If You're a Drag Queen and You Know It

March 1, 2022
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)

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May 1, 2022
Preschool-Grade 2 Ideal for a drag-queen storytime 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. In the first section, various drag queens--from a performer with brown skin and dazzling jewels to one with light skin and a blue beard to yet another in a wheelchair, with mauve skin and a mermaid costume--encourage young readers and singers to "Blow a kiss!" "Strike a pose!" and "Say 'Taa-daaa!'" During the "Do all three!" refrain, all the drag queens appear onstage together. A new lineup of drag queens, including a performer in a feathered Aztec headdress and another with an artificial leg, take over the two successive sections and call out "Twirl around!" "Shake your bum!" and other actions. Topping off the amusement is the final "Do all three!" stage with every one of the book's drag queens.

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May 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

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