At the Evanston Public Library, reading isn’t a drag — but it may involve a drag queen.

EPL held a Drag Storytime on Saturday, featuring local queen Coco Sho-Nell. Sho-Nell read Thanksgiving-themed stories to approximately 100 attendees. Children also made crafts, such as writing out things they were thankful for on leaves and creating hand-turkey fans.

Martha Meyer, library assistant and event co-coordinator, said the EPL has held similar events before, including an event with Sho-Nell at the Chicago Avenue and Main Street branch last week.

Evanston resident Liron David brought her two daughters to the event, who are both in second grade. David said that she wanted her daughters to connect with the library and the Evanston community.

“Expanding their view on culture and gender identities is really important,” David said. “I want them to see different people, learn from different people and also be part of the library.”

Drag storytime events have become more popular across the country over the past few years, but they have also received some pushback. Libraries have canceled similar events because of backlash, such as storytimes held in Louisville and Pittsburgh.

Though one resident called for the event to be cancelled, the library decided it was important to give children an opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives, Meyer said.

“We received pushback from a patron, but it didn’t end in us cancelling the event,” Meyer said. “It’s a matter of saying, ‘Thank you for your opinion and that we’re really grateful that you care about what the library is doing.’”

Sho-Nell also brought drag storytimes to the Chicago area with two other queens when they held an event at Women & Children First, a locally owned feminist bookstore in Andersonville. After the event, Sho-Nell said an EPL librarian approached her to expand her program to Evanston.

Sho-Nell said the reason she continues to hold storytimes is because she values education. She said that she has seen the importance of giving back to the next generation as she’s grown up, and she feels it’s important to teach children about diversity at a young age, as it informs their worldview and makes them more accepting later on in their lives.

“I want them to, in the spirit of the season, be thankful,” Sho-Nell said. “But I also want them to know that there are different people out there, and it’s okay to be different. Sometimes we don’t always get to celebrate that kids can be whoever they want to be. It’s great for them to experience something different, that’s still educational.”

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