Jane Severance
When Megan went away
Ages 3–8
*When Megan Went Away* is a 1979 picture book written by Jane Severance and illustrated by Tea Schook. The book, published by the independent press Lollipop Power, concerns Shannon dealing with the separation of her mother and Megan, her mother's former partner.
It is regarded as the first picture book to include LGBT characters, and specifically the first to feature lesbian characters, a distinction sometimes erroneously bestowed upon Lesléa Newman's Heather Has Two Mommies.
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Why this book
Keep this on the shelf like it belongs there, because it does.
Who it's for
Ages 3-8. Rainbow families, gender-curious kids, anyone stocking a shelf that is not a debate.
Conversation starter
How did someone in this story show who they are? Who stood with them?
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Close it and wait. The useful comment comes after the fidgeting.
How we write these notes
Pair with
Two titles that deepen the same conversation.
Ages 3–8
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Every night, Bailey dreams about magical dresses: dresses made of crystals and rainbows, dresses made of flowers, dresses made of windows. . . . Unfortunately, when Bailey's awake, no one wants to hear about these beautiful dreams. Quite the contrary. "You're a BOY!" Mother and Father tell Bailey. "You shouldn't be thinking about dresses at all." Then Bailey meets Laurel, an older girl who is touched and inspired by Bailey's imagination and courage. In friendship, the two of them begin making dresses together. And Bailey's dreams come true!
Ages 3–8
And Tango Makes ThreeJustin Richardson & Peter Parnell
In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others. This illustrated children's book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.
