by Gayle E. Pitman
Illustrated by Christopher Lyles
3 stars
A sweet book providing a tour of San Francisco landmarks related to the LGBTQ community, all of which are visible from Lyon and Martin’s picture window. The text follows the transformation from when the couple first moved in to the community that blossomed.
The text is fairly simple. It gives a glimpse out of Lyon and Martin’s window, pointing out different landmarks. The descriptions themselves do not state what the landmarks are specifically, but rather describe them and create a general scene of community. Fairly vague, but the text makes much more sense with the backmatter.
The artwork is lovely. I really enjoy Lyles collages, which incorporate photographs, letters, drawings, and watercolor.
What really elevates this book is the backmatter. It includes a Reading Guide that provides more details on each of the landmarks mentioned and how they relate to Lyon and Martin’s activism and legacy. There is also a note about the importance of learning LGBTQ history and culture, ways to use the book with children, and a list of additional resources.
The story itself was okay. Loved the illustrations. The backmatter really makes this book stand out. Overall, a nice read.