Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people.
I chose this book because I felt like dancing when I was reading it!
Tap-Dance FeverBy Pat Brisson
By: Pat Brisson
Illustrated by: Nancy Cote
32 Pages – Ages 5+
Published by: Boyds Mills Press on March 1, 2005
Theme/Topic – Being yourself / Dancing / Being happy
Opening and Synopsis –
“Annabelle Applegate was the tap-dancingest girl in Fiddler’s Creek. She danced so much she wore out the linoleum in her ma’s kitchen. She made ridges along Creek Road on her way to school.
She even danced a hole clear through the rickety old schoolhouse floor. Folks asked her to stop, but it did no good. Annabelle only heard the song in her head that made her feet want to move.”
Annabelle danced so much that it is causing trouble in her town. The townspeople try everything they can think of to get her to stop. They try blocking the path with junk, and taking her dance shoes, but nothing they do works! Will the town learn to appreciate Anabelle’s talent?
Tap-Dance Fever – Our Review
Why I liked this book – This was a very cute story. I really love the illustrations – especially how Anabelle’s dresses are drawn! The story has a funny and happy ending to it.
Kids will hopefully learn from Annabelle. She’s always happy and doing what she likes best no matter what the problem. That’s being a good role model. I recommend this book to kids 5+!
Activities and Resources – Make your own tap shoes! Get a pair of old shoes and glue pennies to the bottom of them and you are ready to dance! I found this idea at the Real Simple website (click HERE).
Once you have your tap shoes ready you can get some dance move ideas from the videos below!
For more information about Pat Brisson and her books, please visit her website by clicking HERE.
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE