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

by Marilyn Singer, Kristi Valiant (Illustrator), Marilyn Singer (Read by)

Overview

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 e-book is an audio recording of the author reading each poem accompanied by original music.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735229044
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	48 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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.

Editorial Reviews

"The beautiful illustrations exude the energy ofthe dancers as they twirl and spin across the pages, and the happy array of faces reflects the wide range ofcultures and traditions that the poems draw upon. The message about how music and dance can unite us isa happy and timely one." —Booklist

"An absolute delight to read, these poems will have children and adults moving to the beat. A charming addition to poetry and music collections" —School Library Journal

"A celebration of the variety and global diversity of dance, and of how it can unite communities."  —Publishers Weekly

"Skilled poet Singer varies her verse form according to the featured dance...This has additional potential for reading aloud to much younger listeners to broaden out dance topics from the usual run of ballet, ballet, ballet and to introduce some opportunities to get up and cut a rug." —BCCB

From the Publisher

2016-11-23
Singer explores diverse dance styles through poetry. The book opens with two cleverly written companion poems that mirror each other. The playfulness of these poems is visually represented with illustrations of children flipping over each other in a swing-style move. The following 15 poems are titled after different dance forms from around the world, including hip-hop, salsa, two-step, and bhangra. Each poem is written with the rhythm and beat common to the dance style being described. Though this form is inventive, the poems themselves can be somewhat dull, often focusing on kids struggling to learn the various dances themselves or watching another person perform them well. Moreover, the beat may be difficult to find for readers who are not familiar with the various dances, rendering the technique ineffective, though a CD that accompanies the book may help with this. The energetic illustrations enliven the poems themselves, embracing varied cultures and costumes and employing a variety of perspectives to highlight the distinctive personality of each dance. Brief notes at the end present basic information about each dance style's origins and traditional use. Though some poems fall flat, overall it's an effective introduction to the merriment of dance enjoyed by diverse cultures the world over. (notes) (Picture book/poetry. 6-11)

Kirkus Reviews