Note: I received an F&G from the publisher at an ALA conference. ( )

This book is super cute and I think it would be fun to read with different voices.

Long, E. (2018). Dance, Dance, Dance. New York: Holiday House.

This is a simple story about two friends, Horse and Buggy. Horse is dancing wildly when Buggy asks him what he is doing. Buggy points out that there is no music for dancing, but Horse claims that the music is in his mind. Horsey brags about his prodigious dance skill while trying to convince Buggy to join him in dance. Buggy makes excuses and Horse teases him, claiming that Buggy simply cannot dance. This eventually goads Buggy into trying some simple dance moves, once Horse plays some real music. By the time Buggy is enjoying the dance, Horse has collapsed on the ground, exhausted by all his own dancing. This book is suitable for children ages 3-7 years. ( )

Horse is dancing to the music in his/her mind, while Buggy is confused as to what is going on. Can Buggy loosen up and join in the dance marathon?

This is a humorous book that kids will get a chuckle out of, especially with the ending. There is a slight message about friendship (i.e., wanting your friend to be happy).

With just a sentence or two per page, with simple words included within those sentences, this is a perfect read for beginning readers. The illustrations focus on the two characters with no extraneous details but that can be good -- not distracting to starting readers who need to focus on the words. ( )

It’s funny how many funny easy readers feature dancing animals - Ballet Cat, Elephants Cannot Dance, and now Ethan Long’s quirky addition, Dance, Dance, Dance! Horse is really putting down the moves, when Buggy shows up and asks what she’s doing. How can Horse be dancing if there’s no music? The music is in her head! Buggy decides she wants to dance too - and she can be just as good as Horse - but she is having trouble getting going. Fortunately, Horse has a solution!

Long’s cheerful cartoons show a long-legged horse and a fluffy fly with long eyelashes. The two dance across brightly-colored pages, their text in square speech bubbles.

Verdict: Hopefully this new series will continue; it’s sure to be popular with emergent readers, although the characters don’t have quite the unique pull of more long-running pairs like Elephant and Piggie. At least not yet!

ISBN: 9780823438594; Published 2018 by Holiday House; Purchased for the library