Some library patrons may be wondering what exactly is a “Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH),” and why one of our libraries has decided to host one. I am using this week’s blog to provide a more in-depth discussion on this type of program, and look at why it is important to our community. My hope is that through this candid exploration, I can help clarify any questions or concerns that might surround DQSH.

According to the DQSH Organization’s website, they defines DQSH as,

“just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.” —(Drag Queen Story Hour, 2018)

Before I expand on the above definition, here’s a brief history of DQSH. Beginning in 2015, Michelle Tea (author and activist) along with her literary non-profit organization (RADAR productions) created and produced the very first DQSH in San Francisco. The idea came to Michelle while attending regular story times as a new mother. She thought that drag queens, known to be charismatic performers, would be the ideal children’s storytellers. Since its inception over three years ago, DQSH has expanded nationally. Story hours have even begun to pop up at libraries, schools, and bookstores globally in Canada, England, and even Tokyo, Japan.

These events have become increasingly popular, drawing large crowds. This past August, I gave my first DQSH at the Anne Arundel County Library in Maryland. The event gained so much popularity that the system needed to change the venue location to accommodate the estimated attendee numbers. Even at our own Penn Wynne Library, we’ve just decided to add a second story time to avoid having to turn people away. Not only has the public caught on to this new phenomenon, but so have major news and media platforms. The DQSH website has a large press section with links to articles and videos published by The New York Times,  NBC News, CBS News, LA Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, The Associated Press, Buzzfeed, and Cosmopolitan among many others. It’s also gained the attention of library-centered publications with articles in American Libraries magazine as well as journal entries written by and toolkits (produced for librarians) by the American Library Association.

So what makes DQSH so special and attractive to the public? As the DQSH Organization’s definition states, it teaches children to embrace their imagination and explore options outside the rigid gender stereotypes that have defined our society for a millennia. Children tend to have a natural gender fluidity that can be stilted by the rules and constructs of our world.

“Children love dressing up and being imaginative in what they wear…They see drag queens as people who are doing the same thing, expressing themselves creatively and having fun with it. Also, kids have a much more fluid understanding of gender than most adults do.”
—Rachel Aimee, DQSH NY Coordinator (New York Times, 2017)

Aimee goes on to  quote one of the young attendants as saying, “Drag queens make story time funner.” (New York Times, 2017)

Not only is DQSH a fun experience that fosters creativity, but it provides an adult role model who is proud and comfortable with their own gender fluidity. It gives an example to those children who may feel the same way. It also shows everyone how to embrace, accept, and even feel empathy towards those different from them, even if that difference is something they might not fully understand. The hope is that by providing this exposure at an early age, DQSH will help diminish the harrowing effects of bullying. “LGBTQ-positive programs like DQSH are a vital part of making the world a safe and affirming place for all children.” (DQSH, 2018)

Bringing a drag queen into libraries and schools as a children’s storyteller brings LGBTQ (and all) youth an experience they would not normally be able to access until their adulthood. This is because DQSH is geared towards children and contains age-appropriate content, whereas a “traditional” drag shows are usually held at bars or concert halls and can contain more adult themes and content.  At my first DQSH in Annapolis, a mother approached me to express her thanks and excitement,

“’We got to meet our first drag queen two years ago at karaoke,’ said Kris Rudolph, a Baltimore resident, her daughters Gianna and Adalynn waiting expectantly, ‘and she became my oldest’s idol.’ Rudolph spent the next two years looking for a local story reading where her daughters could interact with another queen and learn about acceptance. ‘It’s just really important for me for them to understand we are all humans, we are all people and it doesn’t matter what we look like or, within reason, how we choose to live our lives,’ Rudolph said. ‘We want to be respectful of others.’”
— Capital Gazette, 2018

It’s a beautiful feeling to know that I get to contribute to  programming like DQSH that  provides these important acceptance-building  experiences to families and children.

In addition to DQSH teaching children to accept differences in gender identity and sexuality, these programs also strive to foster awareness and acceptance of all facets of identity like race, religion, nationality, age, disability, economic status, familial structure, and more. At its core, DQSH  is simply an advocate for love and acceptance.

And last, but not least, drag queens are natural born performers. They are energetic, funny, and know how to address a crowd and hold their attention. A crowded room of children can be somewhat similar to entertaining/holding the attention of a bar full of adults.

What specifically happens during a DQSH? The structure for our DQSH is the same as any regular story time with books, songs, chants, movement, and crafts. The first 30 minutes begins with a “Hello Song” and continues with alternating books (three picture books are planned), songs, chants, and movement. The themes for these activities will celebrate diversity, creativity, acceptance, and love. Since it’s the beginning of winter, I will be throwing in some winter-themed songs/dances/chants.

The last half-hour will be dedicated to our craft. For our winter-themed DQSH, I have chosen to have the children decorate a snowflake. Not only are snowflakes representative of this time of year, but they also remind us to celebrate our uniqueness and individuality (no two snowflakes are ever the same). They all come with their own special design and structure. As children finish their craft, they are able to meet & greet their drag queen host as well as have time for photos.

What books will be read at this DQSH? Here are the three amazing stories we will read:

Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
This heartwarming and adorable picture book tells the story of a young unicorn who was born under the sea to a family of narwhals. Jessie Sima’s debut picture book is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family. (Available at Bala Cynwyd, Gladwyne, and Ludington)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince & Night by Daniel Haack

In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a brave knight come together to defeat a terrible monster and in the process find true love in a most unexpected place. (Available at Bala Cynwyd and Ludington)

 

 

 

 

 

I Am Enough by Grace Byers
This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another. (Available at Bala Cynwyd, Ludington, and Penn Wynne)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For other children’s books addressing similar topics, please visit these DQSH’s recommended reads lists: https://borrow.bklynlibrary.org/booklist/vjXMD (pre-school) https://borrow.bklynlibrary.org/booklist/vW41z (school-age)

Testimonials From Educators (provided by the DQSH Organization):

“Those of us who work with young children on a regular basis know that children can dress and act in a variety of ways, and supporting their choices builds self-confidence and can help avoid serious problems later in life. By creating an atmosphere of acceptance, and reading stories about acceptance of differences, DQSH helps to stave off teasing and bullying.” —Judy Zuckerman, Director of Youth and Family Services, Brooklyn Public Library

“What an amazing way to teach individuality, empathy, and acceptance! Drag Queen Story Hour gave my first graders a fun and interactive platform to talk and think about social and emotional issues like acceptance, being yourself, and loving who you are. Through books, songs, arts and crafts, and movement activities, they explored these issues and had an amazing time doing it! During our debrief after DQSH, they were preaching the incredible lessons they had learned, like “It’s ok to be different,” and “There’s no such thing as ‘boy’ things or ‘girl’ things.” I was proud to be able to have DQSH at my school and will definitely be planning another story hour for next year!”
—Alexis Hernandez, first grade teacher at PS 118, the Maurice Sendak Community School

“Drag Queen Story Hour allows preschool children to deepen and complicate their ideas about gender at the exact age when they are often developing rigid ideas about this concept. The program is fun, interactive, family-friendly, and conveys important messages about gender and diversity in a way that is light and accessible to all. I would invite Drag Queen Story Hour back to my school any time!”
—Katrina Green, teacher at Chickpeas Preschool

Drag Queen Story Hour will take place at The Penn Wynne Library on Saturday, January 5th. There are two story time slots, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. You may attend whichever story time fits your schedule. Registration is required and opens on 12/29 at lmls.org/event/dqst12 for the 12:00 pm story time and https://lmls.org/event/dqst for the 2:00 pm story time. We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting event. Please contact the library for additional information or questions.

By  Matthew Maisano, Library Assistant, Penn Wynne Library

Drag Queen Story Hour Comes to the Penn Wynne Library

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Some library patrons may be wondering what exactly is a “Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH),” and why one of our libraries has decided to host one. I am using this week’s blog to provide a more in-depth discussion on this type of program, and look at why it is important to our community. My hope is that through this candid exploration, I can help clarify any questions or concerns that might surround DQSH.

According to the DQSH Organization’s website, they defines DQSH as,

“just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.” —(Drag Queen Story Hour, 2018)

Before I expand on the above definition, here’s a brief history of DQSH. Beginning in 2015, Michelle Tea (author and activist) along with her literary non-profit organization (RADAR productions) created and produced the very first DQSH in San Francisco. The idea came to Michelle while attending regular story times as a new mother. She thought that drag queens, known to be charismatic performers, would be the ideal children’s storytellers. Since its inception over three years ago, DQSH has expanded nationally. Story hours have even begun to pop up at libraries, schools, and bookstores globally in Canada, England, and even Tokyo, Japan.

These events have become increasingly popular, drawing large crowds. This past August, I gave my first DQSH at the Anne Arundel County Library in Maryland. The event gained so much popularity that the system needed to change the venue location to accommodate the estimated attendee numbers. Even at our own Penn Wynne Library, we’ve just decided to add a second story time to avoid having to turn people away. Not only has the public caught on to this new phenomenon, but so have major news and media platforms. The DQSH website has a large press section with links to articles and videos published by The New York Times,  NBC News, CBS News, LA Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, The Associated Press, Buzzfeed, and Cosmopolitan among many others. It’s also gained the attention of library-centered publications with articles in American Libraries magazine as well as journal entries written by and toolkits (produced for librarians) by the American Library Association.

So what makes DQSH so special and attractive to the public? As the DQSH Organization’s definition states, it teaches children to embrace their imagination and explore options outside the rigid gender stereotypes that have defined our society for a millennia. Children tend to have a natural gender fluidity that can be stilted by the rules and constructs of our world.

“Children love dressing up and being imaginative in what they wear…They see drag queens as people who are doing the same thing, expressing themselves creatively and having fun with it. Also, kids have a much more fluid understanding of gender than most adults do.”
—Rachel Aimee, DQSH NY Coordinator (New York Times, 2017)

Aimee goes on to  quote one of the young attendants as saying, “Drag queens make story time funner.” (New York Times, 2017)

Not only is DQSH a fun experience that fosters creativity, but it provides an adult role model who is proud and comfortable with their own gender fluidity. It gives an example to those children who may feel the same way. It also shows everyone how to embrace, accept, and even feel empathy towards those different from them, even if that difference is something they might not fully understand. The hope is that by providing this exposure at an early age, DQSH will help diminish the harrowing effects of bullying. “LGBTQ-positive programs like DQSH are a vital part of making the world a safe and affirming place for all children.” (DQSH, 2018)

Bringing a drag queen into libraries and schools as a children’s storyteller brings LGBTQ (and all) youth an experience they would not normally be able to access until their adulthood. This is because DQSH is geared towards children and contains age-appropriate content, whereas a “traditional” drag shows are usually held at bars or concert halls and can contain more adult themes and content.  At my first DQSH in Annapolis, a mother approached me to express her thanks and excitement,

“’We got to meet our first drag queen two years ago at karaoke,’ said Kris Rudolph, a Baltimore resident, her daughters Gianna and Adalynn waiting expectantly, ‘and she became my oldest’s idol.’ Rudolph spent the next two years looking for a local story reading where her daughters could interact with another queen and learn about acceptance. ‘It’s just really important for me for them to understand we are all humans, we are all people and it doesn’t matter what we look like or, within reason, how we choose to live our lives,’ Rudolph said. ‘We want to be respectful of others.’”
— Capital Gazette, 2018

It’s a beautiful feeling to know that I get to contribute to  programming like DQSH that  provides these important acceptance-building  experiences to families and children.

In addition to DQSH teaching children to accept differences in gender identity and sexuality, these programs also strive to foster awareness and acceptance of all facets of identity like race, religion, nationality, age, disability, economic status, familial structure, and more. At its core, DQSH  is simply an advocate for love and acceptance.

And last, but not least, drag queens are natural born performers. They are energetic, funny, and know how to address a crowd and hold their attention. A crowded room of children can be somewhat similar to entertaining/holding the attention of a bar full of adults.

What specifically happens during a DQSH? The structure for our DQSH is the same as any regular story time with books, songs, chants, movement, and crafts. The first 30 minutes begins with a “Hello Song” and continues with alternating books (three picture books are planned), songs, chants, and movement. The themes for these activities will celebrate diversity, creativity, acceptance, and love. Since it’s the beginning of winter, I will be throwing in some winter-themed songs/dances/chants.

The last half-hour will be dedicated to our craft. For our winter-themed DQSH, I have chosen to have the children decorate a snowflake. Not only are snowflakes representative of this time of year, but they also remind us to celebrate our uniqueness and individuality (no two snowflakes are ever the same). They all come with their own special design and structure. As children finish their craft, they are able to meet & greet their drag queen host as well as have time for photos.

What books will be read at this DQSH? Here are the three amazing stories we will read:

Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
This heartwarming and adorable picture book tells the story of a young unicorn who was born under the sea to a family of narwhals. Jessie Sima’s debut picture book is about fitting in, standing out, and the all-encompassing love of family. (Available at Bala Cynwyd, Gladwyne, and Ludington)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prince & Night by Daniel Haack

In this modern fairy tale, a noble prince and a brave knight come together to defeat a terrible monster and in the process find true love in a most unexpected place. (Available at Bala Cynwyd and Ludington)

 

 

 

 

 

I Am Enough by Grace Byers
This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another. (Available at Bala Cynwyd, Ludington, and Penn Wynne)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For other children’s books addressing similar topics, please visit these DQSH’s recommended reads lists: https://borrow.bklynlibrary.org/booklist/vjXMD (pre-school) https://borrow.bklynlibrary.org/booklist/vW41z (school-age)

Testimonials From Educators (provided by the DQSH Organization):

“Those of us who work with young children on a regular basis know that children can dress and act in a variety of ways, and supporting their choices builds self-confidence and can help avoid serious problems later in life. By creating an atmosphere of acceptance, and reading stories about acceptance of differences, DQSH helps to stave off teasing and bullying.” —Judy Zuckerman, Director of Youth and Family Services, Brooklyn Public Library

“What an amazing way to teach individuality, empathy, and acceptance! Drag Queen Story Hour gave my first graders a fun and interactive platform to talk and think about social and emotional issues like acceptance, being yourself, and loving who you are. Through books, songs, arts and crafts, and movement activities, they explored these issues and had an amazing time doing it! During our debrief after DQSH, they were preaching the incredible lessons they had learned, like “It’s ok to be different,” and “There’s no such thing as ‘boy’ things or ‘girl’ things.” I was proud to be able to have DQSH at my school and will definitely be planning another story hour for next year!”
—Alexis Hernandez, first grade teacher at PS 118, the Maurice Sendak Community School

“Drag Queen Story Hour allows preschool children to deepen and complicate their ideas about gender at the exact age when they are often developing rigid ideas about this concept. The program is fun, interactive, family-friendly, and conveys important messages about gender and diversity in a way that is light and accessible to all. I would invite Drag Queen Story Hour back to my school any time!”
—Katrina Green, teacher at Chickpeas Preschool

Drag Queen Story Hour will take place at The Penn Wynne Library on Saturday, January 5th. There are two story time slots, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. You may attend whichever story time fits your schedule. Registration is required and opens on 12/29 at lmls.org/event/dqst12 for the 12:00 pm story time and https://lmls.org/event/dqst for the 2:00 pm story time. We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting event. Please contact the library for additional information or questions.

By  Matthew Maisano, Library Assistant, Penn Wynne Library

Drag Queen Story Hour Comes to the Penn Wynne Library