This Is It: A Picture Book About a Young Dancer's Journey to Self-Confidence and Joy for Kids (Ages 4-8) - Hardcover

Peoples-Riley, Daria

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0062657763 ISBN 13: 9780062657763

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2018

Synopsis

Daria Peoples-Riley’s debut picture book is a celebration of individuality, self-expression, and dance. Fans of Misty Copeland’s Firebird and Matt de la Peņa’s Last Stop on Market Street will want to read it over and over again.

When a young dancer is nervous about her upcoming auditions, her shadow springs to life and leads her on a joyous exploration of their city. Soon enough, the young girl finds confidence in her skills, her body, and her ability to shine.

With an energetic, rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud and striking, exuberant artwork, This Is It is a love story to originality and the simple joy of movement.

The future is in your footsteps.

Freedom is in your feet.

Put one foot in front of the other,

and greet your destiny.

About this title

About the Author

Daria Peoples grew up in Paso Robles, California, in a household rich with culture. She has a degree in English from UC Santa Barbara and earned her master's in education from Regis University. The daughter of two educators, Daria Peoples has worked as an educator herself, teaching both English and art in elementary and middle schools and at the college level. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the author-illustrator of This Is It; I Got Next; America, My Love, America, My Heart; and Hello, Mister Blue.

From the Back Cover

Today is the day.

Stand up tall.

Point your toes.

Take a deep breath.

And . . . DANCE.

Reviews

K-Gr 4—A spunky, endearingly gawky girl leaps across the cityscape on the cover of this simple, but profound picture book about being brave and taking chances. It is audition day, and a lone girl inhabits the streets of New York City with her shadow challenging her to a dance-off to boost her self-confidence. She starts off pouting, stiff, and unsure among the menacing gray columns of concrete buildings. Her shadow reminds her how everything in her life has prepared her for this day and encourages her to go forward and greet her destiny. Gradually, colors seep in to the illustrations. Full-bleeds done in ink, gouache, and watercolor portray the brilliant hues of tree-lined streets contrasted against murky buildings. The free verse moves fluidly in and out of rhyme and features the occasional concrete poetry stanza. No word is forced and the message is clear: you can do this! By the end, the dancer is ready, hair pulled into a bun, and one eyebrow raised as she grand jetés across the dance floor in an image parallel to that on the cover. VERDICT This well-crafted book celebrates the joy of dance and shows a girl gaining confidence in herself—an important message for all children. Recommended for purchase for all picture book collections.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062657763
• ISBN 13: 9780062657763
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Peoples-Riley Daria
• Number of pages: 40