June 3, 2024 – The Cedar Rapids Public Library welcomes everyone to the library this Pride Month and beyond. The library is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride with events and curated book lists.
Events
Look for our float in the Cedar Rapids Pride Parade on June 8 and for our booth at the Cedar Rapids Pride Festival on July 6. We also invite community members to join us at the Downtown Library before both events for family-friendly celebrations:
Family-friendly dancing, crafts, and fun will kick off the morning of the Cedar Rapids Pride Parade! Make DIY flags, buttons, and other crafts at the library to share your Pride before heading to the parade.
Saturday, June 8, 10-11 am, Downtown Library, Beems Auditorium
Join us before the Cedar Rapids Pride Festival to celebrate all the colors of the rainbow with professional face painters, glitter tattoos, rainbow crafts, and a fab photobooth.
Saturday, July 6, 10 am-noon, Downtown Library, Beems and Whipple auditoriums
Book Lists
Looking for books? We've got you covered with these age-appropriate books for kids and teens published in the last year and available to borrow through the Metro Library Network. Browse through the lists below and click the covers to put them on hold in our catalog. Book descriptions are excerpted from the catalog, which pulls information from publishers and other sources.
Children's Books (Picture Books and Chapter Books)
Picture Books
"A Child's Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community" by Sarah Prager (2023)
An essential and empowering introduction to the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement throughout history with kid-friendly explanations of important terms.
"Door by Door: How Sarah McBride Became America's First Openly Transgender Senator" by Meeg Pincus (2023)
A picture book biography of Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride.
"Not He or She, I'm Me" by A.M. Wild (2023)
The nonbinary experience is brightly illustrated as we follow our main character through their typical day. The story's bouncy and fun refrain reminds all readers of gender-neutral pronouns and affirms the identities of nonbinary children – encouraging readers to practice empathy for themselves and others.
Chapter Books
"Buzzing" by Samuel Sattin (2023)
Isaac is a shy boy with OCD, but one day at school he meets new friends who introduce him to role-playing games, which lead him on a journey of self-discovery and growth.
"Cross My Heart and Never Lie" by Nora Dasnes (2023)
In this delighfully hand-lettered coming-of-age graphic diary, Tuva gets caught between feeling like a kid and wanting to know how to become a teenager. Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels as if she's met her soulmate. Can you fall in love with a girl, keep it from your friends, and survive?
"Ellie Engle Saves Herself" by Leah Johnson (2023)
As twelve-year-old Ellie Engle navigates seventh grade and her changing relationship with her best friend, a freak accident occurs and gives Ellie the ability to bring things back to life through touch.
"The House that Whispers" by Lin Thompson (2023)
Simon, an eleven-year-old coming to terms with his gender identity, is convinced that his grandmother's house is haunted.
"Just Lizzie" by Karen Wilfrid (2023)
In this beautifully written contemporary middle grade debut, an eighth graders study of asexuality in science class leads her to understand her own asexual identity as she embarks on a journey toward self-discovery and self-advocacy.
"Vivian Lantz's Second Chances" Kathryn Ormsbee (2023)
After trying and failing to break her years-long curse of bad first days of school, eighth grader Vivian Lantz wishes for a do-over – and gets stuck reliving this year's horrible first day over and over again.
"The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet" by Jake Maia Arlow (2023)
Twelve-year-old Al, short for Alison, navigates an overprotective mother, growing apart from her best friend, and her first girl crush, all while her recent Crohn's diagnosis puts a knot in her stomach.
Young Adult Books
"Chasing Pacquiao" by Rod Pulido (2023)
When Bobby is unwillingly outed he turns to boxing, finding a hero in Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, but when Pacquiao publicly denounces homosexuality, Bobby must discover a hero within himself.
"Forget Me Not" by Alyson Derrick (2023)
Fifteen-year-old Stevie and Nora's plan to abandon their conservative small town for California so they can be together is shattered when a terrible fall steals every trace of Stevie's relationship with Nora from her memory.
"If I Can Give You That" by Michael Gray Bulla (2023)
Seventeen-year-old Gael, a trans boy, learns to let his walls down while finding community, discovering his sexuality, falling in love, and navigating difficult family situations.
"Monstrous" by Jessica Lewis (2023)
When seventeen-year-old Latavia is presented as a human sacrifice to an ancient beast, she is determined to do whatever it takes to survive – even if that includes making a deal with the monster and endangering her crush and family.
"Northranger" by Rey Terciero (2023)
In this swoony and spooky teen summer romance graphic novel set on a Texas ranch, sixteen-year-old Cade Muñoz finds himself falling for the ranch owner's mysterious and handsome son, only to discover that he may be harboring a dangerous secret.
"The Borrow a Boyfriend Club" by Page Powars (2023)
Noah Byrd is the perfect boy. At least, that's what he needs to convince his new classmates of his gender. His plan? Join the school's illustrious (and secret) Borrow a Boyfriend Club, whose members rent themselves out for dates. Once he's accepted among the bros, the "slip-ups" end. But Noah's interview is a flop. Desperate, he strikes a deal with the club's prickly but attractive president, Asher. Noah will help them win an annual talent show – and in return, he'll get a second shot to demonstrate his boyfriend skills in a series of tests that include romancing Asher himself.
"The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich" by Deya Muniz (2023)
Cam disguises herself as a man to inherit her father's money and estate, and though she tries to keep a low profile, she ends up falling for Crown Princess Brie.
"The Secret Summer Promise" by Keah Brown (2023)
Planning the best summer ever, Andrea Williams realizes that there's just one thing that could ruin it: her best friend Hailee finding out her true feelings, so Andrea will fall out of love with her – or so she thinks.
"The Wicked Bargain" by Gabe Cole Novoa (2023)
Sixteen-year-old Mar, a transmasculine Latinx pirate hiding magical abilities, must learn to use their magia to save their papá and newfound pirate familia from losing their souls to el Diablo.
"You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight" by Kalynn Bayron (2023)
Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the 'final girl' at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business