SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

November 13, 2018 by Betsy Bird

The Drag Queen Story Hour and Books: Additional Booklist Suggestions

November 13, 2018 by Betsy Bird   6 comments

By now you’ve probably hear of Drag Queen Story Hour (sometimes also called Drag Queen Storytimes). The concept is pretty simple. Basically you take a drag queen, preferably one who likes kids and is a good reader, and have them conduct a storytime. According to the official Drag Queen Story Hour website, the concept was created by Created by Michelle Tea and RADAR Productions in San Francisco, but you don’t need to be affiliated to conduct one in your own library. They’ve now become popular enough that they’ve been making the news lately with protests against them in places like Lafayette, LA, Mobile, AL, and other places.

So let’s say you have a library that would like to have a Drag Queen Story Hour of your own. After finding a good reader, you just need them to have some books to read. So where can you find a good Drag Queen Story Hour booklist? Turns out, this information is on the DQSH website:

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

“We generally use a mix of surefire readalouds and books that explore gender diversity and difference. Our friends at the Brooklyn Public Library helped us create these book lists for pre-schoolers and school-age kids. Make sure your drag queen readers have the books in advance so they have time to practice reading out loud.”

Good for them! I’m particularly pleased that the lists distinguish between preschoolers and older children. Squirmy three-year-olds have short attention spans, after all. Whatever librarians were charged with making this list, they must have had a blast putting it together. They even let you download PDFs (here and here)!

Of course, I’ve noticed that in all the Drag Queen Story Hours I’ve seen, clever librarians have suggested even more books for use. In that vein, here is a list of more great books for DQSHs, which haven’t yet shown up on the Brooklyn Public Library lists, and might be worth your time and attention. All images here have come from the DQSH Instagram hashtag:

 

For Preschoolers

So @pickledragqueen at @armoryarts read Feminist Baby by Loren Brantz. Might I also suggest the new board book My First Book of Feminism (For Boys) by Julie Merberg, illustrated by Michelle Brummer-Everett and out this month.

DQSHFeministBaby

@hsunbeam reads Be Who You Are by Todd Parr at NYPL.

DQSHBeWhoYouAre

For School Age Kids:

Desmond Is Amazing at Brooklyn Public Library read Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag” by Rob Sanders

DQSHFlag

Here’s one from my own library. Ms. Dakota read, amongst other things (don’t you like how we put the books on the poster?) Princess Super Kitty by Antoinette Portis:

DQSHPrincessSuperkitty

Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham (to be read at McNally Jackson Books in NYC)

DQSHNotMyIdea

This one is particularly neat to me. One of the books being read by these Swedish drag queens is the fantastic (and desperately needs to be reprinted) is Mini Mia and Her Darling Uncle by Pija Lindenbaum. Heck, people should read Else-Marie and Her Seven Little Daddies, if they can get their hands on it. Worth it!

DQSHMiniMia

DQSHMiniMia2

@ediecheezburger reads what is clearly Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty in Atlanta.

DQSHRosieRevere

This one’s a treat. I had no idea that the Feminist Press did an edition of Tatterhood back in the day. This was apparently read at the very first Drag Queen Story Hour. Who knew? Read by @ona.louise

DQSHTatterhood

Can anyone identify this book?

DQSH1

What other books would you include?

Thank you, darlings.

DQSHThing1Thing2
@salamisisters

 

Filed under: Booklists

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Drag Queen Story Hour

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

December 2021

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 Picture Books

by Betsy Bird

December 2021

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 Comics and Graphic Novels for Kids

by Betsy Bird

December 2021

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 Best Audiobooks for Kids

by Betsy Bird

December 2021

31 Days, 31 Books: 2021 Nonfiction Picture Books

by Betsy Bird

December 2021

31 Days, 31 Lists: 2021 Nonfiction Books for Older Readers

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Notes on June 2022

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: Listen to the Language of the Trees by Tera Kelley, ill. Marie Hermansson

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Banana Fox and The Gummy Monster Mess | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Mock Newbery Update – Our List of First Half Suggestions

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

by

The Classroom Bookshelf

by

The Yarn

Shark Week, Vanilla Ice Cream, and the Honda CRV: Bob Shea and Brian Won Team Up for ADURABLE

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Jack Gantos on the Real Norvelt, Propaganda, and Good News | The Newbery at 100

Presenting the NCTE 2021 Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels

Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards Voting Is Open

SLJ Reviews of the 2021 Youth Media Awards

Bank Street Announces Winner of Best Spanish Language Picture Book Award

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Lyne Reul says

    November 13, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Thanks for this list! The book at the bottom looks like it could be SPOON by Amy Krause Rosenthal & Scott Magoon

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      November 14, 2018 at 9:57 am

      Oh! Brilliant! I think you’re completely right about that.

  2. marjorie says

    November 13, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    I LOVE DRAG QUEEN (and King!) STORY HOUR!!!

    Julian is a Mermaid would be great, of course. And hey, why not read the picture books (LIBRARY BOOKS!) burned by that hateful evangelical Christian in Iowa last month? Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino; this Day in June by Gayle Pitman; and Families, Families, Families! by Suzanne Lang?

    • Elizabeth Bird says

      November 14, 2018 at 9:56 am

      All great books. Julian appears to be the most common at storytimes these days. All the books you’ve mentioned were, happily, on the Brooklyn suggested reads lists as well.

  3. Tiffany says

    November 14, 2018 at 12:40 pm

    I would recommend “I Love My Purse” by Belle DeMout. It’s about a boy whose not ashamed of his bright red purse, and he inspires his dad and crossing guard and even a school friend to embrace what they love.

  4. Nancy Furstinger says

    November 16, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    I’d love to attend one of these amazing events to show my support! Saw where Christian homeschoolers in Houston are suing, claiming the readings “are not appropriate.” Hope more suits do NOT follow. Some really fab books on the list–I’ve read most. I’m going to contact and ask a drag queen/king to read my upcoming book, The Duchess and Guy, which, although not a gender diversity book, has a “be yourself” theme.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2022


    COPYRIGHT © 2022