Love Around the World

Gr 2-4–In 2017, artist and activist Pierets and her partner Julian Bloom launched “22—the Project,” their plan to wed in every country that had legalized same-sex marriage. Their performance art project was cut short after their fourth wedding, in France, when Bloom died of brain cancer. With this picture book, Pierets brings to life the journey she and Bloom envisioned. Ramos’s joyous, vibrant graphic-style illustrations depict the brides wearing the traditional wedding attire of Iceland, Canada, Mexico, and 10 other countries, set against iconic backgrounds. Pierets discusses the history and current status of gay marriage, and marriage traditions in general, worldwide. The author intends to follow this title with a series of books about the round-the-world marriage journey as a loving gesture and a way of completing their plans.