Bedugul Coffee: 10 amazing LGBTQ children's books

The Huffington Post

Culture Shift is curated by the HuffPost Culture editors and writers.

This week we're talking about contemporary writers shaking up the book world, just how hard it is to make a living as a woman in art, the artisanal comedy scene of Brooklyn, the infamous 300 Sandwiches memoir, and 10 LGBTQ picture books every kid should read.

The Sunlit Coming-Of-Age Story Every Wes Anderson Fan Should Read

"Who will read [The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein]? Readers who enjoy whimsical prose and offbeat narratives with bittersweet themes. Fans of Jonathan Safran Foer and Wes Anderson's quietly quirky, meticulously visualized films." (Read more here)

Welcome To Brooklyn, Where Artisanal Comedy Is Brewing

"Value typically parallels price. High-quality food tends to be expensive. Ditto for clothes, airline seats -- even medical treatment. The rule does not hold for live comedy. In New York City, global mecca for stand-up, discerning comedy nerds know the best stuff costs between $8 and free." (Read more here)

The Children's Books That Paved The Way For A New Queer Protagonist

"[Large Fears'] story builds on over 30 years of children's books that portray LGBTQ characters, translating complex issues of gender and sexuality to an accessible, picture-heavy format. These books, though, reveal far more than cutesy anecdotes. They are instructional, cathartic, and ethical, explaining different family models, connecting children with LGBTQ identities or parents to fictional counterparts, and teaching values of acceptance at impressionable ages." (Read more here)

Artist Highlights Just How Hard It Is To Make A Living As A Woman In Art

"Head over to the website for Los Angeles-based artist Kate Durbin's newest project, 'Cloud Nine,' and you'll be greeted by a few lustful mouths lined with dollar bills, flirtatiously positioned above a rather intrusive question: 'What have you done for money?' The question is aimed at female-identifying artists, all of whom are encouraged to submit their 'confessions' anonymously to a designated email address." (Read more here)

Here's Why The Biggest Slum In India Is Honoring A Fictional Rape Victim

"[Priya's Shakti] tells the story of Priya, a girl who is sexually assaulted, shunned and eventually finds justice with the help of Hindu gods. Comic books have long been the primary medium by which Hindu kids learn religious stories. To reach the next generation, Devineni turned to technology. Using an augmented reality app called Blippar, he embedded the book's images with barcode-like tags that trigger animation, videos, real-life stories, and other interactive elements when read through an iPhone. The digital creation has become a global sensation since its debut at Mumbai's Comic Con last December." (Read more here)

Yep, The '300 Sandwiches' Woman Wrote A Book And It's Fabulously Terrible

"Sandwiches don't get enough love these days, and by love, I mean books written exclusively about sandwiches. 300 Sandwiches, by Stephanie Smith, isn't quite that, but it's pretty close -- and after her blog (upon which the book is based) caused a media firestorm (of the fun, gossipy variety) last year, I was doubly excited to take a huge, crusty bite. And once I started, I just couldn't stop cramming my metaphorical mouth with the juicy, if slightly unhealthy, goodness of this literary equivalent of junk food. Let's break it down." (Read more here)

10 Innovative Writers Who Are Shaking Up The Book World

"It's common for a writer to be hailed as revolutionary by a contemporary, a publisher, a reviewer or a peer -- so common, in fact, that it's tough to distinguish new gems from old tropes. And while 'new' shouldn't be the standard when judging whether a book is valuable or exciting, it's worth noticing when an author challenges conventions, possibly enough to introduce new modes of storytelling." (Read more here)

Emma Stone Plays A Part-Asian Character In 'Aloha,' And That's Not Okay

"Trailers for 'Aloha,' a new Cameron Crowe flick starring Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone, cast a seductive spell: a lineup of absurdly charismatic stars, an idyllic island backdrop, a bit of action and a romantic triangle. But the film arrives in theaters today burdened by controversy, not least outcry from Hawaiian and Asian-American activists over the predominantly white cast." (Read more here)