Valentine’s Day Craft & Drag Story Time

Join Portland Ovations and local Drag Queen Chartreuse Money for an hour of stories and art! This is part of a series where glamorous expert storytellers use the art of drag to read books and lead craft projects at local bookstores, libraries, and community centers around Portland. Kicking off our season for families, this fun, fabulous literary experience fosters learning and play, encouraging children and their caregivers to celebrate all kinds of difference in a creative and joyful space.

Suggested for ages 3+. ASL interpretation will be provided.

What is Drag?

Drag is many things: an art, a form of self-expression, a source of entertainment, and a communal activity. It has a long history and roots in many cultures around the world. Drag performance emphasizes feminine and masculine features, offering a creative way to both subvert and celebrate the wide spectrum of gender expression. Drag performers often express different aspects of their gender or personality through dressing up, performing, marching in parades, and volunteering in their communities. Drag is not limited to one form of gender expression—there are drag queens and drag kings and anyone can be a drag queen or drag king, regardless of how they identify in everyday life. Drag is a triumphant, creative celebration of gender in its myriad forms.

About Chartreuse Money

Chartreuse Money (she/they/he), also known as Jake (he/they), has been a working drag entertainer since 2018 when she learned to love herself through the acceptance of the queer community in Portland. Chartreuse holds a Bachelors of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Education and Choreography. Having worked 4 years as a full time educator in public schools and as a full time choreographer at theaters across Mid-Coast Maine, Lewiston/Auburn, and the Greater Portland area, Chartreuse has an extensive background in working with children and young adults (as well as grown up adults too!). Chartreuse has appeared on News 8 WMTW and News Center Maine for her work hosting Drag Queen Story Times across Maine. She has also appeared in theatrical productions Maddy’s Theatre at The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, most recently as Frack in GRUFF: An Epic Fairytale Eco-Musical (2023), and as Yellow Dragon in Dragons Love Tacos (2022). Chartreuse has been the Host/Emcee for Pride Portland for the past two years, and most recently won the title as Portland’s Best Drag Personality for the Portland Old Port Best of 2023 Awards.

Are Drag Performers Dangerous?

No, this a false narrative, driven by a fear of difference. Drag performers are artists, entertainers, and activists, and they are fantastic role models challenging gender stereotypes and encouraging young people be fully and loudly themselves. Here’s what the national organization, Drag Story Hour has to say on this question:

Let’s be clear: Drag Story Hour provides age-appropriate programming, and we routinely receive praise from parents and educators who are delighted that we offer children safe spaces to express themselves and support one another. 

Any attempt to criminalize our work is rooted in tired homophobic and transphobic hate and misinformation, and we refuse to give in to politicians who are too bigoted and boring to comprehend our vision for a world in which every child can be safe fully expressing who they are. (dragstoryhour.org)

How do you select the books read during a Drag Story Time?

We work with the Drag artists and our partners at local bookstores, the Equality Community Center, and Portland Public Library to select books to read during Drag Story time. Each book is carefully selected to represent a diversity of perspectives and stories and is appropriate for children aged 2-5. Drag performers will read several books over the 1-hour, session and some sessions will include a craft project related to themes in the stories.