The Jellybeans and the Big Dance

February 11, 2008
A heavy-handed message about how individuality and teamwork aren't mutually exclusive threatens to sink this promising girl-power story by the author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
and her co-author on Sherman Crunchley
. But Munsinger's (What Mommies Do Best
) anthropomorphized cast keeps it bravely treading water. Emily (a terrier) is a passionate dancer, but her first studio class starts out dismally: all of her classmates (a bunny, a cat and pig) would rather be doing something else (“I like to play soccer,” declares one. “My mom made me take this class”). How will the group ever get their act together for their recital performance of “Oh, Little Bug!”? Emily finds inspiration in candy: “Jellybeans are all different flavors,” she tells them in a pint-size version of a locker-room pep talk, “but they still go well together. Maybe we could, too.” Every girl knows that sisterhood isn't always powerful—in fact, it can be downright snotty—but this book simply steamrolls over its opportunity to model why acceptance and camaraderie are good things. Munsinger's facility with expressions and body language is as impressive as ever: she can do heartbreak, ecstasy, confidence and peevishness without ever compromising the essential species-ness of her characters. Ages 4-8.

June 1, 2008
PreS-Gr 2-Right from the glittery cover showing animal ballerinas dancing, it will be hard for young readers to resist this book. Emily the dog dances everywhere, always wears pink, and has high expectations for her first dance class. Unfortunately, her fellow classmates (a pig, cat, and rabbit) would rather play soccer, paint, or watch shyly than work on their "Oh, Little Bug!" dance. With her hopes for new friends and a wonderful princess costume dashed, Emily and her mother seek consolation at the local candy shop. At the next dance class, the pup shares small bags of jellybeans with Nicole, Anna, and Bitsy. She reminds her equally discouraged fellow dancers that, just as the first letters of their names spell out "bean," each jellybean's different flavor still goes well with the others. The dancing Jellybeans decide to make their routine special, and each one uses her talent to teach a performance-related skill to the others. With cute bug costumes and a new sense of camaraderie, the Jellybeans have a winning recital and celebrate with a trip to the store for their favorite candy. Expressive cartoon animals in pastel colors dance and stumble across the pages in an endearing fashion, working out their problems and appreciating each other's uniqueness. Despite a layout best suited for independent reading, the characters and ballet school setting also hold wide appeal for young listeners."Julie R. Ranelli, Queen Anne's County Free Library, Stevensville, MD"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2008
Little Emily loves to dance anywhere, anytime, so shes disappointed when she enters a ballet class and discovers that her fellow students dont share her passion. Bitsy prefers to paint, Nicole loves soccer, and Anna likes to read. After many frustrations, Emily finds a way to unite her classmates, and making use ofeach girls interest, the group puts together a routine and performs enthusiastically at the recital. This mines familiar themes about pushing past differences and finding similarities with new friends, but the text is well paced and includes clever, whimsical touches. In addition, Munsingersillustrations add great depth and emotion to the storyin scenes of the friends, portrayedas childlike animals ofdifferent species. Many little ones, particularly those facing their own performance jitters, willsee themselves in the tiny, tutu-clad critters who simmer, worry, and then reassure one another before their jubilant debut. Not a necessary purchase, but a sure hit with kids on the dance-recital circuit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)