Feel the Beat--Dance Poems that Zing from Salsa to Swing

January 16, 2017
Singer (Miss Muffet, or What Came After) taps into the rhythms of the cha-cha, conga, waltz, and other dances in more than a dozen upbeat poems. “No fumbling, no bumbling,/ my pops is tops at tumbling./ He’s elastic, so fantastic./ Papa’s so gymnastic!” gushes a boy about his breakdancing father. In kinetic scenes, Valiant (the Pretty Minnie books) captures lithe tangoers on a cobblestone street, wedding guests dancing the bhangra, and enthusiastic patrons swinging outside a library: “Today we read about finance,/ looked up the capital of France./ We found a book about a pug./ But we’re here to jitterbug.” It’s a celebration of the variety and global diversity of dance, and of how it can unite communities. Singer reads the poems, with musical accompaniment, on an included CD. Ages 5–8. Illustrator’s agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

December 1, 2016
Singer explores diverse dance styles through poetry. The book opens with two cleverly written companion poems that mirror each other. The playfulness of these poems is visually represented with illustrations of children flipping over each other in a swing-style move. The following 15 poems are titled after different dance forms from around the world, including hip-hop, salsa, two-step, and bhangra. Each poem is written with the rhythm and beat common to the dance style being described. Though this form is inventive, the poems themselves can be somewhat dull, often focusing on kids struggling to learn the various dances themselves or watching another person perform them well. Moreover, the beat may be difficult to find for readers who are not familiar with the various dances, rendering the technique ineffective, though a CD that accompanies the book may help with this. The energetic illustrations enliven the poems themselves, embracing varied cultures and costumes and employing a variety of perspectives to highlight the distinctive personality of each dance. Brief notes at the end present basic information about each dance style's origins and traditional use. Though some poems fall flat, overall it's an effective introduction to the merriment of dance enjoyed by diverse cultures the world over. (notes) (Picture book/poetry. 6-11)

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January 1, 2017

K-Gr 3-Poetry master Singer is back with another unique picture book poetry collection, this time focusing on different styles of dance, from the cha-cha to the bhangra, and the square dance to the samba. The poems are all narrated by different characters, mostly children, participating in or observing a dance style. The language and rhythm are precise, and each selection is written to the beat of that dance style without a single misstep. The text simply begs to be read aloud. The poems are told from the perspectives of those nervous to dance, those amazed by a dancer's agility and grace, and those downright disgusted with a gym class requirement: "I'm flunking out of square dance!" Valiant's visuals are superb. Most pages contain full, vividly colored spreads with overlaid text. The dancers are illustrated with joy, in a playful style reminiscent of that of Vanessa Brantley-Newton, from the conga flash mob at the mall to the bird's-eye view of the concentric circles of the hora. The characters' expressions are full of life, and there is diversity of race and age reflected on every page. The book closes with short and understandable explanations of each dance and its rhythm. A CD is also included. VERDICT An absolute delight to read, these poems will have children and adults moving to the beat. A charming addition to poetry and music collections.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge PublicLibrary, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2016
Grades 2-4 Anyone familiar with Singer's poetry books for children will smile in recognition at the upbeat tone of this new, dance-centric collection. Each poem is titled after a type of dance: cha-cha, fox-trot, hip-hop, hora, samba, two-step, and many more. Merengue reads, We sway our hips, / we shift our legs, / like we're whipping / lots of eggs; while Square Dance goes, Did that caller give a cue? / Don't promenade me. Shoo, boy, shoo! An adult who knows the rhythms of these dances will be able to read the poems out loud and mimic the rhythm inherent in the writing. A CD (included) also provides this element, which is probably a requirement for full appreciation of the poems. The beautiful illustrations exude the energy of the dancers as they twirl and spin across the pages, and the happy array of faces reflects the wide range of cultures and traditions that the poems draw upon. The message about how music and dance can unite us is a happy and timely one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)