Fairy tales: two colorful new books add to the gay presence in the world of children's literature.As we all remember, childhood can be god-awful if you're different, meaning gay. But these days queer kids--and their hetero hetero prefix, Latin, different pals--have first-rate books to help them find their footing; two charming examples hit stores this month. In The Sissy sis·sy n. pl. sis·sies 1. A boy or man regarded as effeminate. 2. A person regarded as timid or cowardly. 3. Informal Sister. Duckling (Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , $16), based on the HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy special of the same name, the fabulous Harvey Fierstein tells of Elmer, "the happiest duckling in the whole forest," whose gay-boy ways get him ostracized until his courage comes through. Hankies are advised. The Dutch import King & King (Tricycle Press, $14.95), by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, turns the old prince-seeks-princess stow on its head but arrives unruffled at the happily-ever-after. It's just the kind of fairy tale you'd expect to hear in Amsterdam. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] |
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