Drag Queen Story Hour has been partnering with the New York Public Library for over two years. DQSH offer inclusive, gender-affirming programs with storytime favorites and new LGBTQ reads for our youngest patrons, with lots of songs and glitter along the way.

Here at the New York Public Library, we know that the fun of storytime doesn’t end when it’s over! Our friends at Drag Queen Story Hour are featured in this eighteen-minute storytime video, and we hope you’ll find as much to explore here as you do in our branch programs.

This video is a wonderful opportunity to enhance your child’s learning at home. We recommend this video for children roughly ages 2-4, or who are developmentally on the level of a 2-4 year old. Here are some tips for using this video at home:

• Explore this video with your child, rather than sitting them in front of it alone. Children are much less likely to zone out in front of a screen if a friendly adult is guiding them.

  • Ask them questions about what they are seeing, i.e., “What is this person wearing?” “What colors do you see?” “What will happen to Little Spoon next?”

  • If your child is interested in talking about why the drag queen is dressed up, you can have that conversation in very simple language. “Why do you think this person dresses this way? I think it’s because they love looking beautiful. Isn’t it great how human beings come in all shapes, sizes, and colors?” “How we dress on the outside sometimes matches how we feel on the inside. How do you feel when you wear your favorite outfit?”

• You don’t have to watch the video in order! Your child might enjoy starting with something familiar--for example, the beloved “Pete the Cat and His White Shoes” starts at 12:00. You can start anywhere, pausing the video if your child needs more time, and then go back to the beginning.

• Participate alongside the video audience! Sing along to “Wheels on the Bus” [starts at 5:47].

• Pause the video when the book illustrations are on the screen, and read the text together with your child.

• Don’t feel obligated to watch the whole video at once--it’s a long one! One song or story at a time is plenty for early learners, especially if you have a very active toddler.

Find a Drag Queen Story Hour at one of our locations.

Let us know how you used this Drag Queen Story Hour video in the comments!