The lady with the head of flowers, oversized pink reading glasses and leather heels turned the page on a small book and pointed to a picture of a raccoon standing upright.
B次元官网网址淐an you walk on your tiptoes?B次元官网网址� they asked the room full of children, who happily obliged. B次元官网网址淚 have to in these shoes.B次元官网网址�
The parents laughed, and Chase AdamsB次元官网网址檚 bright purple lips smiled before their continued on with the story.
Adams, a local drag performer whose real name is Ryan Gallant, was the latest guest reader at Kootenay Kids. Every Wednesday the childcare centre, when possible, invites a community member to spend 15 minutes reading and interacting with kids and parents.
With the exception of Pride events, such as a brunch held earlier this year, Adams rarely wears drag during the day. Their performance outfit, they said, is far more provocative than the heavily accessorized yellow and black dress they borrowed from their partner for story time.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 couture,B次元官网网址� Adams quipped.
There were no questions from the group about Adams B次元官网网址� the target audience was too young to discuss topics such as gender identity B次元官网网址� but Adams said just being there helps children and parents learn about diversity and acceptance.
They pointed to their three-year-old daughter Ella, who was in the audience for the reading, as their biggest fan.
B次元官网网址淭he kids donB次元官网网址檛 have that filter about gender or expectations,B次元官网网址� said Adams. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more about fun and being able to be accepting. TheyB次元官网网址檙e our greatest teachers. To see kids almost not even think twice about the whole getup is so great because itB次元官网网址檚 learned later about acceptance and different biases.
B次元官网网址淪o itB次元官网网址檚 great for them to get this experience when they are younger so they know itB次元官网网址檚 OK to be whatever they want to be.B次元官网网址�
Previous readers have included a pair of grandmothers and a letter carrier, with a chef set to visit for Halloween. Nicole Purvis, the childrenB次元官网网址檚 playgroup facilitator at Kootenay Kids, said the centre had been looking for the right person to do a drag story time.
B次元官网网址淒rag story time is a thing that happens in bigger cities but hasnB次元官网网址檛 happened here yet,B次元官网网址� said Purvis. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been talking about it for a while, the literacy community has been talking about it. It was just a matter of finding somebody who was willing.
B次元官网网址淐hase is a member of the parenting community in Nelson, so Chase was a really natural fit and was willing and has a comfort with young children. So it was a perfect fit. IB次元官网网址檓 not sure we knew we would find that.B次元官网网址�
tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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