Dancing is such a great way to express yourself, have fun, and get your body moving. Since Little Bookworm was little, we have taken every opportunity to dance together. So we were really excited to check out these new children’s books about dance and share them with all of you!

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Gloria’s Promise: A Ballet Dancer’s First Step

Written by Robin Preiss Glasser and Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman

Gloria is a young girl who loves to dance. She dreams of dancing in the summer program at the American Ballet Theatre School. But when her audition doesn’t go the way she planned, she worries that she isn’t good enough. The inspiring story is paired with beautiful illustrations done in Robin Preiss Glasser’s signature style (well known in her work on the Fancy Nancy series). As a former professional ballet dancer herself, Preiss Glasser offers a unique authenticity to the story.

The More the Merrier

Written by David Martin and illustrated by Raissa Figueroa

Join Bear, Moose, Snake, Deer, Owl, and Baby Mouse as they each dance their own moves together in the woods. The peppy rhyming text uses descriptive language to describe the animals’ dance moves, while the colorful illustrations show the animal friends moving and dancing. Kids will want to join in this fun animal parade and try out some of the moves on their own.

Related Post: Dance and Move with Bear!

John’s Turn

Written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Kate Berube

John likes to dance. So when it is his turn to perform at the weekly assembly at school, he decides to perform ballet for his classmates. He is nervous to share with them, but in the end, they cheer for him and his impressive moves. This simple story reminds readers to reach outside their comfort zone and do what they love, and the gentle illustrations highlight all kinds of impressive ballet moves.

Parker Shines On

Written by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry and illustrated by Brittany Jackson

This sequel to Parker Looks Up follows young Parker Curry as she attempts to become a better ballet dancer like her friend Mira. But when the big recital comes, it turns out her friend is too scared to go on stage. Will Parker be able to help her overcome her fear and perform? The vibrant illustrations and sweet story will make this a hit for little dancers who may have dealt with the same situations as the characters in the book. The back of the book includes information on the story behind the story, as well as a note from Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.

Related Post: Picture Books that Teach Kids to Keep Trying

Pirates Don’t Dance!

Written by Shawna J.C. Tenney

Jack wants to be a pirate, but he also loves to dance., which doesn’t sit well with Captain Squinty Eye. His number one rule is that pirates don’t dance. But when enemy pirates attack their ship, Jack’s dancing feet may come in handy. This cute story is paired with vibrant illustrations, and the back of the book includes a note from the author, as well as definitions for the ballet terms and pirate terms used throughout the book.

Ear Worm!

Written by Jo Knowles and illustrated by Galia Bernstein

When Little Worm discovers that he has a song stuck in his head, he can’t help by wriggle along to it. As he meets up with his animal friends, he asks if they put the song in his head, and instead learn about the songs in their own heads. The parade of animals sing and dance their way around, having all kinds of fun together. In the end, Little Worm forgets about the song in his head, until he realizes what it is. This is a fun story that is sure to get little ones up and dancing!

This Is Tap: Saivon Glover Finds His Funk

Written by Selene Castrovilla and illustrated by Laura Freeman

In this toe-tapping book, the reader is introduced to Saivon Glover and his need to move. The book starts with him moving and jumping in his mom’s belly, and follows him through childhood into adulthood, showing how he changed the world of tap dancing. The peppy text is full of fun noises and sound effects, making this a great book to read aloud. Meanwhile, the beautiful illustrations are full of color and use different styles to show movement in each of the images. The back of the book includes an afterword with more information about Saivon Glover and his life.

Jump In!

Written by Shadra Strickland

While jump rope isn’t often considered while discussing dance, we felt the need to add this book to the list for it’s celebration of rhythm and movement. The rhyming text has a peppy rhythm to it as it describes a neighborhood jumping in and out of jump ropes. The vibrant illustrations are full of movement with fold out pages showing people of all ages as they move and jump. Kids may be inspired to head outside and get jumping too!

What are your favorite new dance books for kids? Share in the comments below!

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