Four—yes, four!—new picture books are out this year that celebrate drag queens—kid drag queens, dad drag queens, librarian drag queens, and more! These queens are serving books!
These are just the drag-themed picture books out this year—but there are several others that came out previously. Filter my database by the “Drag” tag for more, and sashay off to read them!
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader, by Kristen Wixted and Sam Donovan, illustrated by Violet Tobacco (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), is the first picture book to show a child whose father is a drag queen. Tori’s dad is going to be the Mystery Reader in Tori’s class, and Tori has asked him to come as his drag persona, Miss Rita. Tori (who is nonbinary) helps Daddy get ready. Tori starts to worry, though, that their friends won’t like Miss Rita as much as they do. Daddy says he’ll go as his regular self if Tori prefers—but then Tori has an idea, and dons their own sparkly, colorful outfit to be Miss Rita’s assistant. The class is enthralled. This is such a fun book, written with sensitivity and thoughtfulness by fashion designer and Project Runway All-Star Sam Donovan and his aunt, children’s author Kristen Wixted. Illustrator Violet Tobacco (My Maddy) brings an appropriate explosion of colors to the pages, along with fun details like the antics of Tori’s two cats, named Marsha P. and Sylvia (after the two transgender icons). Full review.
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It, by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios Ruiz (Running Press Kids), reunites the author/illustrator duo behind 2020’s The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish for another fun riff on a classic children’s song. The bevy of fabulous queens here encourage readers to blow a kiss, strike a pose, give a wink, shake your bum, and more. Author Lil Miss Hot Mess is a board member of Drag Queen Story Hour and this book will have obvious appeal at such events, but it’s also a great book for home fun—although it may not be the best for winding down at bedtime! Full review.
The Sublime Ms. Stacks, by Robb Pearlman, illustrated by Dani Jones (Bloomsbury): A young child introduces us to his librarian, Mr. Stephen, who is very good at helping people find books and shushing loud talkers. When it comes to arts and crafts or story time, however, the best one can say about the bespectacled, bow-tie- and cardigan-clad Mr. Stephens is that he “tries his best.” The kids’ bored expressions say it all. At these times, however, Mr. Stephen calls on an another librarian for help—the sublime Ms. Stacks. Ms. Stacks brings glitter to arts and crafts, extols the virtues of brunch, and acts out stories. During show-and-tell, she even gives a lip-sync demonstration, calling in the help of two other librarians in their drag personas (one in a beard, mustache, and skirt). Funnily, Mr. Stephen never seems to be around when Ms. Stacks is…. References to 80s songs might go over young readers’ heads, but adults should delight in them—and the story also weaves in reminders of all the ways libraries and librarians make a positive impact on kids’ lives. Full review.
Big Wig, by Jonathan Hillman and illustrated by Levi Hastings (Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster): Wig, a swirly pink headpiece, belongs to drag queen B.B. Bedazzle, “the most fabulous queen by far” (who in non-drag persona is a young child who reads as a White boy). When B.B. performs, Wig grows and feels tall. When B.B. goes to the “Big Wig Ball,” however, Wig feels small compared to some of the other wigs and “wigs out,” flying off B.B.’s head in a panic. It is only by seeing how she inspires others that Wig regains the confidence she needs to return to B.B., just in time for the drag contest. This is a fun read, with bouncy rhymes, swirling colors, and lettering that towers and twirls—and B.B.’s mom and dad are clearly supportive of their young star. While there are a few small narrative flaws that I explain in my full review, this is overall a delightful tale.