PORTSMOUTH�� Area residents celebrated diversity on Saturday as kids and their parents attended the first ever Drag Queen Story Hour at the Portsmouth Public Library.

Drag Queen Story Hour is not a new concept, but rather the event is part of a national diversity program. Well-known local entertainers Bunny Wonderland and Rita Fluxx led the day as they sat in shiny throne-like chairs and read a story each, "Fancy Nancy" and "Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress." They led dances with brightly colored scarves for themselves and the kids, and shaker rhythm eggs.

The kids loved it. They sang, danced and afterwards lined up for a chance to meet the pair of fabulous queens, who gave hugs, took selfies and complimented kids on their attire.

"I saw where they did this program in Brooklyn, San Francisco and in Boston," said Andrew Houldworth, staff member at the library, who coordinated the story hour, dressed in a a rainbow tutu, wig and tiara. "I contacted them and we decided to do it here. It is so kid-friendly and just fun."

Houldworth hosted the event and set the stage with an interactive sing-a-long, set to the popular kids tune "The Wheels on the Bus." In his case it went more like, the "drag queens hair goes toss, toss toss."

Library Director Steve Butzel said the event was a great way for kids to enjoy story hour.

"We see this as a celebration of storytelling and of diversity," Butzel said. "It encourages everyone to be who they are. There are stories, dancing and craft. Kids are going to make crowns at the end of the hour."

Dressed a bit like a school teacher, Rita Fluxx read Fancy Nancy, a story about a girl who loves being fancy and decides to offer lessons to her family to make them fancy, too.

Bunny Wonderland read the Morris Micklewhite book, a story of a boy who loves wearing his tangerine colored dress because it is the same color as his mother's hair, and because it makes lovely swishing sounds when he walks. As you can imagine, Morris faces ridicule at school until he finds a way to make the kids see it's OK, but not before he fakes a bellyache to stay out of school for a day.

"Boys do not wear dresses," said a classmate.

"This boy does," Morris said.

Rowan Wulfe, 8, of Eliot, sporting rainbow-colored hair came with his grandmother Karen Morzioli.

"I loved the stories, both of them," Rowan said. "My mom did my hair. I loved the dancing and I am going to make a crown."

Marzioli said the event was a lot of fun.

"The world and the culture are changing," she said. "And I think that is wonderful."

Monte Bohanan, director of marketing at The Music Hall brought his two children. "I loved it," he said. "Great stories and a dance break. It was fantastic."