Brandon author of children’s book about Harvey Milk Rob Sanders to speak at the Gulfport Public Library

Brandon elementary school teacher — and celebrated children's book author — Rob Sanders is coming to the Gulfport Public Library to talk about his book, Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag. It's a kids' book with a grown-up message (as the best ones are), and Sanders will present two separate times — once with a younger audience in mind and again with adults as the target audience. 

Publishers Weekly calls the book, which talks about Harvey Milk and the creation of the Pride flag, a “poignant and uplifting biography.” But one of the best — and most tragic — parts of the book is Milk's assassination. 

"Some children have heard about assassination before — whether it be Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr. In PRIDE, I address the assassinations of Harvey and Mayor George Moscone straight on, simply, and with understandable language," Sanders told CL in April. "The text says: 'Their lives were taken by a man who did not think like Harvey, or feel like Harvey, or love like Harvey.' The story could have ended there, and the Pride Flag could have ended there, but neither did. The story continued and it continues to this day. The ultimate message of the book is that equality, pride, hope and love ultimately win out — they always have and always will. Unfortunately, Harvey isn’t around to see the progress that has been made. If he were still here, I think he would remind of us of how much work there still is to do."

For the first program — the one geared at kids — Sanders will read from his book and take questions from the kids. Cailey Klasson, the children's librarian, will lead a craft session where kids can design their own flags based on what fills them with pride (no charge for craft materials). If they want, the kids will have the chance to take part in a "mini march" through the library. Everything's free, unless you want to buy a book (which, of course, Sanders will sign).

For the second program, Sanders will read from his book but he'll also talk about what it's like to be an openly-gay (and proud of it!) teacher and writer. He'll take questions and sign books, too.  

Sanders has won numerous awards for his books, including the Crystal Kite Award for Outer Space Bedtime Race and the Florida Book Awards’ Gwen P. Reichert Gold Medal for Children’s Literature for Rodzilla.

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 Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag book discussion with Rob Sanders | Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport | For kids: 4-5 p.m.; for adults: 7-8 p.m. (both programs open to all ages) |  727-893-1074 or email Susan Gore

This article appears in Jul 5-12, 2018.