When I was in dance class...

One of the most popular..."when I was a kid" memories is of taking dance class.  It doesn't matter if you were the best dancer, worst dancer or now a famous ballerina it is a sacred memory.  Not all dance studios or dance classes are the same but there are some things you can count on, like plie's are always first at the ballet barre.  So, we all chuckle or are deeply offended when writers who have never danced write a book about dance class.  There are just things you wouldn't know if you weren't there, so don't even try.  With that being said let's explore a few books written by Dancers that are well worth your reading time with "your" little dancer.

Dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen best known for the 1982 TV show, Fame or today's Grey's Anatomy wrote the picture book,  Dancing in the Wings.  The opening page truly and honestly explains how dancer's feel when dance captures their heart.

Ever since I was born and could see,

Everywhere I looked, I saw Dance.

In the clouds as the wind blew them across the sky. 

In the ripples on a pond.  

Even in the sea of ants marching up and down the hill. 

Dance was all around me.

Dance was me.

The story is about Sassy who has big feet and big dreams and is taller than everyone else in her class.   She hears music in everything she does.  When an important audition opportunity comes she wears her bright yellow leotard and stands in the front. It is a realistic story and isn't "fairy tale" like.  The charming illustrations are by Kadir Nelson.

 Here are some others:

Ballerina Swan by Allegra Kent & Emily Arnold MCully

Sophie the swan wants to dance and watches  class from the window.  The swan was an interesting choice because of the obvious comparisons of swans to ballerinas.  It is a sweet enjoyable story.  Allegra Kent is best known for being a New York City Ballet principal dancer under the direction of George Balanchine. As much I like Ballerina Swan, Ms Kent's most recent book is a "show-stopper" and in a simple yet informative way takes you in to the daily routine of a dancer in the ballet on performance day. 

This is my NEW favorite ballet picture book:

Ballerina Gets Ready 
by Allegra Kent & Catherine Stock

Iris has a busy day before taking the stage in her ballet. She wakes up early and heads to the theater, where she has classes, costume fittings and rehearsals. With a break for lunch and an unexpected change in partners, soon enough it s almost show time. At half an hour to curtain Iris gets her shoes ready and does a few chainés. The musicians tune their instruments as the stage manager calls for places. At 8:00 the curtain rises... and the dancing begins!

Ballerina Rosie by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York 2012 (not a ballerina but a princess)

“And more than anything Rosie loved to dance”…Yes, a very familiar line in most picture books about dancing.   It is a truthful statement and describes quite a few people.  The story does touch on something important,  it’s not easy, dance requires focus and determination and the learning process while creative is set in structure.  A good dance teacher will help a student transition into what it means to follow instructions and wait your turn in a way that makes learning the art of dance fun.  And that dancing around your living room to your owns steps and music doesn’t necessarily mean you are suited for dance class.  Those dancers appreciate the creativity but don't yet understand the structure needed to learn technique.

Dance by Bill T Jones & Susan Kuklin

Dance is action and shape designed in space and time to express feelings and ideas.-Bill T. Jones

With the photography and input from Susan Kuklin, celebrated dancer and choreographer Bill T Jones wrote in 1998 the most perfect picture book for young dancers.  When a dance teacher reads this book in dance class the relevance to movement becomes clear.  
The book begins...

I am a dancer; I want to dance

When I dance, I use parts of me, and I use all of me.

My favorite line is:  When I am dancing, I am thinking and I am feeling.

Emma and Julia Love Ballet by Barbara McClintock

This book is so charming and shows the parallels between a little girl loving dance and a grown girl loving dance.  This book could not be more perfect for all dancers to read.  Barbara McClintock is not herself a dancer but has been a true lover of the art form since her sister took her to a performance to see Judith Jamison dance.  The text and illustrations are simple and clear.

 

 

Firebird

Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the Firebird.

Illustrated by Christopher Myers

Some say Misty Copeland is the new face of Ballet.  The thought may be it’s because she is African American and not the usual body-type for Ballet.  I say it’s because she is a beacon of encouragement to all that want to work hard and learn their craft. Not everyone will be a ballerina but Dance welcomes Everyone!


So, look for these books, read these books,
 I promise you will love these books!

Finding Winnie...

When my son was little he loved to watch Disney's Winnie the Pooh movies on VHS.  His favorite was "A Blustery Day".  He would sit there and laugh and laugh, his funny boned being tickled by Pooh's antics.  Winnie the Pooh is a beloved character I have always adored, although I must admit  I have never read A.A. Milne's, "Winnie the Pooh".  I guess because Disney always did a great job of giving us the visual on the "silly old bear".  

I recently discovered at the library the book , "Finding Winnie, The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear".  The book is by Lindsay Mattick who is the great-grand daughter of Harry Colebourn.  So, you are asking who is Harry Colebourn...he was a veterinarian who in 1914 was on his way to tend horses in World War I.  When he was at the train station he noticed a man with a baby bear cub.  The man was a trapper and obviously not going to raise and care for the baby bear.  Harry was drawn to the bear and could see there was something very special about her.  Harry bought the bear from the trapper for $20. ( a lot of money back then) I really want to tell you what happens next but I want you to read and enjoy this wonderful book curled up in a chair with your favorite little one.  In the end you will see without the actions of Dr. Harry Colebourn there would be no "Winnie the Pooh" for us to love.  And Love him, we do!

I'm sure you will then be inspired to read your copy of "Winnie the Pooh" or "The House at Pooh Corner" which I'm sure is sitting on your book shelf.  I know I am!

Side Note, A. A. Milne wrote several novels, books of poems and even non-fiction.  

Other Side note:  A first edition "Winnie the Pooh" can go for as much as $4,500.

Christopher Robin said to Pooh..."Promise me you'll always REMEMBER:  you're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think".

Fly Me to the Moon...Let me Play Among the Stars...

The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.

                                                                                            ---John Glenn


In 1999 there was a  televised tribute to John Glenn. My son, Aaron was 9 years old and John Glenn was his astronaut hero.  In one of those meant to be moments, his best friend's aunt happened to be the  coordinator of the event and invited him to participate.  He was among  a handful of children that were on the stage during the tribute of John Glenn's actual space suit that he wore when he walked on the moon.  The children were given blue space jump suits to wear and keep.  You can imagine our excitement when they told us John Glenn would sign his name in black sharpie on every child's jumpsuit.  This was a shining moment in my nine year old's life, it is one of his prized possessions still today.  It was his dream to go to space camp and he did go that very next year.  When Aaron was in the 4th grade he begged his teacher to let him do a presentation about space to the class.  She finally agreed and was so impressed she sent him to present his "take on space" to the other 4th grade classes as well.  Ironically, one of the other teachers was the daughter of the man that invented the steering wheel for the space shuttle.  She came up to me afterwards and said, "I thought I knew a lot about space but Aaron taught me some things I didn't know". And that was a mom's shining moment.



Don't we just love it when our children are really excited and interested about something? So, if Space is your place here are some books to look for:

A fun book for the little ones is Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle.  Can he do it, well maybe but  Papa needs a really long ladder 
to get there.

MOON by Steve Tomecek. illustrations by Liisa (not a typo there are 2 i's) Chauncy Guida  This is a National Geographic book so as you would expect it is interesting and easy to understand.  The book begins... A long time ago, many people had strange beliefs about the moon.  Some thought that the moon had evil spirits that caused people to act strangely. Back in the year 1609, many of the false ideas about the moon began to change.  A scientist named Galileo used his telescope to take a close-up look at the moon.  

There is Another National Geographic book that is just as informative and simple to understand titled, STARS also written by Tomecek but this time illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa.  Also, in the back of each book is a related activity to reinforce and illustrate the information you just read.  It visually looks like a picture book but is packed with facts.

How Many Stars in the Sky?  It is written by  Lenny Hort.   I love this book because it's about encouraging your child to find for themselves the answers to their questions. The illustrations are actually beautiful paintings by 

James E. Ransome.

Moon Dreams by Ruth Martin illustrated by Oliver Latyk is a whimsical book  that you might  want to read to your little one that is always asking you questions about the moon. It is about Luna who had always loved the moon, but she wondered where does it go during the day.

To Space & Back by Sally Ride with Susan Okie.  U.S. Astronaut Sally Ride shares the adventure of outer space clearly and interestingly.   This is about the nuts and bolts of being an astronaut.  The pictures are excellent.

AND then there is the "mother-load" of one of the best space books ever...Find the Constellations (second edition) by H.A Rey  (recognize the name, it's the author of Curious George but above that level of reading)  It is packed with star facts, charts, drawings and quizzes.  This book would also be a great resource for teachers. 

The reason for a second edition is sadly because of the loss of Pluto 

as a full sized planet.

So, let me conclude with...

 

At night time, when the stars are out, the sky all of sudden becomes a huge picture book.  You can look up and see a lion and a whale, an eagle, a swan, a dog, a hare and a lot of other pictures; that is of course, if you know how to find them.   (From Find the Constellations)

AND let me also say Thank You to Neal DeGrassee Tyson who reminds us to look up  and enjoy the sky every time we go outside.