Valerie Bolling

The joy of playing around after a hard day at school isn't only familiar but contagious and will have readers already planning their next round of fun and games.

Written in simple, poetic, rhyming form, these pages let the excitement of afterschool activities fly. These kids are ready to head outdoors, meet up with others, and enjoy their free time. The array of games and possibilities sails beyond cultures and upbringings as these kids enjoy climbing, dancing, getting soaking wet and more.

The illustrations carry an imaginative flair, which holds enough details to be familiar and, yet, doesn't demand exactness to reality. It makes it as playful as the text. These, along with the rhyme, will have kids coming back to read this one time and again.

The theme isn't deep, but it's one every young reader will relate to. There is the message of diversity in the illustrations but this slides right in with the fun to steer very clear of preachiness. The main purpose is to celebrate playing with friends, and this comes across loud and clear. I received a DRC and loved the atmosphere.… (plus d'informations)

Few words are needed for this tale to capture listeners' attention and have them nodding at a very familiar situation.

A little girl and her father take her bike out of the garage so she can ride. But learning how to balance and steer is something which takes patience, time, and determination. Luckily, the father is there to help.

Each page is laid out with a bright, bold scene. It starts in a garage and soon heads out into the neighborhood and beyond. The little girl's emotions are easy to connect with, and having her father at her side is warming and encouragement pure. There are few words, allowing this to have almost a poetic atmosphere as the illustrations call forth emotions from the listeners through their familiar scenes. Anticipation and excitement turn to disappointment, and with a little care, turn back into hope, achievement and more.

This book isn't only about riding a bike...although that's certainly a theme. The love a parent has for a child beams from every page. Then, there's the message of not giving up and trying again. All of this is wrapped up with a sense of care and security.
I received a complimentary copy and am giving this one 4.5 stars while rounding up.… (plus d'informations)

"Turn, twirl
Twist, whirl...
Wiggle hips
Spin, dip, dip"

White endpapers feature line drawings of a wide variety of dance shoes and different musical instruments in rainbow colors, introducing the many different types of music and dance showcased in the book, from flamenco to kathak to breakdancing; a double page spread at the end of the story names each dance, its origin, and a brief description.

See also: How Do You Dance? by Thyra Heder

This is a "get up and move!" book for a lively storytime. The dancers depicted are diverse.… (plus d'informations)

This is a wonderful book for all ages, but especially for the elementary age group who are just learning about the world. The author takes the reader on a journey around the world through dance. The book has very few words, but the words are poetic and match the sounds that you would hear with the various type of dances, heels clicking, swirling skirts, and boots tapping. The book closes with an informational page about all of the dances referenced in the book, and where the dances come from across the globe.

This book is fun, and the author can be found reading the book aloud on Youtube and it is excellent for those who want to also host a video author share. Click below!

https://youtu.be/zRUQtHxAQOM… (plus d'informations)