AUTHOR. ADVOCATE. DREAMER.
Joëlle Retener is a 1st generation Haitian American children’s author from the DC metro area. Once upon a time, they traveled the world hobnobbing with foreign dignitaries and senior government officials. They now write stories steeped in Black pride and queer joy.
Joëlle’s debut picture book MARLEY’S PRIDE, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley, released in April 2024. It has received starred reviews by both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.
When they’re not tending to their homestead, you can find Joelle on their porch sipping a cup of herbal tea with their partner and 3 tiny humans. Joelle has a BA in Spanish from Spelman College and an MA in International Studies from American University. Joëlle is represented by James McGowan at Bookends Literary.
BOOKS
MARLEY’S PRIDE
Marley is a little nonbinary kid with big anxieties. Crowds? Pass. Loud noises? No, thanks. When their Zaza is up for an award at Pride, they want to go to the parade for the first time with their beloved grandparent. But can Marley overcome their fears? Highlighting the joyful experiences of a queer family of color finding community at Pride, this story features endmatter about the history of Pride, a glossary of LGBTQ+ terms, and a list of resources.
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Illustrator: DeAnn Wiley
Reading Age: 4-8 years
Publication date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9798888590744
“Joyfully affirming.”
CONTACT
“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”
— Maya Angelou