Miss Rita, Mystery Reader

by Sam Donovan, Kristen Wixted, Violet Tobacco (Illustrations)

In Sam Donovan, Kristen Wixted & Violet Tobacco's heartwarming picture book Miss Rita, Mystery Reader , Tori can’t wait to show off Daddy’s drag queen alter ego, Miss Rita, at school story time. But will the other kids love Miss Rita like Tori does?

Daddy is the Mystery Reader at Tori’s school today, and he’s coming dressed as Miss Rita! Tori helps Daddy gloss, glitter, glamour, and glimmer to get ready. It takes time―because sparkle is serious business!

Tori loves helping Daddy become Miss Rita. But will the other kids at school love Miss Rita like Tori does? Luckily, a last-minute idea helps Daddy and Tori find a way to make story time sparkle for everyone.

This heartwarming and relatable family story celebrates drag queens, reading, and self-acceptance, teaching every kid to let their sparkle shine! And it includes back matter providing an overview of drag performance.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, Childrens, Queer, Family, School, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published May 3, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori loves their Daddy very much. Tori is super excited for their Daddy to be their classes' mystery reader for the Day. Tori helps Daddy become Miss Rita, the Mystery Reader, but will their classmates accept Miss Rita?

This is a great book of familial love and explaining the very real humans behind Drag personas in an easy-to-understand way. Full of colorful illustrations and an engaging environment, I'd love for Miss Rita to come to Storytime!

[Saturniidead ★ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Content warnings are listed at the end of my review!

Context aside, Miss Rita, Mystery Reader is a cute and simple book. Tori is a nonbinary child who used they/them pronouns, and their dad is a drag performer going by Miss Rita Book. Tori's class is having a mystery reader, and Tori's dad is coming as Miss Rita, and they work through Tori's anxiety concerning if the class might not like Miss Rita as much as them. It shows the dynamic of pronouns with names and pronouns with drag, as Tori uses they/them, and their dad uses he/him, but in drag the two both go by she/her.

It is worth noting the illustrator Violet Tobacco actively does illustration work for the Wizarding World franchise, founded by JK Rowling. Knowing that this book was entirely cis written, and illustrated by someone who contributes to platforming and aiding profit for a notorious anti-trans fearmonger. I'm really starting to get exausted in my search for trans kids books as all of them seem to be cis written and illustrated. Cis authors, please at the very least hire a trans illustrator (There's PLENTY) if you want to write a story involving us, naming cats after historical trans women that are illustrated by someone helping fund a hate group leader is a really mixed signal.

I liked this book otherwise, but it does not exist within a vacuum and the context cannot be separated from the creation. This is why my review ended up so low.

Audience: Because of the context of the creation I do not recommend the book.

Content Warnings: anxiety, crying

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about the day Tori's dad, a drag queen, comes to their classroom as a mystery reader. Tori isn't sure how their classmates will react, but together they and Miss Rita decide to bring all sorts of dress up materials to share with the class. Full of glitter and glamor, this was a lovely story about drag, pronouns (Tori uses they/them pronouns, Dad uses he/him pronouns, Miss Rita uses she/her pronouns), and reading.

Themes: Drag, Reading, Getting Dressed
Age range: Preschool-Elementary

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The agenda in action

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yet another drag queen picture book, I don't get the trend.

After being beaten over the head with sparkle and rainbow I might have a concussion.

The illustrations are nice which led me to Violet Tobacco's (what a name) website which was more fun to scroll through than reading this book.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a child whose dad is the mystery reader at school, only thing is the child's dad is a drag queen. The story goes into the preparations of getting ready to perform drag and explains that drag is just like any other business, it's a job, it's a way to earn a living. The only difference is that this dad needs sparkle, and sparkle is serious business in his profession. I can't help thinking how innocent this book is. I mean, for years we all laughed and accepted Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire and Tyler Perry as Medea, but all of a sudden it's wrong? It reminds me of the great depression and how during the 1920s people were more willing to accept these differences, but when anything goes wrong everybody always tries to find fault in a certain group for their own or the country's problems. That's kind of where we are now I guess. While it was cute and all, I didn't think it was that strong, but I enjoyed the illustrations. It's just nice to see something more than puppy dogs and flowers in a picture book that actually reflects people's realities, their lives, and reading about differences in the most basic form, children's picture books. My rating - 3/5

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori's dad is going to be the class mystery reader today, and Tori is psyched to help him transform into his drag identity, Miss Rita Book! But as preparations ensue, Tori gets less enthusiastic and starts to withdraw, finally admitting they just want their class to love Miss Rita as much as they do. Miss Rita knows of a great way to boost a little confidence, and shows up at school accompanied by a new assistant: Miss Tori Teller! Lovely story that celebrates the glitz and glam, explains a bit about drag culture, and normalizes gender fluidity. The authors' note gives a bit more "dictionary definitions" about transgender and gender nonbinary people, as well as a little drag history (herstory) and bio on the authors. (I thought it was very strange that they didn't include any information or kudos to the illustrator in this space, though.) The illustrations are bright and sparkly and show lots of expression, and the two cats are fun to watch in the background of almost every page.

[Phobean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Drag story times have gotten very popular so I'm not surprised to start seeing picture books about them. This book features the prep that goes into a father's transformation into his drag persona, which I found an interesting approach since it focuses more on what a Drag Queen is (and isn't) rather than on the actual story hour. I wondered why the authors devoted a whole page to whether or not Dad would shave off his eyebrows --what's the significance? They don't explain that further. The Black male teacher in the protagonist's class is maybe the first I've seen in a picture book --at least in recent times-- so I appreciated that addition. There's an authors' note at the end that's, uh, rambling? Overall, a good start to what will hopefully, eventually be a small collection of stories on this topic.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing, inclusive, and sparkly picture book for young readers! Tori is non-binary and is very excited for their father to come to story time in his drag persona, Miss Rita! The pair get ready together while two adorable cats, Marsha P and Sylvia, tag along with them. Tori suddenly becomes worrisome, afraid that not everyone will be accepting of Miss Rita. The solution? Tori brings drag to their classroom, allowing everyone who wants to, dress up in sparkly jewelry and colorful wigs! An important read for kids (and parents) who do not understand drag story time or have never had one. Drag is not a crime and should be celebrated for the art it is! I mean come on now, their names are Miss Rita Book and Tori Teller. ART.

[Mark Ceilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Rita, Mystery Reader
By Sam Donovan and Kristen Wixted

Tori helps her dad transform into Miss Rita, a drag performer. Tori makes her own transformation as Tori Teller with rainbow socks and sparkly clothes. The two of them read a story to Tori’s class. This is a wonderful story of acceptance, gender identity, and self-expression. With colorful illustrations, readers will feel uplifted and encouraged to express themselves any way they want to. An author’s note is also included with more information about transgender and gender nonbinary people. There is also info about drag performers and the authors.

[Kristin Wauson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ve probably never met a mystery reader like Miss Rita Book! I think all kids will love her colorful character, but this story will be especially reassuring to kids whose families don’t fit gender norms or might be navigating their own feelings about gender identity. A fun and approachable story that teaches kids what it means (and doesn’t mean) to be a drag queen. The back matter even includes a bit of history and introduces some helpful gender terms. The illustrations are full of sparkle and flair just like Miss Rita!

[Ross Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

03152025: my notes:
• oooooh i love the art
• the cats named marsha p and sylvia hgdjgdjgd that’s epic
• i like that the daughter is kind of gnc too
• THE PRONOUN SHIFT AS DAD ENTERS DRAG. LOVE IT
• does tori use they/them pronouns that rules
• TRANS FLAG FINGERNAILS HELL YEAH
• all the little details make this
• MISS RITA BOOK THAT’S TOO MUCH
• this is over the top in the very best way
• i won’t spoil the big twist but this really is so good
• TORI IS NB I KNEW IT
• well that was a delight from start to finish. five stars

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book just sparkles (not literally) but storywise. A youngling helps their dad get ready for being a Mystery Reader in their classroom. Dad is getting dressed in his work clothes to transform into Miss Rita. But they are worried that their classmates might not like Miss Rita as much as they do. What does Dad do? A fun surprise. Read to find out.

It has an Author's Note in the back to help explain a bit about drag artists and drag culture.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh 5 million stars for this book!!! As a nonbinary person, I laughed aloud in delight when I realized that Tori, the kid in this book, is nonbinary. The authors include a wonderful note about drag, LGBTQ+ activism, and LGBTQ+ identities that is brief but chockful of information and highly readable by kids. This book covers a lot in 40 pages and does it all beautifully. Also, BEST copyright statement ever - I just about died laughing.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one! I feel like it helps increase the understanding of what a drag queen is or is not. The author's note to me helped with some of those clarifications. It wasn't clear to me that the kid was nonbinary but I think in rereading it I understood that bit and it was super cute the way the dad helped the kid with confidence in being themselves. I really liked the relationship between the two and I think this is a great book.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child requests a mystery reader visit by Miss Rita and helps their father prepare for and complete the visit.


This is just a showy read aloud by an entertainer and should be considered as that alone.
The back matter notes from the authors appear directed to adults and may be necessary for some adults to better understand some differences in the LGBTQ+ community as seen by those outside of the community.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with the girls. I was hopin for more. But it is a nice story that doesn't beat anyone over the head. Dad is a drag queen, who has been invited to their child's class. The child, Tori, uses the they/them/their pronouns. We read at the same time as "What Riley Wore" so it allowed for a discussion of gender identity and how it isn't up to us to decide, but to respect the person.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of Tori's dad coming into school as his drag character, Miss Rita, to read to Tori's class. A nice intro to drag, non-binary, and acceptance for younger children. A brief author's note in the back of the book explains these topics in more detail for parents who need it.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important story about a dad dressing up to be the "Mystery Reader" in his child's class. Vibrant, colorful art shows the fun props and costumes that make drag an art form. The non-binary child resolves some reservations about whether his friends will love Miss Rita as much as they do.

A two-page afterward by the co-authors gives context to drag, LGBTQ identities and more.

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this picture book about a dad who is his child's classroom mystery reader. Tori helps their dad become Miss Rita. Tori suddenly worries that their dad will not be accepted by the other classmates and has the idea to dress up as well and they bring other wigs and costumes for others to try on.

[Julie Koon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming story about acceptance and sharing who you are with the world. Beautiful illustrations with bright colors and a lovely message make this book a must read. Miss Rita dazzles the classroom!

[Brenna Jeanneret · Rating 5 out of 5]

The colors and fun jump right off the page in this sweet inclusive book about a dad who dresses in drag to do story hour at his kid’s school. Written with sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and of course, a bit of glitter! Because at our core aren’t we all just trying to express ourselves?

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom and my cousin wrote this book, so I’m for sure biased, but I think it’s great and really cute

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful and surprising find in my community's favorite independent bookstore. Uplifting it here.

[Debrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, I'm glad it exists.

[Jenna Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable and teaches inclusion!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

the cutest and sweetest thing in the entire universe pls treat yourselves to this story, it does not disappoint 🏳️‍⚧️✨

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! The illustrations are stunning and my little cousins love the colors.

[Kimberly Wright Oelkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Favorite Drag Queen story!! This book is definitely going in my school library!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book. It had great representation and I love the illustrations.