One Day In June
by Tourmaline
Illustrated by Charlot Kristensen
G.P. Putnam and Sons
Penguin Random House
2025
40 pages
ISBN: 9780593525371
This oversize picture book truly represents the oversize life and activism of Marsha P. Johnson, a striking, unforgettable, and yes, larger than life individual who embraced their own life and used their personality, wit and joie de vivre to unit people, to show love and acceptance for all and to embrace their situation no matter how tough it was.
Marsha ignored cross dressing laws and rules. They were authentically them.
A true actor, singer, dancer, entertainer and a friend to all, stranger to none, Marsha became known as Saint Marsha. They knew that accepting all people as they are is the key to love and acceptance and HAPPINESS. Times Square became Marsha's living room. It was not a beautiful place back then. Tourmaline paints it as a, "hustle bustle place. git and grime. Shimmer and shine." Known for their loving personality and crowns made of flowers, Marsha decided since the whole world was her stage, they should get their message out. Accept all others no matter what "package" they come in. They believed and fought for Black trans lives and equality. The author writes, "The legacy of Marsha's life is a gift."
End papers are illustrated with flowers signifying Marsha's many crowns of flowers. Unforgettable Marsha helped change the way people accept others. The back cover statement, "The spirit of Marsha has never been more alive and present in what we do." Perhaps we all need a bunch more Marsha in our lives. Let's accept each other as we are.
Additional information and helpful numbers to The Trevor Project, Trans Lifeline and GLAAD are included after the story.
Highly recommended grades 2 and up.
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