There are happily now a number of picture books about drag, but this is the first one 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 and uses they/them pronouns) helps Daddy get ready by choosing brushes, a wig, a gown, and jewelry as Daddy applies blush, brows, gloss, and glitter.
After Daddy has transformed into Miss Rita, however, Tori pauses, looking worried, and says “I just want my friends to love Miss Rita as much as I do.” One senses, although the book does not say this explicitly, that Tori is afraid of negative comments.
Daddy explains that when he dresses as Miss Rita, “it’s just the same as anyone else getting dressed for work.” He seems to understand Tori’s concerns, however, and his parental love trumps his career dedication. He tells Tori that he’ll dress like the rest of the class if Tori prefers, and “I can just be Daddy today.”
Tori then gets an idea…. Fast forward to the class, when Miss Rita sashays in, along with her new assistant, “Miss Tori Teller.” Tori is clad in a sparkly skirt, suspenders, and bow tie, along with sneakers and rainbow socks. Tori walks proudly to the front of the room to help Miss Rita while the other kids look on in happy wonder as they begin their story.
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). With so many queer parents today (and more queer people who want to be parents), it should come as no surprise that some of them are drag queens (as well as every other profession), so this book delightfully helps fill a gap in representation.
Back matter explains a little more about drag (including both queens and kings); the difference between drag and being transgender; nonbinary identities; and more about Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. Tori and their dad are both White; Tori’s teacher is a Black man, and their classmates have a variety of skin tones. While Tori’s dad isn’t explicitly labeled as gay or queer, I’m tagging this book as such to help readers find it.
