The Thumbtack Dancer

Gr 1--3--Creativity and hustle open doors (dance studio doors, that is) for an exuberant young dancer. Gus cannot afford tap shoes, so he relies on thumbtacks in the soles of his shoes to give his dances percussive rhythm. The refrain "yesterday and the day before" signals the boy's irrepressible love for dance. After his improper footwear results in yet another rejection from a dance studio, Gus uses his skills as a street performer to earn tap shoe money. Sound effects and onomatopoeia make this a lively read-aloud, with parts of the text bolded, in all caps, or in different typefaces for emphasis. The vibrant watercolor illustrations are sketchy and fluid, bound to appeal to children who love motion. Some of the more static images, particularly those of faces, are less successful, but African American Gus's shoulder-length dreadlocks and graceful arms make him seem to fly. VERDICT Pair this with Rita Williams-Garcia's Bottle Cap Boys Dancing on Royal Street to spark discussion of artistry, ingenuity, and persistence in the face of inequality.--Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library