If You're a Drag Queen and You Know It

by Lil Miss Hot Mess, Olga De Dios Ruiz (Illustrator)

Overview

Strike a pose. Blow a kiss. Mouth the words. A fun, sing-along book with a drag twist that encourage kids to embrace all the playfulness of drag culture written by a founding member of Drag Story Hour.

If you’re a drag queen and you know it, let it show by winking, shaking your bum, laughing real big, twirling around, and more! Join a cast of fabulous drag queens as you sing along to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” in this playful celebration of expressing your brightest and boldest self. A perfect companion to The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish written by a board member of Drag Story Hour.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762475339
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/17/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,107,016
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lil Miss Hot Mess is a renowned storyteller and board member of Drag Queen Story Hour. She is the author of The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, and has written for Wired, Salon, and The Guardian. She’s performed at venues from Stanford to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to Saturday Night Live.

Olga de Dios is an author and illustrator of children’s books whose work focuses on equality, freedom, and justice. She studied at the School of Art 10 in Madrid. Her first book, Pink Monster, has been translated into twelve languages. She lives in Madrid, Spain.

Editorial Reviews

The classic children’s action song gets a fabulous twist. Drag queens take center stage in this adaptation of 'If You’re Happy and You Know It.' The lively, colorful illustrations and the characters’ wild costumes will engage readers from the first page…. Adults will enjoy reintroducing children to a new version of a timeless childhood song. And of course, for libraries participating in Drag Queen Story Hour, this title is a must! A delightful spin on an old musical favorite.”
 —Kirkus Reviews

"A beautifully illustrated children’s book that will be a fun, joyous, nightly read for the kids, with the possibility to make it into a fun song! It features inclusivity on every page and makes sure the entire book is full of beautifully styled illustrations."—Out Front Magazine

“Primed for a drag-queen story time or any dress-up and sing-along fun, this spin on “If You’re Happy and You Know It” features glam drag queens in sparkling and patterned outfits leading the action, which is set against vibrant backgrounds.”—Booklist

"Queens are depicted in a wide variety of skin tones, body types, and physical abilities, complemented by vivid background settings. . . . This couture coterie depicts an environment in which all are welcome, and anything goes."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

05/20/2022

PreS-Gr 2—The creators of The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish return with another remix of a story time staple, glamming up "If You're Happy and You Know It" by replacing actions like "clap your hands" and "stomp your feet" with flourishes one might find onstage at the local drag club. Readers are encouraged to strike a pose, shake their bums, and shout "Yesss, Queen!" The illustrations showcase a wide-eyed, stylized, and diverse assortment of colorful queens. Each sashays and slays in a fabulous gown that would fit in at Brazil's Carnival or perhaps the French Revolution. Queens are depicted in a wide variety of skin tones, body types, and physical abilities, complemented by vivid background settings. The author serves on the board of Drag Queen Story Hour, an organization that champions diversity; this book fits that mission. This couture coterie depicts an environment in which all are welcome, and anything goes. VERDICT Purchase for a playful story hour in a judgement-free zone, and let the sequins fall where they may.—Chance Lee Joyner

School Library Journal

2022-02-09
The classic children’s action song gets a fabulous twist.

Drag queens take center stage in this adaptation of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” The lively, colorful illustrations and the characters’ wild costumes will engage readers from the first page. There is no storyline per se; the text consists entirely of three verses of song lyrics. The instructions for a wide range of bodily actions (blow a kiss, strike a pose, say “taa-daaa,” wink, shake your bum, “laugh real big,” mouth the words, twirl around, and shout “yesss queen!”) will encourage young readers to get up and move. On each double-page spread one drag queen demonstrates an action and three other cross-dressers mimic it. In addition to celebrating drag queens, this picture book celebrates human beauty in its diverse forms. There is a drag queen using a wheelchair and others sporting glasses, a mustache, and tattoos. There is also a range of skin tones. The book works as an active read that can be enjoyed either individually or in groups. Adults will enjoy reintroducing children to a new version of a timeless childhood song. And of course, for libraries participating in Drag Queen Story Hour, this title is a must! (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A delightful spin on an old musical favorite. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews