Three really lovely dancing books today.
Flora and the Flamingo
Molly Idle
ISBN: 9781452110066
Wordless lift-the-flap book with a double-page unfolding spread. Beautiful illustrations.
This one really had to have been amazing to make it past the usual storytime hurdles. It's a wordless picture book, AND it has lift-the-flaps on quite a few of the pages (AND a big double-spread fold-out section at the end) so you know it has to be really cute or really amazing to get past all that. And it is! Both. Cute. And amazing. Flora is a dancer, and as far as I can tell, she's at the zoo. Maybe she's dreaming, or she has a pet flamingo, because there's really nothing in the way of backgrounds to let us know one way or the other, and I find that it doesn't really matter. Either way, Flora is a dancer, and she's wearing black swim flippers (to look like the flamingo's feet? Because she likes wearing swim flippers? Again, not important.) and a swimming cap, and she and the flamingo are DANCING. TOGETHER. It's beautiful, and the proportions are delightful and the matching movements with the very different bodies are just so sweet and the little bits of story that unfold through mirrored movements and poses and facial expressions are just delightful. It really is just lovely. I love Molly Idle's books so much.
Wiggle
Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Scott Menchin
ISBN: 1599610930
American-cartoon style dog leads an interactive-inviting story through a day of wiggles.
"Do you wiggle out of bed? If you wiggle with your breakfast, it might wind up on your head." These are the important questions in life, and ones that invite the audience to wiggle right along with the irrepressible dog star in this book. There's not much substance, and it's awfully quick, but for a short middle book and short toddler attention-spans? The wiggly content and the fast pace make it perfect. This one also got the rare award of actual toddler laughter. Adults tend to chuckle quite a lot in my storytimes, but I don't often feature stories that hit the little ones' funny bones. This one was a rare exception, and it was a smash hit. Prepare to follow this with a song or an activity that lets those wiggles free!
How Do You Wokka-Wokka?
Elizabeth Bluemle, illustrated by Randy Cecil
ISBN: 9780763632281
A diverse inner-city sidewalk is home to a variety of dance styles told with wokka rhymes.
Wokka-wokka is how the first kid dances, and they go along the sidewalk and ask a lot of others how they dance too - and the answers are as varied as the kids encountered. We get flamingo dances (how appropriate!) and mariachi dances, and breakdancing (dancing like a clock), and the worm (fish-flop dancing), and by the end of the book, the whole neighborhood is dancing all together in their different ways, all having a great time with the repeated rhyme chorus.
Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Juvenile Classic: Ballet Shoes, Noel Streatfeild and Diane Goode
Ballet Shoes
Noel Streatfeild, illustrated by Diane Goode
ISBN: 0679901051 (library binding)
Re-read while off at a conference.
I don't remember the first time I read this book, but I know it wasn't during childhood. Which is a crying shame, because I would have loved this sweet little classic domestic about three adopted siblings finding their passions and their purpose in the worlds of dance and performance and machinery.
The plot is simple: an old man is an inveterate traveler and fossil hunter, and he picks up three "fossils" along the way that are a bit different. They're left at his big home in the care of "nanny" and his grand-niece, and while he's away, they grow up in difficult financial circumstances, necessitating them hosting boarders and the girls performing (dance and acting) professionally to earn money as soon as possible.
It's like Alcott, but less twee, and not really any moralizing at all.
There's a movie also, with a very peculiarly aged (and blonde!) Emma Watson, which I haven't seen yet, but seems watchable in that sort of "Shirley Temple" adorable saccharine way.
Noel Streatfeild, illustrated by Diane Goode
ISBN: 0679901051 (library binding)
Re-read while off at a conference.
I don't remember the first time I read this book, but I know it wasn't during childhood. Which is a crying shame, because I would have loved this sweet little classic domestic about three adopted siblings finding their passions and their purpose in the worlds of dance and performance and machinery.
The plot is simple: an old man is an inveterate traveler and fossil hunter, and he picks up three "fossils" along the way that are a bit different. They're left at his big home in the care of "nanny" and his grand-niece, and while he's away, they grow up in difficult financial circumstances, necessitating them hosting boarders and the girls performing (dance and acting) professionally to earn money as soon as possible.
It's like Alcott, but less twee, and not really any moralizing at all.
There's a movie also, with a very peculiarly aged (and blonde!) Emma Watson, which I haven't seen yet, but seems watchable in that sort of "Shirley Temple" adorable saccharine way.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Tuesday Storytime: Dancing
I found so many nice dancing books that just didn't quite fit my last dance storytime that I figured I could do a second round, and here we are!
Again, we were a little on the long side, and man did we have some active (and loud) kids today. Lots of energy, maybe a bit less on the attentive side. :)
Miss Lina's Ballerinas and the Prince
Grace Maccarone, illustrated by Christine Davenier
ISBN: 9780312649630
Very Eloise/Madeline drawings, lots of ballet terms and poses, tongue-twisting repetitive names.
I was torn between the original (Miss Lina's Ballerinas) and this one, because the original has no boys at all, and I try not to have books that exclude one gender or population entirely, but the original ALSO has a much better flow and storyline than this one. I went with this one in the end for representation, but honestly, the group was so crazy today, and we had so many latecomers that I don't know that any of the kids even followed the story that closely. I do still want to do Miss Lina's Ballerinas, but I'll wait a while, and perhaps save it for a class or a special event - hurrying through the names nearly killed me.
Deer Dancer
Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
ISBN: 9781442434219
Reviewed here.
Again, with such an energetic group, I'm not sure how much of the story got through, but at least by the time we got to this book, everyone was mostly settled in and were paying attention to the pictures (which are amazing). I love the flow of this story, but it wasn't well suited for the energy levels today.
Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Dinosaurumpus)
ISBN: 184121681X
Vivid colors, similar to Dinosaurumpus, just sub-out jungle animals and add a dash of pathos.
Gerald the Giraffe is headed to the annual Jungle Dance, but he really can't dance, and the other animals aren't very polite about informing him. He heads off into the moonlit night to be sad and alone (did I mention pathos) but a friendly cricket helps him find his own music and his own dance, and eventually the other animals also realize that he's got flair. Short and snappy, gets right to the point, and the illustrations are wild and zany, even when the text is sad or quiet, so the kids have lots of bright colors and vivid compositions to look at. This was the best tonal fit for my group's energy levels today, and I wish I'd had a whole set of books like it to match their energy.
Ahh well, if I knew the future, there'd be lots of other things I'd do instead of rigging my storytime books.
Next week: either lions or penguins, haven't decided yet.
Again, we were a little on the long side, and man did we have some active (and loud) kids today. Lots of energy, maybe a bit less on the attentive side. :)
Miss Lina's Ballerinas and the Prince
Grace Maccarone, illustrated by Christine Davenier
ISBN: 9780312649630
Very Eloise/Madeline drawings, lots of ballet terms and poses, tongue-twisting repetitive names.
I was torn between the original (Miss Lina's Ballerinas) and this one, because the original has no boys at all, and I try not to have books that exclude one gender or population entirely, but the original ALSO has a much better flow and storyline than this one. I went with this one in the end for representation, but honestly, the group was so crazy today, and we had so many latecomers that I don't know that any of the kids even followed the story that closely. I do still want to do Miss Lina's Ballerinas, but I'll wait a while, and perhaps save it for a class or a special event - hurrying through the names nearly killed me.
Deer Dancer
Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
ISBN: 9781442434219
Reviewed here.
Again, with such an energetic group, I'm not sure how much of the story got through, but at least by the time we got to this book, everyone was mostly settled in and were paying attention to the pictures (which are amazing). I love the flow of this story, but it wasn't well suited for the energy levels today.
Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Dinosaurumpus)
ISBN: 184121681X
Vivid colors, similar to Dinosaurumpus, just sub-out jungle animals and add a dash of pathos.
Gerald the Giraffe is headed to the annual Jungle Dance, but he really can't dance, and the other animals aren't very polite about informing him. He heads off into the moonlit night to be sad and alone (did I mention pathos) but a friendly cricket helps him find his own music and his own dance, and eventually the other animals also realize that he's got flair. Short and snappy, gets right to the point, and the illustrations are wild and zany, even when the text is sad or quiet, so the kids have lots of bright colors and vivid compositions to look at. This was the best tonal fit for my group's energy levels today, and I wish I'd had a whole set of books like it to match their energy.
Ahh well, if I knew the future, there'd be lots of other things I'd do instead of rigging my storytime books.
Next week: either lions or penguins, haven't decided yet.
Monday, December 29, 2014
New Picture Book: Firebird, Misty Copeland & Christopher Myers
Firebird
Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
ISBN: 9780399166150
Chunky, vivid, textural collage highlights an aspirational story of dance and dreams.
Misty Copeland is a ballerina, an African-American ballerina, a GREAT ballerina. She came late to dance, and had many moments of doubt and hardship along the way (A Life in Motion). In this picture book, she contrasts the vulnerability and fear of a young dancer with the pride and accomplishment of a career ballerina. Misty dances through the pages as a professional, most notably in her role as the Firebird, but the focus is on a younger dancer, who is discouraged by the lack of role-models who look like her, who know her background, who feel her isolation. By focusing on the student, Misty can offer herself as an example, a role-model, and a potential mentor without coming across as preachy or holier-than-thou.
Lots of celebrities and activists try to create picture books, but they often go horribly wrong. While this isn't a masterpiece, it's a solid and inspiring read, and I'm glad to add it to our collection. I look forward to using it in a storytime about mentors, dancing, or inspiration.
Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers
ISBN: 9780399166150
Chunky, vivid, textural collage highlights an aspirational story of dance and dreams.
Misty Copeland is a ballerina, an African-American ballerina, a GREAT ballerina. She came late to dance, and had many moments of doubt and hardship along the way (A Life in Motion). In this picture book, she contrasts the vulnerability and fear of a young dancer with the pride and accomplishment of a career ballerina. Misty dances through the pages as a professional, most notably in her role as the Firebird, but the focus is on a younger dancer, who is discouraged by the lack of role-models who look like her, who know her background, who feel her isolation. By focusing on the student, Misty can offer herself as an example, a role-model, and a potential mentor without coming across as preachy or holier-than-thou.
Lots of celebrities and activists try to create picture books, but they often go horribly wrong. While this isn't a masterpiece, it's a solid and inspiring read, and I'm glad to add it to our collection. I look forward to using it in a storytime about mentors, dancing, or inspiration.
Monday, September 29, 2014
New Picture Books! Deer Dancer, by Mary Lyn Ray & Lauren Stringer
Oh what a pretty book.
Deer Dancer
Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer (this duo also did my favorite Red Rubber Boot Day)
ISBN: 9781442434219
This is such a sweet book. A girl practices her dancing in a woodland glade, and is delighted when a deer stops by. After a ballet class doesn't go as well as she would like, she's back to the glade to practice, and an impromptu pas-de-deux blossoms between the two dancers in this magical space they share.
I'm not quite as thrilled with this one as with Red Rubber Boot Day, but it is beautiful and lyrical and expressive and filled with green growing life and joy. Should be lovely for storytime with Miss Lina's Ballerinas (Grace MacCarone & Christine Davenier, ISBN: 9780312382438) and either Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman & Caroline Binch, ISBN: 9780803710405) or Dancing in the Wings.
Deer Dancer
Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer (this duo also did my favorite Red Rubber Boot Day)
ISBN: 9781442434219
This is such a sweet book. A girl practices her dancing in a woodland glade, and is delighted when a deer stops by. After a ballet class doesn't go as well as she would like, she's back to the glade to practice, and an impromptu pas-de-deux blossoms between the two dancers in this magical space they share.
I'm not quite as thrilled with this one as with Red Rubber Boot Day, but it is beautiful and lyrical and expressive and filled with green growing life and joy. Should be lovely for storytime with Miss Lina's Ballerinas (Grace MacCarone & Christine Davenier, ISBN: 9780312382438) and either Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman & Caroline Binch, ISBN: 9780803710405) or Dancing in the Wings.
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