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

Singer, Marilyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803740212 ISBN 13: 9780803740211

Publisher: Dial Books, 2017

Synopsis

An irresistible book of poems about dancing that mimic the rhythms of social dances from cha-cha to two-step, by the acclaimed author of Mirror Mirror

Marilyn Singer has crafted a vibrant collection of poems celebrating all forms of social dance from samba and salsa to tango and hip-hop. The rhythm of each poem mimics the beat of the dances’ steps. Together with Kristi Valiant’s dynamic illustrations, the poems create a window to all the ways dance enters our lives and exists throughout many cultures. This ingenious collection will inspire readers to get up and move!

Included with the book is an audio CD of the author reading each poem accompanied by original music from composer Jonathon Roberts.

About this title

About the Author

Marilyn Singer is an award-winning author of more than 90 children's books in a wide variety of genres. She was the 2015 winner of the NCTE Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. She, her husband, and their standard poodle divide their time between Brooklyn and Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Kristi Valiant is the illustrator of Pretty Minnie in Paris, Pretty Minnie in Hollywood, the Little Wings chapter book series, and Penguin Cha-Cha, which she wrote and illustrated. She graduated magna cum laude from Columbus College of Art & Design. Kristi lives (and dances!) in Indiana with her husband and daughters.

Reviews

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Dial Books
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0803740212
• ISBN 13: 9780803740211
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Valiant Kristi
• Number of pages: 32