As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
122 pp.
| Simon
| January, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4814-5885-6$15.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4814-5887-0
(4)
1-3
Illustrated by
Sharee Miller.
With Nancy Ohlin. African American girl Shai learns more lessons about life and friendship, supported by her performing-arts-school friends and loving family. In Pants, Shai is determined her tap routine will win a dance competition; Shai and bestie Emmie prep for a fundraising concert in Rescue. The plots and illustrations aren't anything outstanding, but they're satisfying and feature lots of cultural markers and appealing details for performance-loving readers. Review covers these titles: Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants! and Shai & Emmie Star in To the Rescue!
48 pp.
| Simon
| July, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4814-7757-4$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4814-7758-1 Reissue (1979, Harcourt)
(3)
K-3
Could you even give a book this title in the twenty-first century? DePaola's book about a boy who can't throw a ball to save his life but who enjoys paper dolls, dress-up, and (as he discovers to his delight) tap-dancing is as fresh and necessary as ever. While the muted turquoise and beige color scheme shows its age, the feelings are still just right.
Reviewer: Roger Sutton
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2017
32 pp.
| Disney/Hyperion
| April, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4231-6917-8$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mark Fearing.
Tommy can't stop bopping and bouncing around the house, exhausting his family members, who take turns "tiring Tommy out" (e.g., "mow the lawn--twice"). Despite his reluctance to try tap dancing, Tommy finds that the moves are perfectly suited to his energy. Exaggerated cartoons humorously capture Tommy's happy feet (and exasperated family), while the active-language text matches Tommy's constant motion.
44 pp.
| Clarion
| May, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-544-23687-5$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Alexandra Boiger.
"Ballet girl" Tallulah loves dance camp...except for tap class, where she's frustrated and self-conscious about being "the worst student." Then fellow camper Kacie--whose tap skills Tallulah envies--admits her similar struggles in ballet class. Soft watercolor illustrations ably capture the woodland setting, the various dance movements, and both girls' heightened emotions in this relatable tale of learning new things.
24 pp.
| Simon Spotlight
| January, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-5246-6$15.99
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4424-5245-9$3.99
(3)
K-3
Ready-to-Read series.
Illustrated by
Henry Cole.
Biscuit's little girl points to all the wonderful things in her garden. The puppy, however, is more interested in the birds. When he jumps on and spills the bag of birdseed, the garden is suddenly filled with far more than just pretty flowers. The pleasant pictures of the lovable pup carry the simple, amusing story.
119 pp.
| Little Simon
| March, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-5192-6$15.99
|
PaperISBN 978-1-4424-5191-9$4.99
(4)
1-3
Heidi Heckelbeck series.
Illustrated by
Priscilla Burris.
Friendly witch Heidi suddenly has a secret admirer after being paired with her nemesis's best friend for the science fair (Admirer); she heads to camp and runs into friendship trouble (Camp); and she uses her mom's old tap shoes (and a spell) for the talent show (Dance). Despite some too-neat resolutions, the stories--supplemented by kid-friendly black-and-white illustrations--provide humorous takes on familiar topics. Review covers these Heidi Heckelbeck titles: Heidi Heckelbeck and the Secret Admirer, Heidi Heckelbeck Goes to Camp, and Heidi Heckelbeck Is Ready to Dance!.
154 pp.
| HarperCollins
| May, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-196423-7$14.99
(2)
4-6
Illustrated by
Diane Goode.
Jacqueline-Kathryn "Cinderella" Smith helps new girl Erin investigate her stepsisters to see if they’re wicked. Shoe-losing Cinderella is also looking for her special ruby-red tap shoe for her dance recital. Cinderella's bouncy energy, captured expertly in Goode's emotive line drawings, is infectious; readers will delight in her expressions (e.g., dribbly-spit for Seattle drizzle) and enthusiastic use of adverbs ("very, extremely mad").
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
May, 2011
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Teresa Murfin.
Chloe's sister, Belinda, is a natural ballerina; Chloe, on the other hand, has "naughty toes" and a more flamboyant style. Mr. Tiempo, the piano player for the class, inspires Chloe to "follow her feet" in tap shoes. The loose illustrations capture the sisters' differences and the story's humor, but at times it's difficult to tell the characters apart.
32 pp.
| Cavendish
| September, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7614-5712-1$17.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Valeria Docampo.
Emma's grandfather taught her how to tap dance before she knew how to talk. Through the years tapping was a way they could communicate. When Pop begins to lose his memory, Emma tries to find a way to remind him of their bond. Exaggerated gouache and pencil illustrations downplay the sentimentality of this story about family, love, and dance.
(4)
1-3
Roscoe Riley Rules series.
Illustrated by
Brian Biggs.
When his friend, Emma, takes up tap dancing, Roscoe, lured by all the glorious noise, wants to try it. However, his other pals think that boys shouldn't dance. Roscoe fakes an injury to get out of performing but has a last-minute change of heart. The story's worthy message is occasionally laid on too thickly. Black-and-white drawings illustrate the tale's slapstick humor.
103 pp.
| Putnam
| June, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-25209-9$15.99
(3)
K-3
26 Fairmount Avenue Book series.
Tomie grieves his cousin, shot down in the war. His sadness remains, but life goes on while preparing for his role as a tap-dancing King Neptune (some teasing is involved) and for his First Holy Communion. Meanwhile, rations are imposed, with everyone making sacrifices "for the duration." Spot art and half-page illustrations along with excerpts from Tomie's diary add to the period homeyness.
98 pp.
| Chelsea
| March, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7910-9718-2$30.00 New ed. (1999)
(3)
YA
Black Americans of Achievement, Legacy Edition series.
Each of these biographies details a well-known figure's rise from adversity to national and/or international recognition. The books go beyond the typical personal information to provide some social history relevant to the subject's time. Captioned photographs and boxed inserts enhance the conversational texts. Carver and Hines have been revised and updated. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Black Americans of Achievement, Legacy Edition titles: George Washington Carver, Gregory Hines, Condoleezza Rice, and Barack Obama.
48 pp.
| Heinemann
| October, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-1375-5$31.43
(4)
YA
Dance series.
Covering a wide range of topics, from history and cultural significance to steps, music, and costumes, this series is a useful resource for dance enthusiasts. Dynamic photographs illustrate some of the performances discussed. The parts organized chronologically read smoothly; others are more tedious and difficult to follow. With their many sidebars and design elements, the pages are busy. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dance title:Ballet, Hip-Hop and Urban Dance, Tap and Jazz, Latin and Ballroom, African and Asian, Country and Folk, and [cf]Modern Dance.
103 pp.
| Chelsea
| November, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7910-9223-2$30.00
(3)
YA
Black Americans of Achievement, Legacy Edition series.
Each updated biography (Cochran, King, Parks) explains its well-known subject's rise from adversity to national and/or international recognition, working for social justice in his or her own way. Glover's volume details his past and present-day career as a tap dancer. Captioned photographs and boxed inserts enhance the conversational texts. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these Black Americans of Achievement, Legacy Edition titles: Johnnie Cochran, Coretta Scott King, Savion Glover, and Rosa Parks.
32 pp.
| Lee
| June, 2004
|
TradeISBN 1-58430-170-8$16.95
(4)
K-3
Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates lost his leg in a mill accident at age twelve but continued to dance, eventually becoming a professional tapper. This biography balances the impact of discrimination on his life (Bates was the son of a sharecropper) with his irrepressible spirit, well communicated in the sprightly illustrations. Barasch provides no sources, which detracts from her book's success.
(3)
1-3
When tap-dancing con artists Tonya and Ted blow into town, would-be showman (and terrible dancer) Stan signs up for lessons. But when Tonya and Ted split right before the big show, Stan saves the day, proving that he's a born showman. Less ensemble-based than previous Mud Flat books, this one is just as deftly written, rewarding, and, with its droll watercolor vignettes of the all-animal cast, humorous.
212 pp.
| Holt
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8050-7229-2$$15.95
(4)
4-6
Illustrated by
Betsy Lewin.
A family of rat children follow in their late parents' musical footsteps, forming a tap-dancing act and going above ground to the glamorous but dangerous world of the humans. Winthrop stays true to the rat perspective, offering commentary on human smells and behavior, but some of the jokes will be lost on a child audience unfamiliar with the jazz culture of the 1930s.
(4)
K-3
The Dillons pay homage to American tap-dancer Bill Robinson and--in their color-blocked, silhouetted illustrations--to Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. In each double-page spread, Bojangles's feet fairly dance off the page as he passes through a varied urban landscape. The rhyming text isn't quite as light on its feet, and the rhythm seems to trip over the refrain--"Rap a tap tap--think of that!"
32 pp.
| Simon
| March, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-689-82153-0$$16.00
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Michael Paraskevas.
A horse named Marvin, who dances in the carnival, dreams of starring on Broadway. He's whisked off to the Big Apple by a talent agent where, after much struggling, he gets his big break and becomes an overnight sensation. But his success is bittersweet because Marvin misses his friends. Though the story is somewhat underdeveloped and unfocused, the acrylic illustrations are rich, moody, and offer lots of variety.
80 pp.
| Morrow
| January, 2000
|
TradeISBN 0-688-15629-0$$19.95
(4)
4-6
A dizzying array of graphics, varied typefaces, and black-and-white photos compete in this energetic biography of tap dancing star Savion Glover. The main text, printed in small, hard-to-read type, alternates between Weber's discussion of Glover's rise from student to star and Glover's own first-person account of what tap means to him and how he passes on that heritage to the next generation.