The upcoming event is hosting 19-year-old Peterborough drag performer Betty Baker, and will feature children’s book readings, sing-alongs and puppet shows geared towards kids ages three to eight.
“The books that I read at storytime are about accepting oneself and being creative, and this month we’re specifically focusing on expressing yourself,” says Baker, who has been invited back for story time after the success of a similar event back in September.
As a queer person in a small town, Baker expresses that events such as this offer a chance for youth to enjoy a fun storytime hour and learn about themes of emotion and acceptance in a “fun, colourful, artistic, whimsical and family-friendly” way.
“I’ve been a queer youth in the community, and I was (now) given the opportunity to become the role model I never really had in Peterborough growing up,” they said.
Echoing this message, Mark Stewart and Karen Clysdale of the Peterborough Public Library say they are proud to be offering a variety of programs and events for any and everyone in the community, pointing out that Betty Baker embodies such diversity “flawlessly.”
“What better person to show people that you can be different and still be valued and included than someone who’s grown up in this community,” says children services librarian Karen Clysdale. “Somebody who can say ‘I’ve been there, I’m still here, and I’m happy,’ and I think Betty is a fantastic example of what children can look forward to, and should expect, from their community.”
The library says this will be the first event of a once a month program they are introducing. Clysdale says her and Baker have worked together to choose a number of books for the event from the library’s collection.
“The event is themed like any other story time that either me or my colleague do throughout the year, only we have a guest presenter. These (themes) are being introduced in a natural, age-appropriate way, talking on a level that kids ages three to eight are responsive to,” says Clysdale.
