REVIEW: The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish

The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish Swish Swish
Author: Lil Miss Hot Mess
Illustrator: Olga de Dios
Running Press Kids
Ages 4-8

Did you know that Drag Queen Story Hour is a thing? [Editor’s Note: Uh, Yes. In fact, it’s a national thing–and has been for a while now.] I didn’t either until I was assigned this book to review. [Editor’s Note: Rarely does anything happen by chance. ;)]

I asked the benevolent dictator who runs this blog who the intended audience for The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish was. I think I was focused on the bawdiness and mature content present in the drag shows I’ve seen, although certainly none of that is in this book. Said dictator pointed me toward the Drag Queen Story Hour, and I have to tell you, The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish makes a lot more sense to me now. [Editor’s Note: We also talked about the fact that all drag queen shows are not the same, different people experience things differently, etc.]

The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish uses the classic children’s song, “The Wheels on the Bus,” and turns it on its glamorous head, as the gloriously coiffed and gorgeously dressed drag queens parade all through the town. A riot of color and movement, this is a catchy read-aloud, much like the original, and it’s easy to see its appeal to kids and fans of all ages. 

As it turns out, the author of The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, Lil Miss Hot Mess, was one of the founders of Drag Queen Story Hour.  The organization’s stated purpose is to “capture the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and [give] kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models . . . [where] 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.” Check them, and The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish out and see for yourself. 

Resources:

Drag Queen Story Hour
The Trevor Project
Gender Diversity

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The Hips on the Drag Queen (Support an Independent Bookstore)*
The Hips on the Drag Queen (Amazon)*

More books for this Age Group can be found here.

My thanks to Running Press Kids for providing a Review Copy of this book. All opinions provided herein are my own.

Please, leave comments! I love a HEALTHY exchange of ideas. After all, critical thinking is essential to life.

*When something is purchased using one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission. We do not accept any monies for any editorial reviews. Our opinions, to the chagrin of many, are our own.