Dancing Words Blog

Category: Book Lists

  • Back-To-School List #1: For Preschools and Daycare Centers

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    It is that time of year again, to get ready for the coming school year and to gather supplies, develop curriculum, and seek some inspiration. I hope that this list of 12 books will inspire preschool directors and teachers to purchase books for your school or your room. Even books no longer in print can easily be found used on amazon.com.

    12 Great Books for Preschools and Daycare Centers

    1. Watch Me Dance – Andrea and Brian Pinkney

    2. Mabel Dancing – Amy Hest and Christine Davenier

    3. I am a Dancer – Pat Lowery Collins and Mark Graham

    4. On Your Toes: A Ballet ABC – Rachel Isadora

    5. From Head to Toe – Eric Carle

    6. Dance – Bill T. Jones and Susan Kuklin

    7. Star Climbing – Lou Fancher

    8. A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play – Ida Pearle

    9. Move! – Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

    10, 11, 12. Kid Moves – Michelle Wing and Jennifer Cue (3 book set)

  • First Dance Books for the Very Young

    A friend with a 1.5 year old daughter recently asked me for book recommendations. Here is a short list of books for children 0-5. I am a big proponent of reading books to children from a very early age. My boys heard books in my lap as babies and after lunch while still sitting in their highchairs. Board books helped them experience books in their own way from a very early age.

    I have selected nine books that specifically include the word "dance" in the title or in the story. Another posting will list books that are about moving, but do not necessarily call it "dancing" — books about walking, jumping, and bouncing. I have selected a group of books with both male and female characters, culturally diverse dancers, and various dance forms (not simply ballet). I am not a huge fan of dance books with animals dancing, so you will see this selection is about boys, girls, men, and women dancing.

    Let me start with three fun board books:

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    These three books are:

    Watch Me Dance  by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

    Matisse Dance for Joy  by Susan Goldman Rubin

    Dance with Me  by Charles R. Smith Jr.

     

    Six other great dance books for children 0-5 include:

    Dance  by Bill T. Jones and Susan Kuklin

    Dragon Dancing  by Carole Lexa Schaefer and Pierr Morgan

    I am a Dancer  by Pat Lowery Collins

    Let's Dance  by George Ancona

    On Your Toes: A Ballet ABC  by Rachel Isadora

    Rap a Tap Tap  by Leo and Diane Dillon

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    Please let me know if your child gets excited about some of these titles.

  • Books in Yesterday’s Photo

    I have been asked which books are in the image from yesterday. Listed below are all nine books, some of my favorites. Clockwise from the top left corner:

    Move! – Robin Page and Steve Jenkins

    Alphabet of Dance – Barbie Heit Schwaeber and Damian Ward (Smithsonian book)

    A Child's Day: An Alphabet of Play – Ida Pearle

    To Be an Artist - Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko

    A Dictionary of Dance  - Liz Murphy

    Dance – Bill T. Jones and Susan Kuklin

    Beautiful Ballerina – Marilyn Nelson and Susan Kuklin

    I am a Dancer – Pat Lowery Collins and Mark Graham

    Mountain Dance – Thomas Locker (there is also Cloud Dance and Water Dance)