Told from the perspective of the buildings themselves, this account of the Stonewall Inn parallels the history of Greenwich Village and covers the famous riots that took place there in 1969. Built as two stable houses in the 1840s, the side-by-side buildings housed a bakery and a then restaurant before becoming the Stonewall Inn. Greenwich Village was a wealthy neighborhood and then a popular destination for immigrants. It welcomed artists of the Beat Generation, and by the 1960s was home to many “gays and lesbians.” The Stonewall Inn opened in 1967, and although it was a community gathering place, it was not always safe. “Some nights, we heard fists pounding on our doors,” says the building, recalling police raids in which many were arrested simply for “wearing the wrong clothes” or “socializing.” After a raid on June 28, 1969, the people fought back, leading to several days of riots and protests. It was the uprising that sparked the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Although the binary language used is unfortunate (“men and women,” “gays and lesbians”), this is an accessible and affirming account of a momentous event in queer history. (Ages 5–9)

Celebrate Pride every day with the very first picture book to tell of its historic and inspiring role in the gay civil rights movement, from the author of the acclaimed Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.

A powerful and timeless true story that will allow young readers to discover the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement--a movement that continues to this very day. In the early-morning hours of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided by police in New York City. Though the inn had been raided before, that night would be different. It would be the night when empowered members of the LGBTQ+ community--in and around the Stonewall Inn--began to protest and demand their equal rights as citizens of the United States.
Movingly narrated by the Stonewall Inn itself, and featuring stirring and dynamic illustrations, Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution is an essential and empowering civil rights story that every child deserves to hear.