Children’s Books with Dance as the Primary Theme (K-8)*
Tip of the Toes (A Ballerina Story) (Fun Rhyming Children's Books)
By Lily Lexington
If your child enjoys stories from authors like Kate DiCamillo, Cynthia Rylant,
Mem Fox or Gary Paulson then your child will love this beautiful ballerina story told by Lily Lexington.
This is a tale about a young ballerina as she prepares for her big concert. Follow her as she attempts to
conquer her fears about performing in front of an audience in this heartwarming tale.
- Beautiful, color illustrations that will captivate your young child.
- Rhyming lines help engage your child and sustain interest
Your younger children will enjoy the illustrations and sing-song tone of the story while your older children will
particularly like the rhyming story format.
Degas and the Little Dancer
by Laurence Anholt
Young Marie wants to be a ballerina, but her parents have no money for lessons. She must earn what little
money she can as an artist's model at a ballet school. Then, her life takes an unusual turn when she models for
the famous sculptor, Edgar Degas. This is a title in Barron's Anholt's Artists Books for Children series, in which
author and illustrator Laurence Anholt recalls memorable and sometimes amusing moments when the lives of
the artists were touched by children. Anholt's fine illustrations appear on every page and include
reproductions of works by the artists.
Giraffes Can't Dance
by Giles Andreae
Gerald the giraffe doesn't really have delusions of grandeur. He just wants to dance. But his knees are crooked
and his legs are thin, and all the other animals mock him when he approaches the dance floor at the annual
Jungle Dance. "Hey, look at clumsy Gerald," they sneer. "Oh, Gerald, you're so weird." Poor Gerald slinks away
as the chimps cha-cha, rhinos rock 'n' roll, and warthogs waltz. But an encouraging word from an unlikely
source shows this glum giraffe that those who are different "just need a different song," and soon he is
prancing and sashaying and boogying to moon music (with a cricket accompanist). In the vein of Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer, Gerald's fickle "friends" quickly decide he's worthy of their attention again.
With this rhyming, poignant (in a cartoonish way) tale, Giles Andreae, author of Rumble in the Jungle, and
numerous other picture books, shows insecure young readers that everyone can be wonderful, even those
that march to the beat of a different cricket. The rhymes are somewhat awkward, but the bold, bright
watercolors by Guy Parker-Rees will invite readers to kick up their heels and find their own internal harmony.
(Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter
Ballet Class Coloring Book
by John Green (Author), Caroline Denzler (Author)
Forty-two clear, accurate drawings (all in proper sequence) depict everything that goes on in a beginner's
class, from lacing up the ballet shoe to executing the perfect arabesque. Illustrated instructions as well for
proper posture, warm-up exercises, arm movements and much more. Inspirational, encouraging and
instructive advice.
Dance Fairies #7: Isabelle the Ice Dance Fairy
Daisy Meadows (Author)
Can Rachel and Kirsty help the Dance Fairies get their grooves back?
The Dance Fairies' magic ribbons are missing! Without them, all kinds of dances are getting off on the wrong
foot. Everyone is miserable, except for Jack Frost and his goblins. They have the ribbons . . . and it's up to
Rachel and Kirsty to get them back!
It's a slippery situation when Isabelle the Ice Dance Fairy's ribbon disappears! Can Rachel and Kirsty skate their
way to victory and find the final ribbon?
Find the magic ribbon in each book, and help keep the Dance Fairies on their toes!
The Dance
by Richard Paul Evans and Jonathan Linton
Dancing marks the rites of passage in a daughter's life and that of the father who loves her. From her first
carefree twirling in the flower-dotted yard, to her first solo performance in The Nutcracker, to the waltz of her
wedding night, her father is there watching, silent and unobserved. And he smiles.
This tender story of the bond between a father and a daughter, told straight from the heart by the best-selling
author of The Christmas Candle and illustrated with exquisite, lush paintings, evokes that bond with powerful
poignancy. The Dance will forever resonate with parents and children everywhere.
Dance Divas: Showstopper
by Sheryl Berk
Anya is just getting used to being the newest member of the Dance Divas when her parents want her to move
back home to L.A. to study dance "more seriously," which means she may have to say goodbye to Divas
forever. The timing couldn't be worse. City Feet is back with a vengeance at the Smooth Moves Competition in
Las Vegas. Without Anya, Miss Toni has to reshuffle the entire group number at the last minute (good thing it's
called "Deck of Cards"!). Meanwhile, mean Justine has a few tricks up her sleeve: her group dance is a magic
act that promises to make all the competition disappear! Who will win? And what will happen to Anya?
Glitter Ballerinas Sticker Book
by Darcy May
This delightful sticker collection features ten graceful ladies, perfectly executing the basic positions of classical
ballet. Dressed in sparkling costumes, the beauties will enhance cards, stationery, notebooks, and other flat
surfaces.
Favorite Ballets Coloring Book
by Brenda Sneathen Mattox (Author)
For the many youngsters who love ballet (and love to color): 29 scenes depicting classic costumes and
characters from such popular ballets as Swan Lake, Petrouchka, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella,
Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Firebird. Captions include title of ballet, story line, composer, year first
performed, and characters depicted.
Elephants Cannot Dance! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
by Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)
Another Elephant and Piggie book; this one about dancing.
Song and Dance Man
by Karen Ackerman
Once a song and dance man, Grandpa reclaims his youth and profession before the delighted eyes of his three
grandchildren one afternoon. He simply cannot resist the urge to dress up in clothes left over from his
vaudeville days--complete with top hat and gold-headed cane--and to perform tricks, play banjo and tell jokes.
He taps, twirls and laughs himself to tears on a thrown-together stage in his attic. Artist Stephen Gammell
takes full advantage of lamplight to render Grandpa in shadow and silhouette, trivializing the concept of age
and creating a feeling of intense nostalgia. Related from the point of view of the children, the text in Song and
Dance Man is soft and understated, and Gammell's artistry is superb. The book won the Caldecott Medal in
1989.
Dance at Grandpa's (My First Little House)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author), Renee Graef (Illustrator)
A picture book based on Wilder’s much beloved Little House series.
I Wear My Tutu Everywhere!
by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and Mary Morgan
Tilly loves her tutu, and she never wants to take it off. She wears it everywhere--in the pool, at the zoo, even
in the rain! So what will Tilly do when her tutu accidentally gets torn?
Dancing Shoes (The Shoe Books)
by Noel Streatfeild
Aunt Cora is determined to turn two orphans, perky Hilary and sullen Rachel, into members of her dance
troupe. But Rachel wants to keep Hilary from being one of Wintle’s Little Wonders—is it selfishness or
something else? Misunderstandings and a spoiled cousin come together for a tale full of high drama. Originally
published in 1957.
Dancing in the Wings
by Debbie Allen and Kadir Nelson
Sassy is a long-legged girl who always has something to say. She wants to be a ballerina more than anything,
but she worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream.
When a famous director comes to visit her class, Sassy does her best to get his attention with her high jumps
and bright leotard. Her first attempts are definitely not appreciated, but with Sassy's persistence, she just
might be able to win him over. Dancing in the Wings is loosely based on actress/choreographer Debbie Allen's
own experiences as a young dancer.
Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic (Sugar Plum Ballerinas series Book 1)
by Whoopi Goldberg and Maryn Roos
Whoopi Goldberg presents an adorable, illustrated chapter book series about six girls attending ballet school
in Harlem.
Barn Dance! (Reading Rainbow)
by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Kindergarten-Grade 3 With a rhythmic cadence Martin and Archambault build their story from a quiet moonlit
night when ``there's magic in the air'' to a very special foot stompin' party and back again. On this eerie night
everyone is asleep except for the ``skinny kid with questions in his head.'' With him readers sneak out to the
barn and hide just in time to see all the farm animals kick up their heels to the scarecrow's fiddle music. While
the words are a delight to hear (albeit it's a bit hard to get the tongue around on some lines), Rand's pictures
make the story come alive. The two-page spreads range from the barn standing ghost-like in the full moonlight
to the colorful interior of the barn, where the figures seem to be in perpetual motion. An engaging blend of
words and pictures to set both the mind and eye dancing. Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library
Barnyard Dance!
by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton has a knack for creating baby books with bounce. Her Barnyard Dance! Is a true romp of a
board book, with cartoon farm animals that are wacky enough to make you laugh out loud, and rhymes clever
enough to sustain those nearly infinite re-readings: "Stand with the donkey /Slide with the sheep / Scramble
with the little chicks - cheep cheep cheep!" Now, here's a woman who really knows how to use an active verb.
(Parents) Funny, flocking, festivities are depicted in this bright and sturdy board book. Everybody sings along
as the animals do-si-do in the barnyard. Winner of the 1994 Gold Medal from the National Parenting
Publications Award.
Ballerina Girl (My First Reader)
by Kirsten Hall (Author), Anne Kennedy (Illustrator)
Young children will love learning to read with these storybooks. Once they can recognize and identify the
words used to tell each story, the will be able to successfully read on their own. Features a word list.
I Love Ballet/Me encanta el Ballet: Bilingual Coloring Book) (English and Spanish Edition)
by Cathy Beylon (Author), Oscar Gongora (Translator)
n this bilingual coloring book, talented Catie and her friends are busy getting ready for a recital. Children can
join them at ballet school to color pictures of their rehearsals and the performance, from practicing pirouettes
to taking a final bow. Brief captions are in both English and Spanish.
En este libro de colorear bilingüe la talentosa Catie y sus amigos se preparan para el recital. Acompáñalos
coloreando dibujos de los ensayos escuela de ballet y el estreno, desde como practicar piruetas hasta el
saludo final al público. Leyendas en inglés y en español.
101 Dance Games for Children: Fun and Creativity with Movement (SmartFun Activity Books)
by Paul Rooyackers and Cecilia Hurd
Encourages children to develop their imaginations, social skills, self-expression, and coordination with a
collection of 101 dance games that emphasize creativity, no-blame activities, working with a group, and more.
A Child's Introduction to Ballet: The Stories, Music, and Magic of Classical Dance
by Laura Lee and Meredith Hamilton
The latest volume in Black Dog’s successful book-and-CD series combines the mesmerizing stories of the
world’s great ballets with fun facts, dancing how-tos, history, profiles— all accompanied by charming original
watercolors.
From Swan Lake and The Nutcracker to Peter and the Wolf and Fancy Free, the of twenty-five of the world’s
best-loved ballets are told, accompanied by corresponding tracks on an enclosed CD. These are the charming
stories that bring ballet to life on the stage, along with the music that has made them into enduring classics.
Surrounding the stories is a captivating, illustrated history of ballet, each page filled with information, artwork,
and profiles of the world’s great dancers, choreographers, and composers. There are even instructions on
ballet positions and the key moves that every dancer needs to know.
The musical selections included on the CD are keyed to specific points in the text, making the book uniquely
interactive, educational, and fun.
Sophie's Ballet Show: A Sparkly Pop-up Extravaganza!
by Rosalinda Kightley and Richard Ferguson
This delightful story about a little girl who joins a ballet class comes with big color illustrations and all kinds of
interactive features on every page. There are tabs to pull, flaps to lift, wheels to turn, and a wonderful pop-up
ballet scene on the book's final two-page spread. When kids pull the book's tabs, little Sophie and her
classmates actually move around, practicing their steps and learning to dance. Little girls will also enjoy
turning a pair of wheels in order to see Sophie trying on many different dance costumes. Here's a big, bright
picture book that every little girl will love!
Baby Dance
by Ann Taylor and Marjorie van Heerden
Up and down, to and fro, coo and crow baby, there you go. Up to the ceiling, down to the ground, backward
and forward, round and round ... All babies love to be lifted, twirled and held in loving arms. Now a rhythmic
poem by nineteenth century poet Anne Taylor makes a delightful board book perfect for baby and parent to
share. Marjorie van Heerden has captured the energy and joy of this playful text in vivd pastel illustrations full
of the soft, gentle motion of dance.
For babies who are responding to music and movement, here's a playful poem that has father and child
dancing lovingly across the pages.
Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon
(Tomas Rivera Mexican-American Children's Book Award)
by Susanna Reich and Raul Colon
José was a boy with a song in his heart and a dance in his step. Born in Mexico in 1908, he came into the world
kicking like a steer, and grew up to love to draw, play the piano, and dream. José's dreaming took him to
faraway places. He dreamed of bullfighters and the sounds of the cancan dancers that he saw with his father.
Dance lit a fire in José's soul.
With his heart to guide him, José left his family and went to New York to dance. He learned to flow and float
and fly through space with steps like a Mexican breeze. When José danced, his spirit soared. From New York to
lands afar, José Limón became known as the man who gave the world his own kind of dance.
¡OLÉ! ¡OLÉ! ¡OLÉ!
Susanna Reich's lyrical text and Raúl Colón's shimmering artwork tell the story of a boy who was determined
to make a difference in the world, and did. José! Born to Dance will inspire picture book readers to follow their
hearts and live their dreams.
*Unless otherwise noted all book reviews are from Amazon.com Book Reviews