Lizzo showed up unannounced at Hicks Elementary this week, reading her brand-new children's book to a room full of students, handing out copies for them to keep, and then pulling out her flute to play for the crowd.
Word of the visit spread fast after Alief ISD retweeted a post from the school's own account, Alief ISD
, which described Lizzo as a captivating storyteller. According to that post, published Wednesday, Lizzo read her new children's book to students, donated copies for kids to keep, and played the flute during the appearance. The district's official account shared the moment from the Hicks Tigers' own feed.
The book at the center of the visit is Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flootin', a 40-page hardcover picture book published September 8 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers with illustrations by Mark Pett, according to Simon & Schuster. The story follows a young girl and a sassy flute discovering friendship and self-expression through music, and copies feature an embedded QR code granting access to an exclusive original flute song recorded by Lizzo herself, the publisher notes.
A Character Straight From Lizzo's Own Instrument
The book's flute character, Sasha B. Flootin', is modeled after Lizzo's real-life instrument nicknamed Sasha Flute, a nod to Beyoncé's 2008 album I Am... Sasha Fierce. The flute has also appeared in Instagram posts. Lizzo has long woven classical flute solos into her pop and hip-hop performances.
Lizzo's musical background includes classical flute performance, and she later built a career as a rapper and singer.
Part Of A Broader Houston Book Tour
The Hicks Elementary stop came amid a stretch of public Houston-area appearances tied to the book's release. Lizzo held a discussion Monday at the Edison Arts Foundation Cultural Center in Missouri City, moderated by former USA Today journalist ReShonda Tate, and appeared Tuesday at Kindred Stories in Houston. The elementary school visit itself was unannounced.
Hicks Elementary Principal Fabiana Matturro was connected to the visit.
A Homecoming Rooted In Alief's Arts Legacy
Hicks Elementary was the setting for the visit. Lizzo's flute performance offered a music-focused moment for students.
Lizzo's flute performance brought a personal musical touch to the visit, offering a memorable moment for students, staff, and alumni alike.
