herz, published by Albert Whitman, #starredreview from @sljournal )
1:50 p.m. Signing Rainbow Allies, published by Beaming Books, @pubspotlight booth 504
Saturday, Nov. 23
10-12 a.m. Library, sign books available for purchase from @tentreesbooks @morseinstitute library 14 E Central St.
"Perfect for children ages four to seven...The book concludes with excellent advice, tailored to children, about how to be an LGBTQ ally." Thank you, Spirituality & Practice ! I hope this true story inspires kids to be #allies, too. Read the full review here: https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews/view/29564/rainbow-allies
A giveaway & an interview? Yes! Check out Blissfully Bookish by the wonderful Lydia Lukidis for a chance to win RAINBOW ALLIES, a true story I hope will inspire kids everywhere to be allies, too. Details and blog here: https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/2024/09/18/author-nancy-churnin-on-telling-kid-centric-stories-plus-a-giveway/
Featured in The Boston Globe Wednesday, July 17! Read it here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/07/16/arts/true-tale-natick-neighborhood-kids-inspires-new-childrens-book-rainbow-allies/
Meet the real people from RAINBOW ALLIES in this wonderful WCVB-5 broadcast by Mary Saladna. Click on this link here for the full story, including video: https://www.wcvb.com/article/rainbow-allies-story-inspired-by-natick-neighborhood/61447230
The true story in The Boston Globe that inspired this book. Read this 2016 story by Michael Levinson here.
Book Riot picks Rainbow Allies as 1 of the 8 Best Recent LGBTQ+ Picture Books! Read the article here: https://bookriot.com/lgbtq-picture-books-2024/
Thx, Dana Rudolph @mombian & Bay Windows for including RAINBOW ALLIES in your wonderful round-up of #LGBTQ back to school books! I hope this true story inspires kids to be allies. Read the article here: http://www.baywindows.com/story.php?ch=opinion&sc=editorial&id=334767
Looking forward to talking about Rainbow Allies on two panels at nerdcamppa July 12. I hope you’ll join us for this free, virtual event!
Rainbow Allies at the Beaming Books booth #1936 in San Diego, June 2024
Thank you, School Library Journal for your kind words! Read and share the review here: https://www.slj.com/review/rainbow-allies-the-true-story-of-kids-who-stood-against-hate
Thank you, @forewordreviews for these lovely words about Rainbow Allies, the True Story of Kids Who Stood Against Hate! Share the review here: www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/rainbow-allies/
Click to read the review on Kirkus Reviews.
Thank you, Bay Area Reporter! Read the review online here: https://www.ebar.com/story.php?ch=events&sc=arts_events&id=333842
Thanks, Midwest Book Reviews for words that help our mission to inspire kids to be allies like the kids in this true story. Read the review online here: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/jun_24.htm
“Based on a true story, this is an empowering tale of allyship and community in the face of hate.”—MOMBIAN
Read the full review here: https://mombian.com/database/rainbow-allies-the-true-story-of-kids-who-stood-against-hate/
What's better than presenting RAINBOW ALLIES on a panel at nErD Camp PA 2024? Presenting it on TWO panels! Thrilled to be part of two thoughtful discussions: Dealing with Heavy Topics and Beyond Pride. Register and join us for this free virtual program here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwsI5tw--2Don9kP6vOKnb-Pyc1mqIHdENMW1EdsLCBL44Mw/viewform?
Rainbow Allies was on Facebook Live on the Theatre Arlington page!
Check out the link on Facebook here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/2270767616281089/permalink/8108350185856107/?
Use the QR code to preorder an autographed copy of Rainbow Allies at Interabang Books. I’ll be doing a storytime July 13th at 10:30 a.m. but you can pick up your signed copy anytime or ask the store to mail it to you.
Click to read the review on Publishers Weekly.
Click to read the review in Cannonball Reads.
Thank you, Esty Schachter for this beautiful review of RAINBOW ALLIES for #IthacaChild . I hope this true story inspires a new generation of rainbow allies who will make this world welcoming for all.
Recommended by The Book Wrangler!
"On the surface, Churnin’s story is a simple tale about kindness, and young readers can relate to it that way. But there is something more here to be absorbed. While homophobia is unfortunately common in our society, children are not born with that ugly point of view. When they encounter such hatred, they can be puzzled or even scared. Rainbow Allies: The True Story of Kids Who Stood Against Hate demonstrates that a good way to respond is through positive, supportive action."—What’s Not Wrong by Gary Anderson Read the full review here: https://whatsnotwrong.wordpress.com/2024/07/09/review-rainbow-allies-the-true-story-of-kids-who-stood-against-hate-by-nancy-churnin-illustrated-by-izzy-evans/
Thanks for featuring Rainbow Allies, Storytime with Summer!
Loved sharing Rainbow Allies at the Rainbow Connection at the Dallas Pride Festival in Fair Park June 1.
You can download this free, kid-friendly guide on how to be an ally here: https://ms.beamingbooks.com/downloads/BB/RainbowAllies_HowToBeAnAlly.pdf
You can download this fun, free coloring page here: https://ms.beamingbooks.com/downloads/BB/RainbowAllies_ColoringPage.pdf
Had a great time sharing Rainbow Allies with librarians at the Texas Library Association conference in San Antonio as part of my What’s New with Texas Authors and Illustrators panel. #txla2024
This lovely librarian won the very first Rainbow Allies giveaway! A joyful Texas Library Association conference in San Antonio. #txla2024
While I signed copies of The William Hoy Story at the Ruby Bridges Reading Festival at the National Civil Rights Museum May 4, I kept Rainbow Allies by my side. I recorded a reading of Rainbow Allies with education director Dory Lerner at the National Civil Rights Museum that will post in June and I’ve already been invited to come back to present Rainbow Allies in 2025!
Where Rainbow Allies will be next: at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis in a Small but Mighty Storytime with education director Dory Lerner. Our storytime will be posted in June for #PrideMonth