Let's Dance!

PreS-Gr 1--Debut author Bolling presents 10 forms of dance in short, rhyming stanzas. Each spread features a two-part phrase written in a font that matches the dance style. Alongside the text are bright, spirited illustrations of children doing various dances such as Kathak (India) and Kuku (Guinea), as well as styles with origins in the United States, including break dancing and disco. While some of the rhymes are very descriptive, others are nonspecific and do not provide much to enhance the illustrations. For example, the page with the Long-Sleeve Dance from China says "Glide and slide, side to side." Images depicting dances from the United States feature groups of children who are diverse in race, body size, and abilities. The back matter contains short description of each dance style, though, owing to the length and intended audience, these are also somewhat limited. VERDICT A fun and lively title; however, children will learn only a limited amount about each type of dance. For a more informative book, choose Marilyn Singer's Feel the Beat.--Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA