Book description from Goodreads: “In a time when the LGBTQ+ community was forced to hide in the shadows, a woman named Dorothy helped her people find each other in the dark and celebrate themselves in the light.

But who was Dorothy? Was she from the neighborhood, someone’s wife, mother, or sister? Was she that clever writer, who threw parties where there were no rules about who you could and couldn’t dance with? Or was she a girl from Kansas, who dreamed of leaving her black-​and-​white, small-​town life and finding a vibrant, colorful world that loved her?

Dorothy might have been all these things—because Dorothy, as known by the post-​WWII queer community, wasn’t real. Still, she helped a community find connection and care amidst adversity.”

Need some reviews of Are You a Friend of Dorothy?

• Cannonball Read
• Chasing Pixies
• Kim’s Book Reviews
• Kirkus
• Youth Services Book Review

Reading Activities inspired by Are You a Friend of Dorothy?:

• Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
  • What do you notice first when you look at the cover?

  • What do you think the title means? Who or what might “Dorothy” refer to?

  • What mood or feeling do the colors and art style give you?

  • Who do you think this book might be about? What clues helped you decide

  • If you could ask the character on the cover a question, what would it be?

• After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
  • What did the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” help people do?
  • Why do you think people had to hide their true selves in the past
  • How does the illustrator show community and connection in the pictures?
  • What are some ways the book blends fact and imagination?
  • How has life changed for LGBTQ+ people since the time this story takes place—and what challenges still remain?
  • What message do you think the author wants young readers to take away?
  • Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
• Code Words & Connection Collage
  Make a collage about what it means to belong. Use magazines, drawings, stickers, or digital images to show places, people, or ideas that help you feel seen and safe. Add a secret symbol or word that only someone “in the know” would understand (just like the friends of Dorothy).
• Rainbow Timeline
  This story looks at a real part of LGBTQ+ history. Create a visual timeline that starts with the phrase “Are you a friend of Dorothy?” and ends with the Pride celebrations we know today. Include moments from the book and add your own ideas or research about important LGBTQ+ events.
• Dorothy Who? Detective Game
  The book offers different guesses about who Dorothy might’ve been. Choose one—Dorothy Gale, Dorothy Parker, or another idea—and create a mini case file. Draw clues, write a short “report,” or make a wanted poster that shows why your choice could be the true Dorothy.
• Color Outside the Lines
  The illustrations in this book are bold and expressive, with vibrant colors that tell a story. Choose one page you love and recreate it using your own color choices or art style. What mood or message are you showing through your choices?
• Secret Signals Station
  Come up with your own set of signals to say things without using words. You might use hand signs, symbols, or invented phrases. Practice with a friend or family member—can they figure out what your signals mean?
• Books, Books, and More Books!
  Check out these real-​world picture books about identity, community, and the power of finding your people: