Editorial Review

Gerald the giraffe doesn't really have delusions of grandeur. He justwants to dance. But his knees are crooked and his legs are thin, and all theother animals mock him when he approaches the dance floor at the annual JungleDance. "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, andwarthogs waltz. But an encouraging word from an unlikely source shows this glumgiraffe that those who are different "just need a different song," and soon heis prancing and sashaying and boogying to moon music (with a cricketaccompanist). In the vein of Read more

Reviews (33)

GERALD GETS HIS GROOVE ON
My 3 year daughter received this book as a birthday gift. Almost a year later, it is still her favorite (and mine as well!). The story is cute, funny and endearing. There is also some good lessons taught. Overall, a real feel good story. And the illustrations are just beautiful.
AMAZING!
This book is a wonderful story about how each of us has a place in this world and a unique way of living into that place, IF we can only find the right music to live by (or dance by in Gerald's case)!Great for use with children AND with adults!Enjoy!

This is my favorite childrens book
We were given this book while my daughter was in the NICU. We read it to her at least once a day and we never tired of it. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, it is well written, and it has a wonderful message. This is one of the few books that we still read to her today from the NICU. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's Books/Baby-Preschool    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Dance    5. Fiction    6. Giraffe    7. Humorous Stories    8. Individuality    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Performing Arts - Dance    11. Social Issues - General    12. Stories in rhyme    13. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (8)

Pretty Good, Not DePaola's Best
Tomie dePaola states in the liner notes that Oliver's story is partly autobiographical. "I could spend hours drawing, and nobody ever asked me to play on their ball teams because I was so bad at it."
Great beginning, but fizzles out
I bought this book because Oliver Button is very much like I was at his age.He is more interested in playing with girls and doing activities that are not usually done by boys.I also thought it would be a good way to teach children that they don't have to conform to gender roles.However, having worked with elementary school children in various settings for years, I found the story to be very unrealistic.
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Will Herman
I really enjoyed this book.It is about a little boy named Oliver Button.This little boy doesn't really care what other people think, he likes to do what he thinks is fun, and that is it.He doesn't do normal things like other boys, he dances, and jumps rope for exercise.He got a new pair of tap shoes and the older boys teased him and called him a sissy and wrote it on the wall.Oliver still kept going to dance school and practicing and practicing. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Dance    5. Dancing    6. Fiction    7. Performing Arts - Dance    8. School & Education    9. Sex role    10. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    11. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (7)

Barn Dance!
As an avid square dancer this delightful book captures the joy and thrill of an evening of dancing. I have shared it with my two granddaughters, ages 7 and 4. Although they question why we might dance with the cows and chickens, as shown in the wonderful illustrations, they have a better understanding of what we do at a square dance. My husband is a caller and finds the scarecrow a charming immitation of the same role. A must read for dancers of all ages!

A creative book for kids
The book "Barn Dance" by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault is a cute book for kids.It lets them know that all things arent scary.Like scarecrows, for instance, arent scary their just to keep the crows away.Also if you child was scared of animals, this book might teach them there is nothing to be afraid of.It also is a very catchy book with all the rhymes and pictures.I was very pleased with it.

As much fun to read aloud as it is to hear
Scarecrows aren't really scary unless you're a crow -- or a preschooler. My son was terrified of scarecrows until we found this book. Now, it's tornand tattered, and a favorite of both my boys and their older sister. It'sthe story of what goes on in the barn when (almost) everyone in thefarmhouse is sleeping.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Preschool    3. Country life    4. Dance    5. Dancing    6. Fiction    7. Lifestyles - Country Life    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Stories in rhyme    10. Juvenile Fiction / Performing Arts   

Reviews (11)

a mom's review....
beautifully illustrated, heartwarming childrens stories. Even though the Angelina stories are geared towards girls, my little boy, at 8, enjoyed these as well, especially when mom read to him.These are good stories to read to your child at bedtime.
Adorable Book For Your Ballerina
Angelina Ballerina is a little mouse, whom loves to dance. She dances all over the schoolyard, and through the house. Finally her parents enroll her in a ballet class, where she becomes one of the best students. My daughter's favorite!
We bought this book at a festival of books.The author did a reading and then signed the books.Ever since then, my 5 year old, Xotchitl, has not put it down!It is a great book!She is hoping that Santa Clause will bring her the rest of the Angelina books! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Ballet dancing    3. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Dancers    7. Fiction    8. Mice    9. Performing Arts - Dance    10. Performing Arts - General    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, etc.   

Reviews (1)

What do we do now?We dance!
How should your average adult shopper determine the difference between a graphic novel that is good and a graphic novel that is bad? It's simple. If a graphic novel is bad then it will be poorly illustrated, shamefully written, and just dull all over. If a graphic novel is good it can convert the unconvertible. I work with a woman who is a self-proclaimed woman "too old" for graphic novels. She never dug them. Never much cared for them. And then "To Dance" fell into her lap and BANG! Instant fan. This should come as no very great surprise. We're dealing with the Siegel duo. Mark Siegel the illustrator may at this point in time be best known for "Seadogs: An Epic Ocean Operattea" which he penned with aplomb. He's the editorial director of First Second (the company that gave the world that go-buy-it-right-now book "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang) and a talented artist in his own right. And Ms. Siena Cherson Siegel attended the School of America Ballet where she studied "preprofessionally" (as the book's author blurb says) for twelve years. So what couple is better suited to depict the rigor and wonder of how a child becomes a ballerina, I ask you? This is a biography like you've never seen it before.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Performing Arts    2. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Graphic Novels    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    6. Girls & Women    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels   

Reviews (7)

Love it
Nice art and poetry. It's one of our favorites. I love reading it to my children.

A lilting story
I first bought this book because I was fond of the author.Reading it the first time to my daughters' first-grade class, I cried.The author, Libba Moore Gray, perfectly captures the dance of the changing seasons and how the mother and daughter celebrate.After I finished the book that first time, a very rough-and-tumble boy asked, "Is that book poetry?"Of course it is!The best kind: the kind that reaches children.

A Treasure
I gave this book to my mother for Mother's Day after being introduced to it in one of my teaching methods classes.Gray uses words like paint on a paintbrush, dipping into serious deep blues and greens while tossing in dashes of bright yellows.Colon's illustrations enhance the carefully chosen and eloquent words, bringing them to life. This is truly a book to be shared by daughters and mothers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Dance    5. Family - General    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mothers and daughters    10. Nature & the Natural World - Seasons    11. Performing Arts - Dance    12. Performing Arts - General    13. Seasons   

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Contests    6. Family - Siblings    7. Fiction    8. Hobbies    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Polacco, Patricia    11. Sports & Recreation - General    12. Sports & Recreation - Winter Sports    13. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Siblings   

Reviews (2)

From ballet to book
"Coppelia" is a fantasy story retold by ballerina Margot Fonteyn, with paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. The story concerns Dr. Coppelius, a European dollmaker who is also an alchemist. Coppelius creates a remarkably lifelike doll who becomes involved in an unusual love triangle. Copp�lia
Margot Fonteyn's rendition of the French ballet Copp�lia is wonderful. It is the story of a young man named Franz who is enamoured by a beautiful girl who sits by the window in the house of the mysterious dollmaker, Dr. Copp�lius. This of course makes his betrothed, the fiery Swanilda very displeased. However, things are not as they appear to be. The story has an excellent flow to it and the illustrations have an impressionist feel to them---one can actually see the brush strokes---and are very lovely. This book makes a great bedtime story and I highly recommend it to children who like ballet or those who have yet to discover its charm. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballets    2. Children's 4-8 - Performing Arts    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Grades 1-2    5. Dolls    6. Fairy tales    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Performing Arts - Dance    10. Stories, plots, etc    11. Fairy tales, folk tales, fables, magical tales & traditional stories    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Performing Arts / Dance   

Reviews (3)

Not worth it
This book's activities are poorly described as well as being just plain corny.I cannot imagine the children I work with wanting to jump in and do these excersizes.Even in the spirit of pure play, I find these activities boring and silly (and not silly in a good way).If the activities had more depth, I could then use them to open up into a discussion or exploration.However, with the exception of a few, their relevance was insignificant.I cant see how any of these activities would break down walls, establish trust, inspire children to create, or even bring up a subject worth exploring, etc.

Poor substitute for creativity.
This is a very superficial activity book.Not only are the activities in it not very engaging, but most of the descriptions are very poorly worded.This is at best a guide for those dear people who think "dance" is for an elite class of people.You would be better off just teaching P.E. if this is what you consider creative.Better by far is a book called "First Steps in Teaching Creative Dance to Children" by Mary Joyce. Has some good ideas
I work with many children as well as have 4 children of my own,and thisbook was pretty good.Some of the games were not worth listing... but someothers are very good.I got some good dance games out of it.All in allworth having! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. Dance for children    3. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    4. Games    5. General    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    7. Dance    8. Indoor games    9. Sports & Outdoor Recreation   

Reviews (3)

Wonderful gift for "Nana's"
My nine-year-old granddaughter is just starting ballet, with the help of me, her long-ago dancer "Nana."These Angelina Ballerina books make perfect gifts for her - thank you for making lots of t hem!We got this one first, before her first class, so that she could see some of the "steps."
This book IS a ballet class!
Great book! I don't know enough to teach my 4 year old ballet, so I narrate for her living room ballet class by reading the book aloud. I love the fact that it shows me how to pronounce the names of various ballet steps. Plus the descriptions of the steps are good enough that I can help her learn some. The flip book is a fun extra, but don't buy the book for that as it is hard for little hands to 'flip' the pages. Use ribbon to tie it together (with knot) so it's safe for younger kids too.

Very cute!
My four year old absolutely loves this book! She loves to try all the dance steps that Angelina and her friends are doing (and it's neat because it shows you how to do them.) There is also a tear-out section in the back from which my daughter was able to assemble a little book of her own. If you've got an Angelina fan, she'll enjoy this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - MiceHamstersGuinea Pigsetc.    2. Ballet dancing    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Mice    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Performing Arts - General    10. Specimens    11. Toy and movable books    12. Juvenile Fiction / Performing Arts   

Reviews (4)

A sensitive, realistic story of overcoming adversity...
Originally, this book was entitled "When Dreams Shatter", and was released in the mid-80s. After going out of print for awhile, I'm glad to see that it's made a comeback!
Considers career, life, and the unexpected changes ill health can bring - as well as the new lease on life it can offer
Rachel loves to dance and dreams of being a professional someday - and an invite to dance in New York seems to begin her dream, until an incurable illness threatens everything she's worked for. LAST DANCE considers career, life, and the unexpected changes ill health can bring - as well as the new lease on life it can offer.
You Can't Control what happens to you
Rachel Deering is a normal 13 yearold. Wanting to be a ballet star which I can understand I do ballet. Until she passes out in ballet class. When she awakens she discovers that she a life long illness that will change her life forever. Will she overcome her illness to be star at American Ballet Company? You'llhave to read Last Dance to find out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballet dancing    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Dancers    5. Diabetes    6. Fiction    7. Health & Daily Living - Diseases    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Performing Arts - Dance    10. Readers - Chapter Books    11. Social Issues - Adolescence   

Reviews (10)

Love this book!
Out of all the books that my daughter owns this is her favorite. It gets a giggle out of her every time we read it. Even after the zillionth time!
So glad we stumbled upon this gem
I've been reading this to my child since he was about 9 mos old.We both love it!Often on our way to naptime, I catch myself narrating the story "It was naptime on the farm.The animals drifted off to sleep.The barn was full of yawning cows, and pigs, and goats, and sheep."
We love it!!!
This book has been my daughter's favorite since she was about 10 months old. She is now 17 months old and always brings this book to you before bedtime. It has a nice meter and flow to it, making it fun to read. I would highly recommend this book. I have given it as a gift several times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Babies    2. Bedtime & Dreams    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Family - General    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Naps (Sleep)    11. Performing Arts - Dance    12. Specimens    13. Toy and movable books    14. Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories   

Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Ballet    3. Children's 9-12 - Performing Arts    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Music - Classical    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Music / Classical   

Reviews (24)

The BEST for the unique child
If you want your child to be shown that they can be unique,differant and beautiful,get them this book!! It's fantastic,it not only has the cool gross out features all kids like,but it also has plenty of clever fun rhyming and a GREAT message. The message being,no matter who you are,how bizzare,how much society may put you down,you have the talent you want to have and you can do it. It's a wonderful book,so glad I found this again right before my pregnancy!

Makes me wanna dance!
The story is boffo and the illustrations are fab! This book is an instant classic in my book. Frank is lovable and inspirational. It doesn't matter if the audience runs away or even if he loses his head, Frank just keeps on dancing. Buy this truly awesome book and support Keith Graves so he can keep writing and illustrating them. And Keith, please give us more Frank!

GREAT book!!!
My two and 1/2 year old loves this book!I first saw it for sale in New Orleans, then later ordered it because I could not get the cute illustrations out of my mind.My son thinks it is wonderful.We have read it so much in the past few months that we are wearing out the pages.My son particularly likes to examine the picture of Frank's brain (on the floor) and ask about the blue/purple worms that are coming out of it!I hope to see many more books from Mr. Graves. He has a true gift.The illustrations are wonderful and the text is funny and entertaining. I enjoy this book as much as(or more than my son! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. General    4. Humorous Stories    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Non-Classifiable    7. Nonfiction - General    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (9)

Awesome Book
My 3 year old son absolutely loves this book and had most of it memorized before we even bought it on Amazon.We borrowed it from the library and after reading it a million times before it was due back, I decided to purchase it.The rhymes never get old and they're so fun to read.I'll be buying this one for gifts!

My 2yr old's favorite bedtime story
My son has listened to this almost every night for a month.It is a fun read and settles him right down.
Wonderful Children's Book
I have a 3 year old and 5 year old boys and they just love this book.It has a rhythm to it that makes you want to sing the book.My 2 1/2 year old niece loves the book as much as my boys do.The only thing I found difficult with the book is it uses the actual dinosaur names, many of which I don't know how to say properly.However, I say something close and keep the book moving.Kids get right into the book.My 5 year old has almost memorized the book.I would recommend this book to anyone who has young kids. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Dance    5. Dinosaurs    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Stories in rhyme    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Humor / General   

Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Dance teachers    3. Education    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Lesson planning    6. Performing Arts    7. Sports Medicine    8. Study and teaching    9. Theater - General    10. Training of    11. Teaching of a specific subject   

Reviews (3)

Beautiful book!
Gigantic elephants dancing in elegant pink tutus along with human ballerinas sounds like pure fantasy--but it's all true.Considering the great showman, choreographer and composer involved in creating the actual circus show, it couldn't escape being an amazing production. Now it's all documented in a fascinating book, worthy of being appreciated by young and old.
Circus Polka
BALLET OF THE ELEPHANTS by Leda Schubert is a charming book telling the story of three talented men and fifty performing elephants. In April 1942, a unique show opened: Circus Polka, the brainchild of three men with very different backgrounds: John Ringling North, George Balanchine, and Igor Stravinsky. The book briefly describes the individual lives of the three men, the collaboration between the three men in the creative process, the training of the elephants in preparation for the show, and the show itself. The book concludes with background notes from the author which adds even more interest to the book. For example, the author notes that during her research she learned that "the elephants, even when they retired, so loved the ballet and were so well trained that they performed it all by themselves, without music."There is also a black and white photograph of the real performance!

Excellent book!
This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it for children and adults alike.This true story is simply and poetically described, giving very clear and interesting background on historical figures Stravinsky, Balanchine, and John Ringling North.The descriptions and illustrations of the elephant ballet are beautifully done, allowing the imagination to run wild at the thought of circus elephants in tutus, dancing a ballet.A truly magical book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Circus polka (Choreographic work : Balanchine)    4. General    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Performing Arts - Circus    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Preschool Picture Story Books    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Performing Arts / Dance   

Reviews (5)

A beautifully presented picturebook story
Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin combines Michelle Lord's engaging text with impressive illustrations by Felicia Hoshino to tell the remarkable story of a young woman who in the year 1906 was a member of the dance troupe from the Royal Palace in Cambodia when they all made a trip to the beautiful city of Paris. Carrying young readers through Little Sap's encounter with the famous French artist, Augustine Rodin, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin follows the painter and sculptor's interest with the classic beauty of Cambodian dance in general, and the dancing girl Little Sap in particular. A beautifully presented picturebook story, Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin will delight young readers and prove a popular addition to school and/or community library picturebook collections.
A wonderful book on many levels
Young girls especially will be able to identify with Little Sap as she starts her first dance class, all awkward and clumsy compared with the more experienced girls in the room.But as Little Sap grows more comfortable dancing, the reader grows more comfortable in the world of early 20th century Cambodia.And then the reader feels the same thrill Little Sap does when her dance group boards a huge ocean liner -- bringing along costumes, props, and even elephants! -- and sails for France.
A wonderful childrens book that tugs at the heartstrings
A truly delightful childrens book about a young cambodian girl who leaves her family and her village to become a dancer for the princess's royal dance troupe so that her family can have a better life.Along the way, she learns hard work and self worth.I found this to be an inspiring and touching story with a unique cultural angle not normally seen in childrens books.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Historical - Asia    4. Historical - General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Historical fiction   

Reviews (9)

Absolutely Beautiful
I was so moved by this heartwarming poem. It was as if it were written about me and my father. It is what all fathers should strive to be. The art work is delightful and so fun. I would live to see more from this team.

Good poem, awful artwork
This book would make a great poem or needle point.
Great Book
This book actualy brought a tear to my eye. Very good, funny illustrations but my daughter likes it. Its short and sweet too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Family - Parents   

Reviews (1)

Not my favorite
Jane is a new student and is in Opal's class at school. But Jane prefers to be called Bubbles. Bubbles follows Opal everywhere she goes and begins to copy everything Opal does. It annoys Opal but she understands that Bubbles is new and wants to fit in.
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Pigs    2. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Imitation    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Performing Arts - Dance    9. Pigs    10. Preschool Picture Story Books    11. School & Education    12. Schools    13. Social Issues - Friendship    14. Social Issues - General    15. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Pigs