Even before the pandemic took its toll on student learning, the average reading scores of American children were dropping, according to studies conducted by The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Those numbers took a big hit when students switched to online-only schooling. Now that in-person learning has returned, the scores have, unfortunately, continued to decline. Despite reaching an all-time high in 2012 (NCES has been tracking results since 1971), average reading scores fell by a total of seven points in the last decade.

Those are the statistics, but what about the solutions? We’ve tried punishment, extra privileges, and pizza parties (thank you, Book It!), but have we tried … pure joy? Drag queen Poppy DaBubbly is up for the challenge.

Recent Berkshires transplant DaBubbly (aka Casi Kristant) is using her background in performance and arts education to launch a Berkshire County chapter of the famous National Drag Story Hour (NDSH) organization. Founded in 2015, NDSH celebrates reading and inclusion by offering literary and creative programming for kids and teens across the nation, and now around the world.

The Berkshire Chapter’s debut event will be held at the Berkshire Pride Office in Pittsfield (34 Depot St.) on Saturday, March 2, from 2-4 p.m., the first day of Read Across America Week. The free celebration will include appearances by local drag royalty Bella Santarella, Vuronika Baked, JV, Miz Rebel, and Sativo Green, as well as crafts, games, and a family dance party. Every child who attends will receive a free book to take home.

Kristant said the idea of creating a new chapter of NDSH formed when she and her three small children began watching virtual drag story hours during the pandemic. For more than 20 years, Kristant had been teaching theater to young artists, but wondered if she’d be able to make a larger impact on the community by hosting readings as Poppy.

She said Poppy DaBubbly was “born” in Chicago while Kristant was starring as Snow White in “Snow White & the 7 Drag Queens.” “It ran for three years and got more and more drag as time went on,” she said. “One woman who was playing the Evil Queen was doing drag and I realized that I could do drag [as a woman]. I received permission from the queens and Chicago for something I didn’t think I could do before.” Kristant said a common question she gets asked is how a cis female can perform as a drag queen. “Having open dialogue is important and I'm so happy to tell people that Poppy is exaggerated female fun,” she said. “It’s a version of extreme joy.”

Kristant, who has starred in web series, on TV, in cabaret, done voiceover work, and performed in the U.S. and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is also the resident drag mother for Camp YATC (Young Actors Theatre Camp). She was crowned the inaugural Majesty of the Berkshires. There's more: Kristant leads the kids' music and movement class Bebop with Poppy and drag master classes at WitchSlapped, KarBEERoke with Poppy at Big Elm, and has performed at Berkshire Pride and with Bella Santarella at The Elm’s Sunday Brunch. She is also a Safe Space Certified committee member with Berkshire Pride, where the launch party will be held.

As drag events of all types have come under intense scrutiny in the past few years, Kristant said both Berkshire Pride and the NDSH organization are very protective of both their readers and the families who attend their events. “I’ve only received one negative comment,” she said. “But it’s not a reason to stop and be silent when the goal is to empower and give these kids voices and confidence. Stopping would be sending the wrong message.

“I understand the value of having a mother be a drag queen,” Kristant continued. “Drag doesn’t just have to be ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’ There are many different types of drag and drag events. My drag is comforting to families—that’s the type of drag that I do.” She said that, while younger kids may simply see Poppy as a character, older teens may themselves have already transitioned and/or explored their gender identity. “The next generation is so happy and open,” she said. “These teens have a level of inclusivity that is heartwarming to see, and I think it’s also helping their parents and grandparents.”

And drag is not only helping others become more themselves. “Using drag as a creative art form has given me such a newborn confidence,” Kristant said. “Teaching children to be excited about literacy is so important, but this event is not just about storytelling; it's a celebration of individuality, diversity, and the pure joy of reading."

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Written by
Amy Krzanik