Reviewed by Sarah Goodman Duffy
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Sam Donovan, Kristen Wixted
Reading is what? Fundamental!
— Ru Paul
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader, by Sam Donovan and Kristen Wixted, is a story that begs the question: in the wake of widespread challenges to DEI, is this what people are really afraid of? Miss Rita is the drag persona of Tori’s dad, who will be a guest reader at their school’s story time. Tori helps their dad assemble Miss Rita’s look from the makeup to the shoes, because sparkle is serious business. Tori can’t help but worry about what their classmates will think of Miss Rita. What if they don’t love Miss Rita as much as Tori does? In the end, Tori has no reason to worry because not only do they love Miss Rita, but they love her special guest.
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader is a heartwarming picture book that not only celebrates the art of drag but the art of reading. Authors Donovan and Wixted bring their respective strengths and expertise as a fashion designer for drag queens and a children’s author to the story of Miss Rita. The story debunks the fears people have about what drag is “doing” to kids and celebrates drag rather than criminalizing it.
Sarah Goodman Duffy served as a summer 2025 intern with Teaching for Change as a rising senior at Connecticut College, where she is double majoring in educational studies and art. When she’s not working, she can usually be found at a local coffee joint, drawing people on the Metro, or reading books by or about Queer people.
Find more recommended books on this topic on our LGBTQ+ booklist.
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader by Sam Donovan, Kristen Wixted
on May 3, 2022
Genres: Gender Identity, LGBTQ
Pages: 40
Reading Level: Grade K, Grades 1-2
ISBN: 9780374391164
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Publisher's Synopsis:
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.
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