Elem. – There Was A Party For Langston

Posted on December 6, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Reynolds, Jason. There Was A Party For Langston. Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-534-43944-3. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

There Was A Party For Langston is a celebration of Langston Hughes and his words as well as the people that he inspired. It celebrates his poetry and showcases how he was able to use language and create things that made other people create things. It shows how he inspired Maya Angelou to create her stories. The way the illustrations add to the story will cause the reader to go back through this book several times to find different things that they missed.

THOUGHTS: This is Jason Reynolds’ debut picture book, and he hits it out of the park (which isn’t surprising). This is an excellent introduction to Langston Hughes, as well as other authors. The author’s note in the back of the book will make the reader want to know more about all of the authors that are featured in this book, as well as more about Jason Reynolds himself. Must own for every elementary, and even a middle school collection (even though the book is clearly for younger readers).

Back in 1991, there was a party in the Schomburg Library in New York City, a party for a man who had a way with words: Langston Hughes. In attendance was writer Maya Angelou and dancer Amiri Baraka who boogied amongst the rows of books featuring names of Black authors like Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Octavia Butler. When Langston Hughes wrote, the power of his words made people want to dance, jump, and shout. His words also had the power to unite and inspire, as they did with Angelou and Baraka. Perhaps Langston’s words will inspire the reader, too.

THOUGHTS: Jason Reyolds’ first picture book does not disappoint. Based on a photo of Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka dancing together at the opening of the Langston Hughes Auditorium at the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, this story demonstrates the power and joy of the written word. The Pumphrey brothers’ illustrations take Langston’s powerful words and turn them into a beautiful depiction of Black culture.

Picture Book

Elem. – Can You Dance Like a Peacock?

Posted on September 6, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Rajan, Rekha S. Can You Dance Like a Peacock? Sourcebooks Explore. 2023. 978-1-728-26423-3. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Did you know that animals use dancing and movement to communicate? Each animal communicates in a different way and often moves around to do so! Some animals move a specific way to attract a mate, while others move to collect and tell their friends where food is located. Can you dance like these animals and communicate to the people around you?

THOUGHTS: An interesting movement book that informs readers about the different ways some animals communicate with each other. Take a dance break and move along with these fascinating animals!

590 Animals (Zoology)

Elem. – John’s Turn

Posted on August 1, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Barnett, Mac. John’s Turn. Candlewick Press, 2022. 978-1-536-20395-0. $17.99. 32 p. Grades PreK-3.

Every Friday John’s school has a morning assembly with announcements, activities, and guest speakers. If the students are well-behaved during the assembly, then one student may perform. This performance is called “Sharing Gifts.” Many students do not like the name, but all of the students enjoy seeing each other perform. Today it is John’s turn, and he plans to dance. Students wait attentively for John to prepare for his performance. John is nervous and unsure at first. Kids snicker at the classical music as his performance begins. John is tentative at first, but then begins to relax and enjoy performing. There is stunned silence as he finishes his dance. For a brief second the reader will worry that this will not end well for John; that perhaps he will be shamed for performing ballet in his “Sharing Gifts” performance. And then the students rise to their feet to cheer and applaud.

THOUGHTS: This book is perfect in its simplicity. This is a very straightforward story that beautifully invites discussion about talents, interests, acceptance, and diversity. Kate Berube’s illustrations are gorgeous. The three full-page wordless spreads show John’s transformation from a nervous performer to joy-filled dancer are absolutely splendid.

Picture Book Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

This is a simple but powerful story of a child sharing their gifts with their community. John’s elementary school has an assembly every Friday, and one component of that assembly, to be earned if students behave well, is a segment called “Sharing Gifts,” in which students share their talents with the school. The story focuses on John’s turn to share. He is nervous and excited to share his ballet with his classmates, and their initial reaction of laughter and comments is to be expected… but then John danced, and the clapping began.

THOUGHTS: This is a wonderful story about being oneself and the courage that it can take. Kate Berube’s illustrations present a diverse audience of John and captures movement, joy, and growing confidence in his dancing. A strong selection that can be enjoyed by all as well as one used to create classroom community for show and tell and talent shows.

Picture Book Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

YA – Instructions for Dancing

Posted on September 27, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Yoon, Nicola. Instructions for Dancing. Delacorte Press, 2021. 978-0-593-43494-9. 285 p. $19.99. Grades 9-12.

Ever since her parents split up, Yvette (“Evie”) hasn’t found romance novels quite as magical anymore. She sees through the happily ever after to the true equation of every love story: “Heartbreak = love + time.” While donating a stack of previously beloved books to a Little Free Library near her L.A. apartment building, Evie finds a book called Instructions for Dancing. Returning home with the book, she sees her younger sister Danica and her boyfriend kissing on the stoop and has a vision of the couple’s love story, including how it began and how it will end. Later that night, Evie realizes that her premonition of Danica’s break-up came true, and it’s the first of many such visions. Pinning her new ability to the secondhand book in her backpack, Evie follows its instructions to return it to a dancing school in La Brea. There, she meets (charming, attractive, talented, and tall) Xavier, or X, whose grandparents own the studio. With a little nudge, in hopes of boosting business, the pair enter the L.A. Danceball competition, Amateur Under 21 category. Genuine feelings develop as Evie and X master elements of ballroom including footwork, artistry, showmanship, and chemistry. But can Evie truly open her heart to love when she knows that it will inevitably end?

THOUGHTS: Nicola Yoon’s latest promises (and skillfully delivers) romance, ballroom dancing, a hint of magic, and one girl’s quest to answer that age-old question: is love worth the risk?

Romance Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

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Tag Archives: Dancing

Elem. – There Was A Party For Langston

Elem. – Can You Dance Like a Peacock?

Elem. – John’s Turn

YA – Instructions for Dancing