Category: Preschool Dance Books

Mabel Dancing, by author Amy Hest and illustrator Christine Davenier, came out in 2000 but only recently came to my attention.

This is a great book to share in a preschool setting or at home with parents and child. It is a “classic story” in some ways of a little girl who dreams of dancing and naturally wants to move and dance at home. I was this little girl.

Mabel’s parents dress up to have a dance party downstairs in their large house. Mabel is tucked into bed for the night while the party takes place. She cannot resist, and ends up sneaking downstairs to have her short moment dancing too.

The watercolor images are the strongest element of this book. I also love that the story is about dancing in a general way (avoiding the stereotype of girls only dreaming of ballet).

I would recommend this book for children, especially girls, ages 3 to 5 years old.

You can purchase used copies of this book on amazon.com:

Mabel Dancing

As we head towards Sunday, May 8th, there are two great books to share about a child and mother dancing:

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Moore Gray

Jonathan and His Mommy by Irene Smalls-Hector

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart is a sweet tale through the seasons of a girl dancing with her mother. The book is ideal to read in a preschool, kindergarten, or first grade classroom.

Jonathan and His Mommy is a picture book with a young boy dancing with his mother. They explore different ways of moving around town – big steps, zig zag walks, and more. After reading this book, you can easily translate this story into a dance. It is ideal for preschool and kindergarten age students.

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart is out of print but available online used:

http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?keyword=My+Mama+Had+a+Dancing+Heart&mtype=B&hs.x=0&hs.y=0&hs=Submit

My Mama Had a Dancing Heart is available through the Berkeley Public Library, Oakland Public Library, and SF Public Library:

http://encore.berkeley-public.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1348496%7CSMy+Mama+Had+a+Dancing+Heart%7CP0%2C1%7COrightresult%7CX5?lang=eng&suite=pearl

http://catalog.oaklandlibrary.org/search/X?t%3A%28My%20Mama%20Had%20a%20Dancing%20Heart%29&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&l=&m=a&m=l&m=e&m=i&m=k&m=q&m=n&SORT=DX

http://sflib1.sfpl.org/search~S1?/XMy+Mama+Had+a+Dancing+Heart&searchscope=1&SORT=D/XMy+Mama+Had+a+Dancing+Heart&searchscope=1&SORT=D&SUBKEY=My%20Mama%20Had%20a%20Dancing%20Heart/1%2C3%2C3%2CB/frameset&FF=XMy+Mama+Had+a+Dancing+Heart&searchscope=1&SORT=D&2%2C2%2C

 

Jonathan and His Mommy can be purchased online through the independent bookstore The King's English:

http://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9780316798808

Jonathan and His Mommy can be found at the Berkeley, Oakland, and SF Public Libraries:

http://encore.berkeley-public.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1293044%7CSJonathan+and+His+Mommy%7COrightresult%7CX5?lang=eng&suite=pearl

http://catalog.oaklandlibrary.org/search/X?t%3A%28jonathan%20and%20his%20mommy%29&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&l=&m=a&m=l&m=e&m=i&m=k&m=q&m=n&SORT=DX 

http://sflib1.sfpl.org/search~/a?SORT=D&searchscope=1&searchtype=X&searcharg=Jonathan+and+His+Mommy&SORT=D&x=0&y=0