cover image Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution.

Rob Sanders, illus. by Jamey Christoph. Random House, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-5247-1952-4

This story of the Stonewall Inn is spoken by the building itself, beginning in 1840s Greenwich Village, when the building was “two stable houses, side by side.” When the Stonewall Inn became “a home for people who were told that they didn’t fit in” during the 1960s, “others were not as accepting.” Scenes of moonlit Christopher Street and interior shots of the Stonewall Inn have a dusky, understated grace. Christoph captures a mood of solemnity as three patrons are placed in a police patrol wagon, while scenes of the 1969 faceoff between police and protestors capture emotions of anger, fear, and burgeoning energy. Following the riots, crowds appear in the airy daylight of Manhattan, celebrating the first anniversary of the uprising. It’s a moving ode to a cherished place, the brave people who stood for justice, and the victories that continue to lead to change. Back matter includes a history and pictures of the Stonewall Inn. Ages 5–8.[em] (Apr.) [/em]