Grammy Award-winning singer and rapper Lizzo is bringing her debut children's book tour to Decatur Square, with a stop set for Thursday, October 22, at Little Shop of Stories. The appearance centers on her new picture book, which follows a young girl whose sassy flute sidekick helps her find her voice, and it caps a cross-country run of tour dates that has already taken her through New York, Los Angeles, and Houston.
Lizzo announced the Decatur stop on her Facebook page, confirming she would appear at the bookstore located at 133 E. Court Square, according to 11Alive. The station reports the event is tied to her book, “Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flootin',” which tells the story of how Lizzo learned the flute and fell in love with music. Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, the 40-page title formally debuted on September 8, 2026, marking the artist's official entry into children's literature for readers ages 4 to 8.
The book's central character is named after Lizzo's real-life flute, Sasha Flute. The flute was named after Beyoncé's alter ego, Sasha Fierce. According to WJSR, Sasha Flute has built its own sizable social media following over the years. In the story, 11Alive notes, the flute becomes the young girl's friend and helps her find her voice amid wild adventures.
A Flute Journey That Started in Junior High
Lizzo began playing the flute in junior high school and went on to study classical flute performance on a music scholarship at the University of Houston, where she also played in the marching band before building her pop career, according to Forbes. That classical grounding culminated in a landmark 2022 moment: in September of that year, Lizzo visited the Library of Congress and became the first person to play President James Madison's crystal flute, an antique instrument crafted in France by Claude Laurent, which Dolley Madison saved when the British attacked the White House in 1814.
11Alive reports that Lizzo, who is also an Emmy Award winner, has described the new book as being about confidence, slowing down and breathing, and a passion for music. She's said she's excited for readers to fall in love with the characters, the station notes. The physical book also includes a scannable QR code that unlocks an original flute song.
Why Decatur, and What Tickets Cost
Little Shop of Stories has spent two decades building the kind of reputation that makes it a natural host for a national author tour. Founded in 2005 by Diane Capriola, the Decatur bookstore has won the Women's National Book Association's Pannell Award for excellence in children's bookselling twice, in 2010 and 2020, according to the American Booksellers Association. The shop previously hosted authors including Neil Gaiman and Julie Andrews, and it celebrated its 20th anniversary on Decatur Square in July 2025 while moving forward with plans to expand into an adjacent storefront for added retail space and a cafe, per Shelf Media Group. It is an independent children's bookstore in Decatur.
Capriola's own résumé extends beyond the shop's shelves: she managed children's and teen programming for the AJC Decatur Book Festival from 2013 through 2019, according to the American Booksellers Association. That track record gives this author stop a local connection.
The Decatur appearance follows a photoline and meet-and-greet format, with tickets offered in two tiers. Per 11Alive's reporting, a single-admission ticket costs $25 and includes one photo-line admission plus a signed book, while a parent-and-child ticket costs $30 and includes photo-line admission for a parent and child along with a signed book.
Part of a Bigger Fall Tour
The Decatur stop fits into a national promotional circuit that began September 9 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and has since included readings and photo opportunities in New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, according to The Music Universe. Hoodline previously reported on a surprise stop where Lizzo read to and performed for students at Hicks Elementary, and covered an earlier release-tied appearance in Missouri City, Texas, connected to her University of Houston roots.
For Decatur families planning to attend, the bookstore's two decades of programming and its role in shaping the city's literary scene add a layer of local significance to a stop built around a pop star's unlikely second act in picture books.
