Deer Dancer - Hardcover

Ray, Mary Lyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 144243421X ISBN 13: 9781442434219

Publisher: Beach Lane Books, 2014

Synopsis

In this mesmerizing picture book from the author of the New York Times bestselling Stars, a young ballerina finds dancing inspiration in the natural world.

There’s a place I go that’s green and grass,
a place I thought that no one knew—
until the deer came.

This gorgeous picture book from celebrated author Mary Lyn Ray features luminous and evocative art from Lauren Stringer and will capture the hearts of young dancers everywhere.

About this title

About the Author

Mary Lyn Ray is the author of many picture books for children. Her texts are often praised for their lyricism and emotional depth, and in her works, she frequently focuses on humankind’s relationship with nature. Among her critically acclaimed titles are Stars, Christmas Farm, Pumpkins, The Thank You Book, and Go to Sleep, Little Farm.

Lauren Stringer has illustrated many celebrated picture books, including The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow; Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray; The Princess and Her Panther by Wendy Orr; Scarecrow and Snow, both written by Cynthia Rylant; as well as her own Winter Is the Warmest Season, When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, The Dark Was Done, and An Abundance of Light. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Visit her at LaurenStringer.com.

Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—Feeling a bit discouraged about her skills as a dancer, a little girl finds inspiration in a magical encounter with a deer in a peaceful clearing. Her ballet teacher has instructed her students to hold their heads as if they are wearing antlers, so it seems as though the two were destined to meet. They leap and dance around the meadow together, exulting in their ability to move with liveliness, strength, and grace. The deer eventually departs, leaving the girl to rejoice in her newfound confidence and to dance alone. Stringer's artwork is nothing short of mesmerizing. The shades of green saturating the book are rich and energizing. The deer looks squarely at readers on one page, to breathtaking effect. The little girl wears a sparkly tutu with a T-shirt, leggings, and high tops, so she will be recognizable to many readers. Ray's spare writing is lovely and appropriate in its quietness, reflecting the hushed awe and respect of the little girl for her dance partner and their stage. This is a spectacular book, celebrating the outdoors, dance, and the beauty inside each of us.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

*Starred Review* This utterly charming tale begins with a girl dancing in a glen. Then a deer appears. Closer and closer he comes until he leaps back toward the woods. The next spread startles, because now the narrator is at the barre in ballet class, practicing. But has her teacher met a deer somewhere? “Hold your head as if you’re wearing antlers,” she instructs. The truth is this student ballerina needs more practice. So she takes to her special spot in the forest once more, this time wearing twig antlers, and the deer reappears. Together, without words, they begin their dance. They leap and they twirl, and even after the deer retreats, our dark-haired dancer continues, skipping, across the pages, until it is time for her to leave the woods, although she continues to picture her deer cavorting with his friends. Ray’s evocative text has a subtle message about listening to the music in your heart. On the page, the words whirl in tandem with the marvelous art that recalls picture books from an earlier time, reminiscent perhaps of the works of Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire. The lithe deer, especially, echoes images of a common motif in the art deco period. Yet this beautifully crafted piece of bookmaking never feels dated, but rather timeless. Together, children and adults will revel in this excursion to a world where all is possible when no one is looking. Preschool-Grade 2. --Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Beach Lane Books
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 144243421X
• ISBN 13: 9781442434219
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Stringer Lauren
• Number of pages: 40