Drag Me To Story Hour! How to Present a Dynamic and Successful Queen Story Hour

Melanie Borski-Howard, MS she/her/hers Youth Services Specialist and Author of Storytime and Beyond [email protected] [email protected]

Agenda

• Story Hour (DQSH) History • Why to do DQSH • How to set it up • Getting the word out/PR

• Boulder Public Library DQST

• Clearview Library District DQSH • Dealing with negative press • High Plains Rainbow Storytime and • Questions

HISTORY

Once upon a time, in 2015, a writer in San Francisco named Michelle Tea got the idea for “Drag Queen Story Hour”: men in full drag reading children’s books to kids and parents in programs aimed at providing “positive and unabashedly role models.” -New York Times Sept 2018 article

“I started DQSH because as a new mom in my 40s, after decades of being almost entirely in queer spaces, I found that regular story hours were sort of defacto straight and a little boring. I missed the queer irreverence and charm I was used to seeing in arts programming, and it seemed like an easy way to merge queer culture with kid culture, and like something everyone would enjoy!”- Michelle Tea

VISION (From Drag Queen Story Hour) Why do DQSH? However children feel comfortable expressing themselves, experimenting with how they want to show up in the world, and perform themselves, there should be a welcome mat laid at the “We are proud to offer door of each library. That is central to work to us and we hope to storytime to each every librarian. We talk about books being valuable as both and every child, windows and mirrors. Our storytellers give us a new perspective no matter what! and a reassuring look in the mirror. We want libraries to create We don't ban books and we don't ban each pride and celebration of all identities. other. Drag Queen Storytime is as important as The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a Sensory Storytime is as important as Yoga division of the American Library Association (ALA), Storytime is as important as Santa Storytime is as believes that all children, no matter their circumstances or important as....” attributes, need and deserve the very best opportunities, and envisions a future where public libraries are -Marilyn Robbins, BookBar in Denver recognized as vital to all children and the communities that support them. That passion energizes ALSC members “We want ALL kids to be represented in the stories they are told and the to be innovators in the field of children’s library services, particularly in areas of access, advocacy, outreach, literary events/storytimes they attend. We strive to offer a wide range of inclusion, and diversity. events that represents the diverse voices in our community. We love the Drag community and want to support their message of LGBTQ+ voices being -Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public heard and showcase their incredible talent while doing it!” Libraries -Lauren Casey, Community and Author Liaison for Second Star to the Right Children’s Books Setting it up

• Get the OK from your administration • Hire a great Queen • Work with your PR person to create a strong, simple Press Release and get the word out online. Be transparent!

ALL THE HOW TO INFO YOU NEED IS HERE: https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.org/

Lots of booklists!

Preschoolers ● I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison ● Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love ● Clive and His Babies (Series) by Jessica Spanyol ● Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems ● Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley ● Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin and James Dean ● Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox ● Neither by Airlie Anderson ● Todd Parr Series SONGS: ● This Day in June by Gayle E Pitman HEELS ON THE DRAG QUEEN SONG ● The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats Written by Lil Miss Hot Mess from Drag Queen Story Hour ● Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang The heels on the drag queen go higher and higher, ● The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle higher and higher, higher and higher. ● Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. The heels on the drag queen go higher and higher, ● If You're a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley and Rebecca all through the town. Emberley (Stand on Tippy Toes) ● Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou The hair on the drag queen gets bigger and bigger; ● Go Away Big Green Monster Book by Ed Emberley Bigger and Bigger; Bigger and bigger. The hair on the drag queen gets bigger and bigger, -From the “DQSH Guidelines” all through the town. (Hands making the hair bigger and bigger) -From the “DQSH Guidelines”

Our first poster promoting the event Nov 2017, Saturday, 10:15: 140 people welcomed Zarah! Monday, 10:15: 150 welcomed Shirley Delta Blow!

Nov 2018- Same set up Saturday, 150 Monday, 250!!! (in our auditorium)

Clearview Library District DQSH

Sources: Greeley Tribune Our Journey Towards Inclusion Amy Ortiz and Carolyn Valencia Outreach librarians High Plains Library Districts’ Mission of Diversity and Inclusion “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

Maya Angelou

Greeley’s First Congregational Church: Rainbow Storytime Diversity Series Diverse Families

Children with Developmental Disabilities Let’s Talk about Race

Questions? E-MAIL ME FOR MORE INFO!

Melanie Borski-Howard, MS Youth Services Specialist [email protected] [email protected]

Andrea Cleland, MLIS, RYT-500, RCYT-95 Early Literacy Librarian, Clearview Library District andrea @clearviewlibrary.org

Amy Ortiz & Carolyn Valencia Outreach Librarians High Plains Library District [email protected] [email protected]